Like fluctuating March climate, lots of the following venues have been vibrant success tales till the pandemic and its bleak fallout. A couple of have been a long time outdated and can go down in East Bay historical past.
As at all times, please ship closing tricks to nosh@berkeleyside.org.
Berkeley
PAPPY’S GRILL & SPORTS BAR Pappy’s was the most recent incarnation of venerable bar Larry Blake’s, a bastion for Cal college students (and sports activities followers particularly) for 71 years. When Blakes closed for good in 2011, Pappy’s opened within the house early the next yr, with two ranges of drinks, sports activities, meals, pool and dancing. All through its 10 years, the bar underneath Pappy’s administration was by no means fairly a slam-dunk with the better Berkeley neighborhood — it developed a bit of a reckless reputation, misplaced its liquor license, and was, at occasions, a gateway for unlucky occasions on Telegraph Avenue. Nonetheless, Nosh suspects there are various former Pappy’s regulars on the market who’re mourning its loss. We’ll be curious to see what’s subsequent for the storied bar. Pappy’s Grill & Sports activities Bar was at 2367 Telegraph Ave.
VITAL VITTLES It was 46 years outdated and considered one of Berkeley’s best-loved corporations, however natural bread bakery Very important Vittles closed March 31, for causes starting from pandemic-related points to the well-being of its house owners. Based by Kass Schwin and her ex-husband Joe Schwin in 1976, Very important Vittles grew to become well-known for nourishing, whole-grain bread merchandise so coveted by followers that the model was in demand throughout the nation and actually sent into space. The Schwins offered the bakery in 2006 to devoted worker Huong Tran, whom they employed in 1981, and her brother Binh Tran. For 16 years, the siblings labored tirelessly alongside employees to take care of the bakery’s excessive requirements, however as defined by Nosh contributor Anna Mindess in her closing feature, when 2020 hit, peak pandemic provide chain points (bear in mind the scarcity of flour?) and dwindling demand for perishables reminiscent of contemporary breads quickly depleted the corporate. By the point Very important Vittles closed, it was simply brother and sister operating the bakery, and so they have been understandably drained. We pay tribute to them and the bakery’s native legacy and need them a nicely–earned relaxation. Very important Vittles was at 2810 San Pablo Ave.
YOMIE’S RICE X YOGURT Surprisingly, this purple rice drink chain by no means fairly gained sufficient foot visitors at its Berkeley location close to campus, based on sources within the franchise, and closed after solely a number of months. Yomie’s areas stay open in Oakland and San Leandro. Yomie’s Rice X Yogurt Berkeley was at 2107 Addison Ave.
Oakland
MISS OLLIE’S Chef-owner Sarah Kirnon’s 10-year-old Caribbean haven Miss Ollie’s made an impression far past good cooking. As described by Tablehopper: “Miss Ollie’s is way more than only a place famend for its skillet-fried hen— Sarah is a builder of friendships, a instructor to many within the Bay Space culinary neighborhood, and at Miss Ollie’s, is nurturing a sacred house for her neighborhood to collect in, a spot the place Black and queer folx are celebrated, seen, cared for, honored, uplifted, and sure, well-fed.” That fried hen, although. From its opening in 2012, Miss Ollie’s, named for Kirnon’s Barbadian grandmother, was typically on the Bay Space’s superlative lists; in 2015, meals author and former Chronicle meals editor Paolo Lucchesi referred to as Kirnon’s cooking amongst his best meals of the year. In 2021, with pandemic classes to go on, Kirnon eyed a potential restructure of Miss Ollie’s conventional restaurant format into extra of a nonprofit refuge with rotating visitor chef pop-ups, however her imaginative and prescient, referred to as Sanctuary, didn’t come to move in that house. Doesn’t imply the restaurant wasn’t one, although, and doesn’t imply Sanctuary gained’t occur. Actually, as KQED’s Luke Tsai explains in his considerate closing feature, Kirnon hopes to search out future Oakland areas for each Miss Ollie’s meals and the Sanctuary mission. However for now, Miss Ollie’s was at 901 Washington St.
Past
AMERICAN OAK Pour slightly out: Good-looking whiskey bar and steakhouse American Oak closed March 26 after 15 years. From the venue’s Facebook page: “We’re extraordinarily grateful to and appreciative of our 1000’s of great clients over time — particularly our loyal core of diehard regulars. You recognize who you’re and we’ll always remember you. Please keep secure and wholesome and bear in mind to be sort to at least one one other. Thanks once more, we’ll miss you.” American Oak, Alameda will miss you again. Due to a form tipster for the alert. American Oak was at 2319 Santa Clara Ave. in Alameda.
TAQUERIA EL SALVA MEX Grateful to a reader for letting Nosh know that this eclectic El Cerrito taqueria identified for its Salvadoran and Mexican dishes closed in February after practically 10 years. Regardless of its signage, the cash-only eatery was solely ever known as El Salva Mex. (As one Yelp reviewer wrote, “The ‘Taqueria’ is silent.”). It was a go-to for a lot of for carnitas tacos, chiles rellenos, pupusas, menudo and different specialties. El Salva Mex was at 11252 San Pablo Ave. in El Cerrito.
Quickly Closed
AWAZI KITCHEN In accordance with house owners, Oakland Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurant Awazi Kitchen is quickly closed for a couple of weeks whereas the restaurant undergoes a refresh. Awazi Kitchen is at 1009 Clay St. in Oakland.
ENDLESS SUMMER SWEETS Limitless Summer season Sweets’s short-term closure (since December) in all probability appears limitless to followers. Preserve calm and look ahead to updates, Sweets fans — the dessert store will reopen ASAP in its new digs at 2358 Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley.
GAY4U West Oakland vegan eatery Gay4U’s closure state of affairs may be essentially the most constructive hiatus on this record. Actually, it’s much less of a closure and extra of an empowered migration, as gender-expansive proprietor Ginger Espice ventures forth to take their vegan specialties and mission — as described by KQED’s Paloma Cortes, “to make queer and trans folks of coloration really feel welcomed, seen, accepted and supported” — on the highway for a multi-state pop-up journey. You go, buddy. However please don’t neglect to come back again to us. Gay4U was at 1327 Peralta St., and would possibly return, keep tuned.
