FOOD DRINK
A foodie’s guide to East County dining
Editor’s note: A version of this guide to local dining first appeared in the 2024 edition of the Welcome! Magazine.
There is plenty of culture and great food in East County. Whether residents are in the mood for Mexican, American, Chinese, Japanese, Southern, Italian, or something else, East County boasts a vast and plentiful amount of food variety and tastiness. Here are some restaurants with great food:
Attraversiamo
Attraversiamo showcases a “Cal-Ital” menu using a farm-to-table approach. Almost everything served on the menu is gathered within 100 miles of the restaurant –including its tableware created by the Heritage High Clay Club. Attraversiamo strives to achieve a culinary standard without pretense or snobbery, and delivers plates full of local ingredients. 2485 Sand Creek Road in Brentwood. (925) 420-6506, https://attrabrentwood.com/
Cap’s Oak Street Bar & Grill
For the fans of Italian cuisine, Cap’s is your go-to for your Friday Date Night. With pasta, meat dishes, calzones, fish dishes and desserts, Cap’s is the place for a fabulous time. Their Banana Fosters are flaming good, and their pasta is so tasty it’s pre-pasta-rous. 144 Oak St, Brentwood, (925) 634-1025, https://www.capsrestaurant.com/
Samurai Teppanyaki Sushi Bar
The staff at Samurai Teppanyaki Sushi Bar pride themselves on providing excellent service with their authentic Japanese Teppanyaki and sushi dinner shows, according to owner Stan Lee. The Antioch-based restaurant provides a fun, friendly, and family-oriented experience with its pleasant, modern Japanese atmosphere and variety of teppanyaki dishes such as steak, chicken, seafood and vegetables prepared with fresh ingredients right before guests’ eyes as well as a wide variety of sushi rolls for every taste.5007 Lone Tree Way, Antioch, (925) 206-4644, (menu) places.singleplatform.com, https:// samuraiantioch.com/
Shirasoni
East County is home to a variety of good restaurants to suit everyone’s tastes.
Dinner and a show is always a great combination. Located on Lone Tree Way across the street from Chili’s, Shirasoni offers the options of regular table dining or sitting in front of a grill. The staff is friendly and the food is marvelous, ensuring a great time as you enjoy your meal. Shirasoni is the place to try delicious PanAsian cuisine. 6367 Lone Tree Way, Brentwood, (925) 240-7808, shirasonirestaurant.com.
Smith’s Landing
Smith’s Landing in Antioch is the self-proclaimed “quintessential waterfront dining experience” on the
see Dining page 3B
Stewart’s invites family and friends to enjoy our beautiful restaurant and delicious traditional Thanksgiving dinner! We are also offering a selection of steak, seafood and pasta for those who are looking for something a little different.
accepting reservations from 3pm - 7pm. For more information, please go to our website or
make reservations call us at 925-240-2828.
Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
The restaurant offers picturesque views of the water in addition to a menu that has a little bit of everything. From pasta dishes and steaks to appetizers and wild seafood, there’s something for everyone at Smith’s Landing.1 Marina Plaza, (925) 775-4862, https://www.smithslandingantioch.com/
Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grill
If you ever want to head to the bar on a Friday night to watch the Warriors, then head to Tailgaters. With locations in Brentwood and Antioch, Tailgaters offers great food, good drinks, and a friendly staff. One is sure to have an awesome experience at Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grill. 8065 Brentwood Blvd, Brentwood, (925) 513-8281, 4605 Golf Course Road, Antioch, (925) 754-2277, http://tailgaterssportsbars.com/.
Vic Stewart’s
240-2828, https://www.vicstewarts.com/
Vine+Grain
Vine+Grain redefines the bar experience without pretense or snobbery. Their guests can either set a reservation or walk in to sip, eat and relax. With two locations to choose from, both offer specialty cocktails, more than 40 wines, rotating craft beer and a seasonal changing menu. 2475 Sand Creek Road #112, Brentwood, (925) 513-5359, https://ilovevine.com/
The Yard
The Yard is one of the newest familyfriendly spots to get food or drinks in downtown Brentwood. Its communal seating plan encourages those who stop by to get together after a long workday and get to know each other better. For more information, see page 5B. 200 Oak St, Brentwood, https://brentwoodyard.com/
Zephyr Grill & Bar
American food could easily be described as hearty and filling. If you’re looking for something that meets these standards, check out Zephyr Grill & Bar in downtown Brentwood on First Street. Zephyr Grill & Bar is an upscale dining experience with a comfortable atmosphere. Zephyr is perfect for an evening date or friendly sit-down burger. With tasty food and drinks, it is a good place to have a good time with a good meal. 613 First St., (925) 418-4708, zephyrgrillbrentwood.com. Dining
Fine dining at Vic Stewart’s in Brentwood offers a relaxing and sophisticated dining experience in an elegant Western interior. Cherry wood tables, fine art and three fireplaces provide a welcoming environment. Its refined menu suits every age and palate, including mouthwatering aged Midwestern beef, fresh fish, pastas, chicken and vegetarian dishes. 2270 Balfour Road, Brentwood, (925)
Oakley to hold annual autumn festival on Oct. 26
The annual Oaktober Festival will take place in Civic Center Plaza on Oct. 26 to celebrate the fall season, the city of Oakley has announced.
