Bobby Mac’s BBQ

Nosh was sorry to learn that chef Derrick Jones of the recently opened Bobby Mac’s barbecue restaurant in Crockett passed away unexpectedly in his sleep the morning of June 8. The Bobby Mac’s team announced the passing on Facebook, and hosted a tribute weekend to honor him June 22-23, and will again today through Sunday, June 28-30. A GoFundMe campaign has also been established to support Jones’ family. The team has since regrouped to formulate a possible full-time reopening plan, but, for now, please respect that the restaurant has temporary hours while they figure out next steps. Bobby Mac’s is at 601 2nd Ave. in Crockett.

The Graduate

Rockridge cornerstone dive bar The Graduate closes after service on June 30. Amazingly, the establishment has been guided by barkeep Javad Parsa for 37 years, the majority of its existence. Don’t miss the Nosh feature chronicling the legendary bar’s more than 50-year history for the full story, which includes a stint as a Hawaiian-themed watering hole. The Graduate will permanently close after June 30 at 6202 Claremont Ave. in Oakland.

Katana-Ya Ramen Japanese Restaurant

This news has been circulating to sad gasps among generations of El Cerrito residents: The little hill’s long-loved Katana-Ya Japanese restaurant, near the Yaoya-San Japanese grocery store, has closed. The friendly restaurant catered to families, dates and groups with big bowls of ramen and udon, a large sushi menu, many Japanese specialties and cheerful service for 31 years. Now already open in the restaurant’s space is new Tokyo Feng Ramen & Sushi. Katana-Ya was at 10546 San Pablo Ave. in El Cerrito.

Nomad Tibetan

Solano Avenue restaurant Nomad Tibetan is saying farewell after service on June 30. The charming, well-kept dining room from Tibetan refugee Jamyang Gyalkha was a Berkeley-Albany mainstay for 11 years for momos, noodle dishes, blood sausage and other traditional Tibetan fare, and will be missed. Nomad Tibetan is at 1593 Solano Ave. in Berkeley and closes after service June 30.

Understory

Oakland’s majority-queer-and-POC collective Understory will close after service June 30, and hopes to reopen with help from the community. The Old Oakland space frequently hosted events, and the worker-owned restaurant served a rotating vegan-friendly menu that featured dishes with Moroccan, Filipino, Mexican and other influences. Read more about the three-year-old restaurant that won the James Beard Foundation’s 2022 emerging leadership award in this Nosh deep dive from 2021. Understory closes at 528 8th St. in Oakland after June 30, and hopes to relaunch in a new location.