Quince Cafe will not reopen. I’ll miss their breakfasts.
A few things downtown:
The Nick the Greek chain opened their branch on University just east of Shattuck. Its menu is pretty limited, gyro, souvlaki, falafel in various presentations, and burgers. A pork souvlaki I had yesterday was well seasoned and juicy.
The Cheesesteak Shop, which closed its lower University location, has reopened on Kala Bagai Way.
Across the street, I saw Las Delicias Salvadoran. After that great pupusa we had in the food crawl last Saturday, I wanted to try one here. It was supposed to be chicharron and cheese, but I couldn’t find any chicharon in it. Nice flavor, crispy on the outside.
And around the corner on Addison, I poked in at Pink Cloud Tea & More. I thought they were just a tea and boba drink place, but they have quite a few east Asian dishes, including the Korean egg sandwiches I’ve been wanting to try, and “crepes” like Jianbing.
A Thai “hawker-style” restaurant has taken over the Quince location on San Pablo. I stopped in and had an intriguing version of fried chicken, with a sweet-ish, herbed rub, very crisp skin. Menu here:
Berkeley’s old Westbrae Biergarten reopens as Headlands Brewing – The former family-favorite beer garden has new landscaping, live music and a menu of traditional beer-hall bites. The best aspect of the space — its sprawling and plant-filled expanse under the open sun — has not changed. But there is a new water grotto with seating around it, TVs for sports and other events and soon, live acoustic music. Sadly, the popular Pedro’s Brazil Cafe food truck. Instead, there’s a menu of traditional beer hall dishes like bratwurst and hot pretzels plus tacos and smash burgers. The brewery’s familiar beers will be on tap, as well as exclusive small-batch ales, ciders and local wine. 1280 Gilman St, Berkeley
Barbecue place Smoke Berkeley closed last year after the death of one of the owners, Sean, son of Tina. Tina has now started selling her excellent pies, including a new chicken pot pie, and her tea-smoked salmon. I got half a pecan pie today.
And in other sort-of-news, I recently discovered the discount room at Berkeley Bowl West. It’s at the south end of the produce section. One pound boxes of strawberries were $1.99 or even $0.99. Half pounds of blackberries were the same price. I don’t know if this is new, or if I just noticed it.
The discount room use to be a shelf just outside the organic section, next to the regular produce. They moved it before the pandemic. It was a shopping cart bottleneck. Use to get really good deal, if you were willing to deal with some rot…like a bag of avocados for $1, or tomatoes in season. Haven’t really checked out the room since the pandemic.
I got a gift certificate for The Local Butcher, which I normally can’t afford. But when I was there, I saw frozen jars of “ramen duck broth”, $10 for 14 ounces. This is a very good deal, and I thawed it and re-froze in individual containers for my ramen. It’s delicious.
I went in for another jar a few weeks later and asked them if this was a regular offering, and they said yes, but hinted at a pork ramen broth (tonkatsu?). I didn’t look for it, but surely will next time I visit.
Sorry I didn’t take photos. I had the griled pork skewers, corn fritters, and the pork noodles. Were all excellent. Served in compostable takeout containers whether you eat in or not. Talked at length while waiting for my food with one of the owners. They are looking to offer more real Thai taste than the typical restaurants we have. I loved the taste of makrut limeleaves in the fritters, the sauces were great and not overly sweet like so many places. Friendly people, counter or QR code ordering. Lots of interesting looking Thai desserts. Definitely want to try the fried chicken next.