“Join us for our 16th annual Oakley Oaktober Fest as we wrap up 25 amazing years of community fun,” City Manager Josh McMurray said of the event in an email. “Let’s celebrate the start of the fall season with music, costumes, great food, and all the
take place from noon until 4 p.m., and will feature the following attractions, including:
♦ 30 vendors selling a variety of wares
♦ A pumpkin decorating contest
♦ A petting zoo
♦ Food trucks selling a variety of options
♦ Beer and wine for sale
♦ Pet adoptions through JoyBound Pets (formerly ARF)
♦ A family-friendly costume parade
♦ A canine costume parade
♦ Live music performance by Dustin Heer, an Oakley musician
More information about Oaktober and other upcoming city events can be found at https://www.ci.oakley.ca.us/ recreation/special-events/.
JAKE MENEZ
‘Ultimate family hangout spot,’ The Yard, opens in downtown Brentwood
The Yard, a family-friendly outdoor eatery, opened last month at 200 Oak St. in Brentwood. The restaurant offers communal seating in a vibrant atmosphere that gives guests a backyard feel and encourages them to “love your neighbor,” according to their social media platforms.
Alyssa Roost, co-owner of The Yard, said the name “The Yard” felt “most fitting” for the new restaurant.
“Our turfed space, picnic tables and communal spaces feels like you’re in a friend’s backyard,” Roost said.
The casual dining space offers yard games to guests and “hometown vibes,” Roost said. Customers are able to place their order indoors and enjoy their meal in the outdoor dining space. According to Roost, the set-up is “working out great.”
“Guests are able to place orders on the inside at their convenience while their family can play cornhole or connect 4,” Roost said.
HONORING OUR
“As parents of an active 4 year old, we wanted to build a space where we could enjoy a meal and a great cocktail and he could play. So far, we’re all enjoying it
beyond words. He loves playing Jenga while we enjoy a burger and a Pickle Spritz.”
It is home of the Brentwood Smashburger and Pickle Spritz, according to their website, brentwoodyard.com.
“We wanted to be a burger shack at heart,” Roost said. “Having a small menu, with just a handful of options. Doing a few things with great quality is more important to us than to have a large menu and it only be half-great.”
Roost, who is also co-owner of two other local restaurants, said the best part of opening The Yard so far is the community.
“Having two restaurants in the Streets of Brentwood since 2014, our community is what made us want to open another in Brentwood,” she said.
“We also love how this space is so different than Vine+Grain and Attraversiamo, because it’s family-focused. Having a place for the kids to play while mom and dad have a Margarita is the best way to spend an afternoon.”
For more information, visit brentwoodyard.com, or find them on Instagram @theyard_brentwood. To comment, visit www.thepress.net
Publication Date: Nov. 1, 2024
Deadline for space reservation: Oct. 23, 2024 The Press’ Honoring Our Veterans special edition presents your business with a
NICOLE BECCHINA
Photo courtesy of The Hards Instageam
The Yard, featuring casual outdoor dining in a family-friendly atmosphere, opened last month in downtown Brentwood.
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Why Boba tea is big in Brentwood
By Connor Robles Correspondent
“It’s rare that you see an alternative to Starbucks continue to grow, and that’s what’s happening with Boba,” City Economic Development Manager Ricardo Noguera said.
In recent years, the tapioca pearl-filled Taiwanese milk tea known as Boba or bubble tea has exploded in popularity in the United States, with 240 Boba establishments and counting in the Bay Area as of September 2023, according to Yelp.
Ten are in Brentwood, Noguera said. Only a decade ago, there were none, so why are there so many now? To Noguera, it’s because young people desire more variety in their beverages, and as demand has risen, so too has supply.
“It’s because of demographics,” Noguera explained. “We have lots of young people who like [Boba tea]...it has a lot to do with millennials under 30 that enjoy new outlets.”
Noguera compared the growth of Boba cafes to that of Dutch Bros Coffee, whose upcoming third Brentwood location at the Streets of Brentwood was approved by the Brentwood Planning Commission in August.
