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2 more restaurants open in Safeway's Gateway Center
Baja Fresh adds outlet, Bagel Street Cafe moves from Raley's corner

Baja Fresh opened its second Pleasanton restaurant this week, joining Bagel Street Cafe at the Valley Avenue side of the new Safeway Gateway Center at Valley and Bernal avenues.

Bagel Street, which is celebrating its grand opening this week, offers a wide assortment of bagels and bagel sandwiches from an Asiago bagel with cream cheese to a turkey, bacon, avocado sandwich on a Dutch crunch roll.

The eat-in or carry-out cafe moved from its long-time location in the Oak Hills/Raley's shopping center on Sunol Boulevard.

Baja Fresh, which has long had a restaurant in the Stoneridge Shopping Center, moved into its more spacious, 2,000-square-foot second facility, which has an official address of 6762 Bernal Ave., although the restaurant backs onto Valley Avenue.

Baja Fresh is owned and operated by Anil Ahuja who has been in the restaurant industry for five years.

"I have always appreciated freshly prepared, great tasting food, and now I can offer that to my guests," Ahuja said.

He said the restaurant's "made to order" menu allows guests to customize their favorites including the restaurant's signature Baja Burrito made with fresh handmade guacamole and pico de gallo. The customizable menu also provides a choice of fire-grilled chicken breast, steak, pork carnitas, shrimp or Wahoo.

The new Pleasanton restaurant encompasses a contemporary design, including an interior incorporating the use of natural wood, stone and warm colors, in addition to a more accommodating seating plan.

"We believe customers new and old will truly enjoy the new Baja Fresh experience," said Charles Rink, the restaurant's president and chief executive officer.

Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Irvine, Baja Fresh Mexican Grill operates or franchises 230 restaurants in 25 states as well as in Dubai and Singapore.