Editor’s note: Nosh covers food and restaurant news across the East Bay, and each week we publish one article covering all the restaurant openings and one article covering closings. Have a tip for Nosh? Submit it here. Subscribing to the Nosh newsletter is the best way to stay up to date on all of the openings and closings, breaking news, deeper developments, and events in the East Bay food scene.
Cafe Buenos Aires
The Argentine empanada-focused cafe with three other shops: one in West Berkeley and two locations in San Francisco, has expanded to El Cerrito. The cafe serves empanadas (including two vegan ones), smoothies, coffee drinks, alfajores, and other desserts and pastries. Cafe Buenos Aires, 6401 Fairmount Ave., El Cerrito
Holders House at Gold Palm
An Uptown Oakland bar is back in business after closing in early June — at least for the month of October. Gold Palm, the bar and restaurant located in the historic Oakland Floral Depot Building, is hosting a month-long pop-up with chef Sarah Kirnon under the auspices of Holders House, starting Friday, October 2. Kirnon ran Miss Ollie’s restaurant in Old Oakland for a decade. The menu will be Caribbean-inspired, while Gold Palm will serve cocktails. Holders House at Gold Palm will be open during dinner hours from Wednesdays through Saturdays, and on some other nights during Fox Theater shows. “We are hoping this is just the beginning of a fresh new chapter for Gold Palm and that we will be back open for nightly service in some capacity beyond October,” Gold Palm co-owner Daniel Gahr shared with Nosh. “We have some fun plans in the works on that front, but for now, we’re really looking forward to having the spot open again in October.” Holders House at Gold Palm, 1900 Telegraph Ave. (at 19th Street), Oakland
Pin Rice
A new Chinese spot has opened on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, near the Cal campus. However, it’s not new-new–it’s run by the sister restaurant of the popular handpulled noodle restaurant, Noodle Dynasty. Pin Rice is a revamped concept from Rice Dynasty and is still under the same owners. A manager tells Nosh that Pin Rice focuses on “Chinese comfort food” using fresh ingredients. Dishes include rice, soup, salad, and a protein. Protein choices include grilled chicken, grilled salmon, grilled grassfed beef, and also orange chicken “using real oranges.” you can also get orange chicken using real oranges. “We want to make everything fresh and high quality,” she told us. Pin Rice is still in its soft opening phase. Pin Rice, 2428 Telegraph Ave. (at Haste Street), Berkeley
Puerto Rican Street Cuisine
A fire devastated the San Antonio district location of Puerto Rican Street, but on the bright side, they are bouncing back. The owners will re-open the restaurant at the owner’s original location of his first restaurant (Borinquen Soul) in Oakland’s Dimond district, according to a report from KQED. Puerto Rican Street Food will open on Saturday, Oct. 3. Puerto Rican Street Cuisine, reopening at Two Star Market, 2020 MacArthurd Blvd. (at Cañon Avenue), Oakland
Souk Savanh2.0
A Lao and Thai restaurant made its soft opening debut in Albany on Sept. 28. Souk Savanh first opened in East Oakland and was then closed for 10 years. Earlier this year, it reopened in Uptown for a short stint serving budget-friendly rice plates before shuttering. Now, it’s back in business. The restaurant is located in the former Match Point Brewing taproom. The new restaurant will serve rice plates and noodle dishes, declared by KQED’s Luke Tsai as “one of the best” Lao spots he’s tried. Souk Savanh2.0, 745 San Pablo Ave. (at Washington Avenue), Albany
Sushi A
A new Japanese spot has opened in Oakland’s Old Oakland neighborhood next door to Ratto’s. Sushi A serves nigiri, special sushi rolls, and bowls, including chirashi. The restaurant is in the former Caffe 817 space. Sushi A, 817 Washington St., Oakland
