Berkeley restaurant closings

4Bells Public House

05.24.24: Nosh was saddened to hear from owner Jennifer Seidman (Acme Bar & Company) that May 26 would be the last day of service for Berkeley’s 4Bells Public House. “After a ten year battle with the landlords I have officially called it quits,” said Seidman in a statement, referring to her ownership of the space dating back to when it was the ill-fated Doc’s Refresher. “They have simply battled me out of business both financially and in spirit….I simply cannot afford to battle them any further.” 4Bells first brought the food, drink and spirit with bells on back in 2022. 4Bells Public House was at 984 University Ave. in Berkeley. 

Anthony’s Cookies Berkeley

05.17.24: We spotted the for sale signs on a drive down San Pablo Avenue, and soon after, readers started to write in with the news that the Berkeley location of Anthony’s Cookies had closed after seven years. Anthony Lucas’ cookie business founded in 2009 is going strong in San Francisco, and catering orders remain available. Anthony’s Cookies was at 2575 San Pablo Ave. in Berkeley. 

Bangkok Noodles & Thai BBQ

05.09.24: A Nosh reader was kind enough to share the news that Berkeley’s Bangkok Noodles & Thai BBQ has quietly closed after 24 years. The modern Thai noodle and barbecue shop, a Shattuck Avenue staple on the edge of downtown Berkeley, fed countless students and locals for reasonable prices over the years, including through the pandemic when downtown was mostly empty. It will be missed. Bangkok Noodles & Thai BBQ, 1958 Shattuck Ave. (near Berkeley Way), Berkeley

Daryoush Center Street

05.17.24: Berkeley has loved this sweet Persian restaurant well since its 2019 opening on Center Street, and now, like proud parents, we must watch it leave for Walnut Creek. The restaurant is moving like so many others on that corner, but not without a fond farewell. “To the vibrant community of Berkeley, your warmth, diversity and passion for good food have inspired us every single day,” reads the closing note posted on the front door. “And to the students of Berkeley University [sic.], your energy, intellect and zest for life have brought an extra sparkle to our restaurant.” Fans please note: Daryoush Walnut Creek opened June 1. Daryoush was at 2144 Center St. in Berkeley, and closed after service on May 20.

Market Hall Foods on 4th

05.24.24: As Nosh reported earlier, May 26 was the last day for Fourth Street’s specialty food emporium Market Hall Foods. The elegant, European-style market for wines, pasta, cheeses, specialty sandwiches, meats, pantry items, breads and other goodies first opened in 1996, and in a way served to anchor and set the tone for the entire, upscale, strolling shopping district. It’s easy to wonder if Fourth Street will be the same without it. Rockridge’s Market Hall Foods in Oakland remains open. Market Hall Foods on 4th was at 1786 Fourth St. in Berkeley.

Nuevo Sol

05.24.24: Nosh is sad to report chef Gilberto Monroy and family’s announcement that Nuevo Sol closed after service on May 27. From its opening in early 2022, the cheerful Mexican diner with the sunny back patio was a bright, homestyle spot along San Pablo Avenue near Gilman. Monroy was a cook at Bette’s Oceanview (now Oceanview Diner), and after 29 years there decided to open his first solo endeavor, blending Mexican and diner-style comfort dishes. The reasons for closing are unclear, but the announcement does mention a new business soon to take over the space. “This decision was incredibly difficult for our family,” said the closing note. “But ultimately we believe it is the right step for us at this time.” Nuevo Sol was at 1335 San Pablo Ave. in Berkeley, and closed after service May 27.

Top Dog Center Street

05.02.24: Don’t worry folks, the original Top Dog on Durant Avenue in Berkeley (since 1966!) remains open and ready for your quality sausage or frankfurter order, and Top Dog Lakeshore in Oakland isn’t going anywhere. But the Top Dog location on downtown Berkeley’s Center Street closed following service on May 2 after 20 years. As many Berkeley residents are probably well aware, the area at the corner of Center and Oxford streets is in transition, and many restaurants and retail outlets have been closing and/or relocating one by one in anticipation of big changes. The Center Street Top Dog is among those closures, though it might not be forever—according to a representative, Top Dog might reacquire its downtown spot in the future once construction settles. But for now … Top Dog was at 2160 Center St. in Berkeley.

