Welcome to the third installation of New in the East Bay, a monthly look at the latest restaurant and bar openings on this side of the Bay Bridge.

The eyes feast before the mouth, and new restaurants opening in the East Bay are delighting diners with creations that are both visual and taste treats.

Take the delicate phyllo-based pastries at an Oakland coffee shop teeming with faux flowers, where the owners are also serving up fragrant rose lattes and lemonades. And a Bay Area chain is hooking dessert lovers with soft serve in whimsical fish-shaped cones.

Other noteworthy newcomers are serving Korean tofu stews, craft spirits and chapli kebabs. And popular hot chicken operation Hotbird made its return to Oakland, where it debuted in 2017 as one of the first to offer Nashville-style chicken in the Bay Area.

For more recommendations, see our monthly guide to the Bay Area’s must-try new restaurants.

Hotbird returns to Oakland

San Francisco’s Hotbird has moved to Oakland’s Uptown neighborhood. The spicy chicken spot, owned by Aaron Nam and Caleb Longacre, was a fixture at Oakland’s First Fridays in 2017 before moving to a food truck and eventual kiosk in Twitter’s Mid-Market building. The restaurant, featuring a mural of a fire-breathing red chicken, specializes in Nashville-style hot chicken sandwiches: crispy fried meat lacquered with pepper-infused oil and served with apple-vinegar slaw, a signature sauce and dill pickles on a buttered bun . Fish and chips, wings and cheddar-infused grits topped with charred tomato and pickled corn salsa, round out the menu. Beers for sale include IPAs from Berryessa Brewing Co. and Oakland Unite’s black lager.

1951 Telegraph Ave. #2, Oaklands. 11:30am-3pm, 5-9pm Tuesday-Saturday. hotbirdoakland.com

Old Damask Rose Coffee in Berkeley is owned by the same family behind Old Damascus Fare, which closed during the pandemic.

Janelle Bitker/The Chronicle

Former Syrian restaurant owners open cafe

Pink paint and strands of frilly flowers adorn the former Jumpin’ Java space in Oakland’s Rockridge district, now home to Damask Rose Coffee. The cafe serves the usual coffee-based drinks along with specialty beverages such as rose lemonade and lattes. Among the pastry offerings are baklava, warbat (an Arabic pastry similar to baklava) and birds’ nests cradling pistachio fillings. The coffee shop is run by the former owners of Old Damascus Fare, one of the Bay Area’s few Syrian restaurants, which closed during the pandemic.

6606 Shattuck Ave., Oakland. 7am-6pm daily. damask-rose.square.site

Korean eatery replaces beloved Berkeley Italian restaurant

Korean Superette has opened up in the space of the former Rivoli on busy Solano Avenue in Berkeley. The mini-mart and comfort-food operation sells packages of instant ramen and homemade kimchi alongside mandu (dumplings), tofu stew and bulgogi. While its kitchen closes at 7:30 pm, the market is open until 9 pm, allowing home cooks the chance to run in and grab some banchan, Korean side dishes such as pickled radish, to go with their meals. The restaurant kept Rivoli’s patio, allowing diners the option of eating indoors or outdoors.

1539 Solano Ave, Berkeley. 11am-9pm daily, 510-529-4009

Distilled spirits up for grabs

Richmond distillery Dissident Spirits, which produces craft rum, vodka, gin and acquavite d’uva, a grape-based liquor, has opened a tasting room. If you’re lucky, you’ll stop by on a day the staff is whipping up martinis and other cocktails with their small-batch booze. The distillery team is currently experimenting with amaro and whiskey, according to its Facebook page. Limited quantities of Dissident’s spirits are available for purchase.

855 Marina Bay Parkway, Richmond. 1-6pm Thursday and Saturday. Dissidentspiritsco.com

A matcha soft-serve ice cream at Uji Time, the Bay Area dessert chain that just opened in Concord.

Liz Moughon/The Chronicle 2018

Instagram-worthy desserts arrive in the suburbs

Bay Area dessert chain Uji Time has opened its sixth location in Concord. The shop is known for its taiyaki cones, where batter is poured into sizzling-hot griddles in the shape of an open-mouthed fish. They’re topped with soft-serve flavors including matcha, ube, black sesame and vanilla, with an option to fill the cone with red bean paste or Nutella. Regular cones and tofu-based ice cream are also available.