One competitor, TeaZenTea was founded by Phu Nguyen and his wife Hsiang Li in 2017. Phu identified the large Asian community in the Bay Area as the cause for Boba’s growing popularity; since Asian culture is so familiar to Bay Area residents, they will more readily adopt aspects of it, including culinary aspects. He also credited the customiz-
able nature of Boba and the large number of toppings as another reason, giving Boba tea a “fun” reputation.
“My wife is from Taiwan,” said Nguyen, the TeaZenTea owner. “I’ve been to Taiwan, and loved the tea there. Over here, the tea isn’t as good quality as it is in Taiwan, so we wanted to open a shop to sell good tea,” Phu said. “We wanted to offer customers quality drinks along with a welcoming environment where people can gather, either with friends or families.”
Phu said most of his customers are in their teens and 20s, with a few others over 30 and a few children as well. As for why they come, he said that he believes that they notice the quality and diversity of the drinks at TeaZenTea and tell their friends, leading to more regular customers.
“We also have themed drinks every season,” Phu said. “It makes it more fun; this season we have our spooky series. We also do fundraising with high schools, and for disaster relief, and we gave out free masks during COVID. We believe in giving back, and we believe that helps bring people to our shop.”
Concord was forced to close by the coronavirus pandemic. Her first location was in Pinole, with Brentwood Boba Corner being her second. Business has been average, she said, due to a lack of name recognition among locals.
“This location opened in November of 2023, so not even a year ago. We wanted to open near Liberty High School, since kids love Boba now,” she said.
Boba outlets are a relatively recent arrival in Brentwood. The first place to serve the tea in the city was Quickly, a chain cafe whose Brentwood location was opened by Dat Nguyen in 2015.
“My family and I emigrated from Vietnam in 2010 with a hope for a better future,” Dat explained. “As a kid, I always enjoyed Boba drinks back home and continued to do so after coming to the U.S.. Quickly was the first Boba brand I tried in the U.S. and I’ve been hooked since.”
A more recent opening is the Brentwood Boba Corner, owned by Lakshmi Setti, who started her business after her family’s Indian restaurant in
Dat chose to open a Quickly franchise due to positive experiences that his friends and family had with the chain. He said business was good for the first five years, but the coronavirus pandemic and the rise of competing Boba outlets nearby have hampered his business. Why are young people are so fond of Boba? Setti said that they are look ing for different, novel drinks, which many boba outlets provide--not just Boba tea, but smoothies, slushies, and other cold drinks, which help cool them down on increasingly hot summer days.
This Week’s Events
Friday, October 18
Tree Trunk or Treat
Moon Valley Nurseries, 7021 Lone Tree Way in Brentwood, is hosting a free Halloween Trunk or Treat from 4-5 p.m. Kids in costume can trick-or-treating around the nurseries. Attendees are encouraged to dress up and have a spook-tacular time. For more information about Moon Valley Nurseries, visit https:// www.moonvalleynurseries.com/events/ halloween-trunk-or-treat
Empowering Families Together Dinner Fundraiser
The fundraiser will be from 6:30-10 p.m. at Cap’s Oak Street Bar and Grill at 144 Oak St. in Brentwood. Families Empowered and Transformed (F.E.A.T.) is a nonprofit organization serving families with Positive Parenting classes, supporting father involvement, domestic violence and anger management classes. Participation will directly support their scholarship fund, providing resources for families in need. General admission is $120 per guest and includes a dinner choice of Chicken Chardonnay or Tri-Tip. There will be a live auction, keynote speakers and more. For tickets or for more information, visit www.featcoco.org or call 925-234-4415.
Come Alive California-Worship Night
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for this outdoor event, and worship will be from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at 3501 Byer Road, in Byron. There will be a coffee truck, a food truck and spontaneous Baptisms. Admission is free, but participants should register their group prior to the event at www. camposfamilyvineyards.com.
Nukeville Nightmares-Presented by Condemned Compound and Brentwood PAL
This haunted house will be at 6181 Brentwood Boulevard in Brentwood. Gates will open at 6 p.m. and the haunted house will be from 7-10 p.m. There will be a jumpy house and a mini train. The attraction will be open on October 18, 19, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31. For more information, visit the Condemned Compound’s Facebook page @the condemned compound haunt
Saturday, October 19
Digs ‘n’ Rigs
From 9 a.m.-2 p.m., children of all ages can explore vehicles of all types in this handson event sponsored by The Rotary Club of Brentwood and Los Medanos College. LMC will offer older children exposure to educational
opportunities including public service, emergency services, utility, construction, landscaping, transportation and delivery industries at the Los Medanos College campus, 1351 Pioneer Square in Brentwood.