Castro Valley restaurant closings

Lake Chabot Public Market

05.30.24: Alameda County firefighters responded to a blaze at the Lake Chabot Public Market in Castro Valley at 2:33 a.m. Thursday morning, May 30. The fire was “fast-moving” according to an Alameda County Fire Department statement, and additional fire units responded as the flames engulfed the building, causing the roof to collapse around 3:25 a.m. The market is the home to a half dozen small businesses, including C&H Meat Company, Mama Cho’s BBQ, Poke Go, Shumi Ramen, T4 and Milk & Cookie Bar. The cause of the fire is under investigation, and all of the businesses there are closed until further notice. The Lake Chabot Public Market is at 18911 Lake Chabot Rd. in Castro Valley. — Tovin Lapan

Fremont restaurant closing

Red Lobster Fremont

05.17.24: Multiple national media sources, including The San Francisco Chronicle, reported on May 13 that roughly 50 Red Lobsters had abruptly closed across the country, and fire sales of furnishings and kitchen equipment were underway. In the East Bay, the Fremont location is now permanently closed as of May 13. The Pittsburg and Vallejo locations of the seafood chain remain open. Red Lobster was at 39401 Fremont Blvd. in Fremont.

Oakland restaurant closings

Good Luck Gato & Ninth Life

05.17.24: Last fall, Low Bar co-owners and Hopscotch alumni Matthew Meyer and Daniel Paez teamed up with Hopscotch and Itani Ramen owner Kyle Itani to launch the “izakaya cantina” Good Luck Gato and neighboring cocktail lounge Ninth Life in Uptown Oakland. Now, as first reported by Eater SF, both have abruptly shuttered after less than a year in business. In a statement, Meyer cited a common refrain—not enough customers and the rising costs of doing business.

The duo took over the former Hopscotch space after it converted to catering (and now, take-out) and brought creative and whimsical ideas to their stretch of San Pablo Avenue. Ninth Life glowed with purple and red lighting and dripped with 80’s and 90’s nostalgia, naming drinks after The Big Lebowski and Good Will Hunting. Good Luck Gato fused together flavors and items commonly found in Mexican and Japanese casual drinking establishments, with dishes like a hamachi crudo tostada and uni elote.

Good Luck Gato was at 1915 San Pablo Ave. and Ninth Life was at 1911 San Pablo Ave. in Oakland. — Tovin Lapan

Lakeshore Cafe

05.24.24: Airy, old-fashioned Oakland refuge the Lakeshore Cafe, known for its courteous service and good omelets, for years served all day until late afternoon, closes for good on May 27. Nosh started hearing from readers several weeks ago (thanks all) about its possible impending closure, and now the cafe’s public announcement has shared the final details. Under current ownership, the clean, comfortable cafe with the high ceilings and Grecian pillars has served breakfast and lunch to the greater Oakland community for 22 years, but the space itself dates back to 1937, when it was first opened as the Lakeshore Deli. Lakeshore Cafe is at 3257 Lakeshore Ave. in Oakland, and closed permanently after service on May 27.

Lotus Falafel & Shawerma Oakland

05.09.24: Readers holding out hope that the 10-year-old, original location of Lotus Falafel & Shawerma might only be temporarily closed should gently put that hope down, as the family-owned Mediterranean eatery has left Oakland to focus resources on the Peninsula. Lotus now owns locations in San Bruno and, as of several months ago, Burlingame, but the Oakland falafel shop has closed. Lotus Falafel & Shawerma Oakland was at 377 19th St. in Oakland. 

Parkline

05.17.24: Yes, we know, it just opened, but Oakland’s new Parkline is now closed while the team regroups and awaits a beer and liquor license. Details are scarce but the group announced the temporary shut down on Instagram on May 13. Parkline is at 1918 Park Blvd. in Oakland.

Skyline Pizza

05.09.24: The Ridgemont neighborhood’s family-owned Skyline Pizza, a no-frills Oakland standby for pizza, garlic bread, calzones and sandwiches for 20 years, has closed for good. Skyline Pizza was at 4400 Keller Ave.in Oakland. 

Richmond restaurant closing

Dissident Spirits

05.30.24: As shared by the company on Instagram, Richmond’s intrepid local craft distillery Dissident Spirits has called it quits. Dissident was known for small-batch vodka, gin, whiskey, rum and a range of liqueurs, with some products, such as the Marina Bay Vodka, named for areas of Richmond. Spirits featured unique touches and processes (hopped whiskey), and many were infused with flavors such as plum, rose and peppercorn. The team first launched in 2021, and closure comes just shy of the newer tasting room’s two-year anniversary. “Evolving market conditions and insufficient growth have led to an unsustainable situation,” said the too-soon closing announcement. Eater SF first shared the news. Dissident Spirits was at 855 Marina Bay Pkwy. in Richmond.