1679B Willow Pass Road, Concord. 11am-9pm Sunday-Thursday, 11am-9:30pm Friday-Saturday. ujitimedessert.com

Tri Valley gets a new Afghan spot

Afghan restaurant 786 Kabob House has opened in a strip mall in the foothills of Danville. The eatery offers chapli kebabs, made with ground beef mixed with fragrant spices, plus chicken, lamb and tri-tip marinated in-house. For dessert, there’s a regional take on baklava, plus firni, an Afghan pudding flavored with cardamom and topped with pistachios.

3407 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville. 11:30am-9pm daily. 786kabobhouse.com

New espresso bar comes to Berkeley

Berkeley native Tommy Judt has opened the Line Coffee, serving espresso drinks made with beans roasted in Vallejo. Drip and cold brew are also available. The Line Coffee also serves pastries baked daily, including croissants and empanadas, with vegan options sometimes available. For heartier fare, there are caprese sandwiches, avocado toast and deep-dish quiche by the slice.

3001 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley. 6am-3pm Monday-Friday. thelinecoffee.co

Gwendolyn Wu (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: gwendolyn.wu@sfchronicle.com

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An aperitivo-inspired bar, a Greek fish house, a new hotel on Union Square, and more.

Photo by David Varley, courtesy Estiatorio Ornos

So we have apparently … more than half of 2021 ?! It’s been a year of ups and downs here in San Francisco, to say the least. But we are optimistic as vaccine numbers keep rising and the people of this city, challenges and heartbreak aside, continue to showcase the beautiful, creative things that we are made of.

And over time, new things keep growing here. There’s a whole wave of openings this fall, from reinvented drinking destinations by San Francisco’s top bar stars, to California-influenced Russian and Georgian dishes, to wine galore (paired with records! For sale alongside vintage glassware!). We’re even getting a new hotel in Union Square! As September approaches and the fog (hopefully) recedes from the western edge of the city, we look forward to eight openings that we are particularly looking forward to:

At home

Mission District
Opening date: August
It’s a universal San Francisco truth that a new bar from Bon Vivants Hospitality – the brilliant minds behind Trick Dog, still one of the best cocktail hangouts in town – is worth checking out, ASAP. That said, we can’t wait to see Chezchez, the BVH’s newest project, a celebration of the aperitivo culture. Housed in the former Bon Voyage! space, Chezchez is a two-story, light-flooded indoor-outdoor bar that captures the feeling of enjoying drinks and snacks on the terrace in the early evening hours in France, Italy, Spain and beyond. The focus of the drinks are classics like martinis, negronis and of course spritzer (each with classic, creative and non-alcoholic versions) and a robust wine list courtesy of BVH Beverage Director Jennifer Colliau, ChezChez operating partner and sommelier Drew Record, and BVH founder Josh Harris . The complementary menu from BVH Chef de Cuisine Timmy Malloy is all about simple snacks – fritto misto, cheese and sausages and, best of all, a selection of first-class imported conservas.

Photo by Kelly Puleio, courtesy Le Fantastique

Hayes Valley
Opening date: August
White wine, raw fish and records are the stars of the show at Le Fantastique, a dreamy wine bar concept by Chef Robbie Wilson and Emily Perry Wilson. The couple who own the acclaimed Bird Dog in Palo Alto create a soulful yet low-key space that revolves around their own vision of an ideal evening. Expect creative raw fish offerings with French-inspired flavors and Japanese technique, fresh sourdough shokupan from Joe Hou (formerly by Angler), served with homemade butter (and essential additions like local seaweed or spicy crab fat) and a wine list with an extensive selection of white and , Rosé and champagne from sustainable French producers. Thanks to a custom-built Macintosh sound system that revolves around a 1970s turntable and Robbie’s vinyl selection, the mood is guaranteed to be on point too. The entire room was designed for optimal acoustics, but true audiophiles would do well to visit the record store, a special “listening corner” and a private dining area.

Photo by David Varley, courtesy Estiatorio Ornos

Embarcadero
Opening date: September
252 California Street has a glorious history in San Francisco’s dining history – home to chef Michael Mina’s Aqua and later its flagship island restaurant of the same name. This new concept was developed in collaboration with chefs Girair “Jerry” Goumroian and Nikolaos Georgousis and focuses on light, fresh seafood preparations using fish from the region and the Aegean, courtesy of (and San Francisco’s first) “Fish Sommelier “. Fish will come in a variety of preparations, from wrapped in grape leaves to salt crusts to simply grilled with olive oil and lemon. There are both fixed-price menus and à la carte options, with an emphasis on sharing; The room, which is supposed to be reminiscent of the sun-drenched Ornos beach, has a palate of blue and white accented with Mediterranean tones.