Marsh Creek State Park Hike, Lunch and Film Screening
This event will take place from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Marsh Creek State Park. Lunch will be provided by Taquiza Limon, and there will be a short film on the life of John Marsh. Participants will learn about the upcoming plans for the interpretive center and house restoration. Space is limited to 60 people. Tickets are $50. Register at, https://www. eventbrite.com/e/an-event-celebrating-johnmarsh-and-the-surrounding-marsh-creekstate-park-tickets-1012420716617?aff=oddtd tcreator.
Wine in The Bay
The 20th anniversary of this event is from 1-5 p.m. at Community Life Center, 2800 Camino Diablo Road in Byron. There will be local wine samples, local artisans, hors d’oeuvres, live and silent auction, cork draw and wine cooler draw. Tickets are $60. Proceeds will benefit various non-profits, including the Food Pantry, John Muir Mobile, youth, and senior citizens. This event is for those age 21 and older. For more information, visit www.anne.church or call Peggy 925-8905255 for tickets.
VFW Casino Night
The event, hosted by American Legion Auxiliary, is from 6-10 p.m. at the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building at 757 First St. There will be casino games, appetizers, beer, wine, music, dancing and more. Tickets are $125. For tickets or for more information, contact Dolores Long at (925) 584-6712.
Thursday, October 24
Soroptimist of the Delta Halloween Bingo
This Soroptimist International of the Delta fundraiser for educational scholarships given to local women and girls, will be at De Luna Ranch, 7540 Balfour Road in Brentwood from 5-9 p.m. Dinner and bingo games with cash prizes are included. Costumes are encouraged. Attendees must be 21 or over. Tickets are $50 each, and are available at Gursky Ranch, 1921 Apricot Way in Brentwood. For more information call 925-6344913 or visit http://SIofthedelta.com
Friday, October 25
Oakley Senior Citizens Casino Day Bus Trip
Round-trip motorcoach transportation to Redhawk Casino is provided. Participants
will meet at the Senior Center at 215 Second St. in Oakley and the bus will leave at 8 a.m. Reservations are $47 per person and must be paid by Monday, Oct. 21. To reserve a spot, call Joyce at 925- 626-7223 or Allan at 925-265-3417. The Streets of Brentwood-Treats at Streets
This free trick-or-treat event will be from 5-7 p.m. at 2455 Sand Creek Road in Brentwood. Trick or treat at the stores while supplies last. A free pumpkin with a $10 receipt from any The Streets of Brentwood retailer. One pumpkin per person per receipt while supplies last. One free treat per child while supplies last. For more information, visit https://shopstreetsofbrentwood.com/events.
Trunk or Treat at Delta Valley Health Club
Delta Valley Health Club’s annual free Trunk or Treat event will be from 5-8 p.m. at 120 Guthrie Lane in Brentwood. There will be more than 20 vendors, a jumpy house, candy, face painting, food trucks and more for all ages. For more information visit https://deltavac.com/
On the Horizon
Saturday, October 26
Paws on Parade
The Discovery Bay Lions Club presents Paws on Parade at the community center at 1601 Discovery Bay Blvd. from 9 a.m.-noon. There will be vendors, adoptions, canine demonstrations, photo opportunities, kids face painting and a dog parade. Prizes awarded for best costume.
Admission is free. For details, contact Rita Caruso at 925-640-5746 or rcaruso@homeownersfg.com, or visit discoverybaylions.com.
Halloween Party at Brentwood
ACE Hardware
There will be a barbecue demonstration outdoors – rain or shine – hosted by ACE Hardware. Inside, there will be free pumpkin decorating for kids, Halloween treats and local favorite Face Painting by Wandie. The event is from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at 8900 Brentwood Blvd. in Brentwood.
Hometown Halloween: Monster Mash Bash
The event will be from 4-8 p.m. in downtown Brentwood on Oak Street, First Street, and Brentwood Boulevard, from Third Street to Diablo Way and Chestnut to Maple. Trick-ortreating is free, and there will be booths from local merchants. For more information, visit http://brentwoodchamber.com.
Sunday, October 27
Kiwanis 2024 Pride of the Delta Restaurant Tour-Antioch Participants will have the opportunity to sample food from 10 restaurants from 1-5 p.m. Tickets are $20 and all proceeds benefit local charities. To purchase tickets contact Kay Power at 925-202-3519 or Allison Norris at 925642-5404. For more information and to see a list of participating restaurants, visit https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/pride-of-the-deltaantioch-restaurant-tour-tickets-998875131407