Photo courtesy of BürgerM

Union Square
Opening date: October
A new hotel opening in San Francisco feels more like an event, especially when this hotel opens in the middle of Union Square. That’s where CitizenM, an Amsterdam-based hotel brand focused on affordable luxury and new, technology-friendly features, comes in this October. This will be CitizenM’s first California property – the 195-room hotel will include a fitness center and a public rooftop terrace. This is the first of three hotels planned for the Bay Area, with SOMA and Silicon Valley locations.

Castro
Opening date: October 1
The Castro gets a piece of Naples this autumn with Vico Cavone, an ode to the southern Italian city by Alessandro Raimondi, Sanaa Hams and Giancarlo Esposito. Originally from Naples, Raimondi wants to bring the traditional Napoletana culture to the fore with a menu of pizzas, fresh pasta and Italian desserts. The restaurant is named after one of the oldest streets in Naples – Vico Cavone is home to a high concentration of pizzerias and where Raimondi’s father grew up. Look forward to a quick lunch alongside the main attractions, a large selection of wines, and cocktails made with fresh, Mediterranean-inspired ingredients such as basil, rosemary, and tangerine.

Photo courtesy of Osito

Mission District
Opening date: 15th October
Chef Seth Stowaway has been repeating his first restaurant, Osito, in years, drawing inspiration from his Texas childhood, Northern California products and the Mission District, while his years of experience as a sous-chef at Mister Jius and the head chef at Bar Agricole Group. But the heart of the daily changing, multi-course meal at a fixed price is the fire: Osito will be San Francisco’s only 100% live fire restaurant. As such, the restaurant revolves around a steel and brick fire pit, with simple, natural materials like reclaimed mammoth wood, sugar pine, and stone dominating the dining rooms. As for the daily changing menu, you can expect breathtaking products from local farms, a counter carved from whole animals and served with bonchons as well as dessert and cheese offers, all accompanied by seasonal cocktails or carefully selected wines. There will be two seats per night – tickets are $ 295 per person, with optional wine pairing for $ 95; Reservations for the opening in October can be made here. The Osito bar will also have a more casual experience with drinks and Tex-Mex snacks from the wood-fired oven.

Castro
Opening date: beginning of November
Beth Hughes has always loved food and drink – passions she has pursued since she moved to San Francisco ten years ago. The former manifested itself in her work as a pastry chef and bread baker at the praised Tartine Bakery and as a pastry chef at Blue Plate. The latter, which was driven forward in the culinary school and developed during months of work in vineyards in the south of France, will be realized this autumn in the form of Bottle Bacchanal, a boutique bottle shop in the heart of Castro that specializes in natural wines, cider, schnapps in small quantities and craft beer as well “Everything you need to enjoy your drinks,” per Hughes (think of unique vintage glassware, bar sets, and educational reading materials). Additionally, Hughes wants the store to be a real hub for the community and plans to host tastings, classes, and events.

Noe valley
Opening date: autumn
Russian and Georgian cuisine gets the Californian treatment at Birch & Rye, a brunch and dinner destination by chef-owner Anya El-Watta and chef de cuisine Amiran Tskhvaradze, which opens in the Noe Valley. Originally from Moscow, El-Wattar plans to combine traditional flavors and dishes from her childhood with an ethos developed at New York’s Natural Gourmet Institute and the famous vegetarian travel destination Greens in San Francisco. Originally from Georgia, Tskhvaradze left a lasting impression on guests and critics at Bevri in Palo Alto. Look for traditional dishes with a twist, like beet borscht with sour cream and rye crotons and golubsti, cabbage rolls with Wagyu beef. The famous Georgian Kachapuri Adjaurli will definitely make an appearance, likely topped off with changing seasonal vegetables, along with a selection of Georgian, Californian, and French wines, a vodka-centered cocktail menu, and craft beers.

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Lauren Sloss is a San Francisco-based travel, food, and music writer who has served in Philadelphia, New York, London, Istanbul, and aboard a 32-foot sailboat. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.

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The rules allow access to leisure activities within the framework of the guidelines prescribed by the respective health officer of the individual districts in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

One of the most significant changes came at Mount Diablo State Park, where a contingent of vehicles was ordered for the first time as part of the reopening.

The majority of the Bay Area locations that will remain closed are in the state-administered Golden Gate National Recreation Area, including parking areas in San Francisco, Alcatraz Island, and staging areas in the Marin Headlands. Other significant closings remain at all state park campsites and major recreational lakes, including the entire Los Vaqueros watershed, as well as boating and fishing at the San Pablo, Lafayette, and Del Valle Reservoirs.

Here’s the latest on what’s open and closed in the Bay Area:

Outdoors by Tom Stienstra

San Francisco

The GGNRA opened parking lots at both Baker Beach and China Beach.

The Oceanic Society, which emphasizes social distancing, will take its first whale watching tour of the season from Marina Green Harbor on Saturday.

Party boat trips started from Fisherman’s Wharf with trips out into the bay for halibut, striped bass, and rockfish, and to the Golden Gate for salmon. On Tuesday, Capt. Erik Anfinson of the Bass Tub took 12 anglers out into the bay and reported that they caught seven halibut (and released four), five striped bass (and two released), 22 cod (and 15 released), 86 rockfish (and 17 released ), plus six vermilions and a seaweed greenling.

Marin

After Point Reyes National Seashore closed in late March, it opened most of the main rest stops to access the park’s 71,000 acres: Bear Valley, Sky Trail, Limantour Beach, Drakes Estero, Drakes Beach, Abbotts Lagoon, Pierce Ranch, and Five Brooks. The kayak launch site for Drake’s Estero, which is in close proximity to Sir Francis Drake, has also opened. Major areas that are still closed include Point Reyes Lighthouse, Chimney Rock Headlands, Palomarin Trailhead, Mount Vision, and South Beach, and all visitor centers.

The Marin Municipal Water District opened its water catchment areas to parking. These include the staging areas and trailheads along Bolinas-Fairfax Road to Cataract Falls, Carson Falls and Lagunitas Creek on Kent Pump Road. Access to the trails has also been reopened by Sky Oaks for Lakes Lagunitas and Bon Tempe, as well as North Nicasio, Soulajule and Stafford counties.

Marin County Parks has reopened Agate Beach in Bolinas, Whitehouse Pool on Lower Lagunitas Creek, Chicken Ranch Beach on the southwest end of Tomales Bay, Miller Boat Launch on the northeast end of Tomales Bay, and Paradise Beach in Tiburon.

Fishing with party boats was also resumed from Sausalito.

South peninsula

At Pillar Point in Half Moon Bay, the boat ramp opened and party boat fishing finally started. The Huli Cat ventured on her first excursion Tuesday with eight anglers on board, said Captain Tom Mattusch, who reported she was caught with 80 dungeness crabs (10 per person limits) and 75 rockfish (five out of 10 fish limits for everyone on board ) had returned).

Half Moon Bay State Beach has reopened with limited parking and access to beaches and the 6-mile Coastside Trail. This contributed to beach openings last weekend, including Montara State Beach (in the Martini Creek parking lot), Mavericks Beach at Pillar Point, Francis, Venice, and Poplar Beaches in Half Moon Bay and south of Half Moon Bay the beaches at Cowell Ranch in San Gregorio, Pescadero and Bean Hollow. All offer limited parking and no on-street parking when available spaces are full, state park officials said.

In the remote regions of South Bay, the Big Basin Redwoods near Boulder Creek and Henry W. Coe State Parks reopened. In Henry Coe, ready-to-use parking areas have been opened at both the headquarters east of Morgan Hill and the Hunting Hollow car park east of Gilroy.

East bay

At Mount Diablo State Park, the reopening with a contingent of vehicle access is a major turning point for the hundreds of road cyclists who ride to the summit every day.

In the East Bay Regional Park District, both Alameda and Contra Costa County’s sheriffs ordered a 8:00 p.m. curfew this week “until further notice” in all parks. Access is available at approximately 50 parks and major catchment areas, including the Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline, Bort Meadow for Anthony Chabot, Garin, Las Trampas, Mission Peak, Morgan Territory, Sunol, and Round Valley.

East Bay Parks also introduced new rules this week that require dogs to be kept on a leash at all times.

Tom Stienstra is the outdoor writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: tstienstra@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @StienstraTom

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