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2025 was a sweet yet nostalgic year for food and drink in the Tri-Valley. Longstanding restaurants closed. Some kitchens that were pegged to shut down such as the Stable Café keep turning out tacos. Despite losing Starbucks, new coffee shops poured in. My list of restaurants for Tri-Valley Foodist blogs grows longer including several planned for early 2026.
Properties such as Barone’s in Pleasanton were sold for housing. Owner retirements hit others such as Main Street Brewery. Leasing issues and overall economic conditions have affected others. Tariffs impacted skyrocketing costs of some globally sourced commodities including beef, coffee, chocolate, and beverages. Contradictory reports on the health effects of alcohol and new weight options challenged bar programs.
Surprises were in store for some venues that we expected to close. When horse stabling shuttered as the Alameda County Fairgrounds transitioned to year-round events, the Stable Café received a new contract to serve hearty breakfast and lunch plates daily from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Try menudo on weekends, and call to reserve tamales.
Chinese Szechuan continues to dish up Mongolian beef, honey walnut prawns, garlic eggplant, and much more. In Pleasanton since 1987, Huey Wang welcomes regulars and newcomers who crave broccoli beef in hot garlic sauce or Singapore noodles.
Cook’s Seafood surprised everyone by finally opening in May. Hook into Taco Tuesdays with a salmon option or order fish and chips with a regular or light batter. Crab season enables secret menu item Cajon-style crab boils.
I happily reconnected with longstanding Outback Steakhouse in Dublin for their desserts, special meal deals, and community-oriented free meal for veterans on Veteran’s Day.
Starbucks created a stir by closing six locations in the Tri-Valley. The arrival of Philz in Pleasanton pleased those favoring pour-over coffee drinks versus espresso. My friend Naomi told me about the proliferation of shops featuring Arabic coffee culture in Oakland, and the Tri-Valley is following the trend. For example, Delah Coffee opened in Dublin and Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. in Pleasanton.
KatsuMe Sushi and Grill replaced longtime Sozo Sushi in Pleasanton. The lunch bento box at $14.99 contains generous portions. The KatsuMe spring roll features an unusual, easy-to-eat format. Korean bulgogi with spicy pork barbecue is menued.
Asian buffets arrived in full force. In Pleasanton, Nikuya Stone Grill and Bar with buffet-style stone grill dining replaced China Lounge. East Bay Buffet resides in former McNamara’s Dublin location.
At City Center Bishop Ranch, Alora Social presents mezze and Mediterranean coastal food. Meyhouse opens a third location with Turkish specialties at the center in early 2026.
The restaurant options at The Shops at Waterford in Dublin are generating culinary buzz. With a modern, dramatic setting, Pippal presents Indian cuisine from a celebrity owner. Supermodel and Hinu cinema star Jatin Bunty Grewal and his wife Carolina share their favorite regional specialties.
At the same center, Bodrum Mezze & Cocktails specializes in seafood from Turkey’s Aegean coast. With a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean theme, Dish ‘n Dash plans to open at Hacienda Crossings in early 2026.
Aama’s Kitchen, a Nepalese and Indian restaurant recently opened in Livermore. I look forward to sampling their momo, savory Nepali dumplings, butter chicken, and other Indo-Chinese food.
Excitement has built around the Spanish cuisine at L Campo in Livermore. My friend Andrew raved about the paella, and I may visit soon. I miss Gianni’s Italian cuisine in San Ramon, but replacement Rosmarino has enlivened the menu and décor. Taverna Sorrento replaced Isola Osteria in Danville.
Other new owners have bought out business and maintained the brand of Tri-Valley favorites such as Primo’s Pizzeria & Pub in Danville and Alberto’s Cantina in Pleasanton.
Local restaurant businesses continue to expand. Owners of Sabio in Pleasanton and Crush’d in Danville are eager to open sports bar Pivot next year with elevated pub food replacing the long gone Faz at Pleasanton’s Four Points by Sheraton. Local restaurateur Randy Negi swapped The Vine & Spirits with Kaia’s Island Kitchen & Tiki Bar.
The area’s pizza wars are heating up. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Livermore houses the top slice of pepperoni pizza in the Bay Area. Corner Slice Shop beat out better-known pizzerias in a review of pepperoni offerings reported in October. Pizza lovers await the opening of Slice House in 2026, a franchise operation from Tony Gemignani, the 13-time World Pizza Champ with pizzerias in multiple states.
Meanwhile in Pleasanton, Much Ado About Pizza was listed—for the second year in a row—in Yelp’s Top 100 Restaurants. This year the daughter of the Zabrowski family owners won top honors in a youth pizza contest with her “Pigs in Paradise” pie.
News from the Tri-Valley beverage scene include both Darcie Kent at Darcie Kent Estate Winery and Rosie Fierro of Rosa Fierro Winery earning top spots in the 2025 Top 100 Women Owned Wineries in the U.S. in the Zoe Report.
Concannon Vineyards under new ownership by Lemmons Family Vineyards and Darcie Kent Estate Winery continues to offer hospitality and award-wining wine. Well known as a music venue, Almost Famous remains on Vasco Road serving Darcie Kent, Almost Famous, and Concannon wines. The new, major wine center on the Concannon property is in the planning stages.
I tasted many excellent Cab Franc wines this year including Culmination with vintner Rhonda and Harrison Wood from Wood Family Vineyards, Steven Mirassou, and recently with winemaker Meredith Sarboraria from Rodrigue Molyneaux Winery.
Brewery news relates to the demise of Gilman Brewing Co. in Pleasanton. Nearby Oyo restaurant owners Maurice and Sam Dissels have applied for a new liquor license at that location for the Union Jack Lounge and Kitchen. Maruice grew up in British Guiana, now named Guyana, and knows English food well, Del Cielo Brewing Co. opened their second location in Livermore with expanded food service, replacing Shadow Puppet brewery.
I discovered Livermore-based, guava-pineapple flavored hard spritzer from New Vintage Beverage in more shop and taproom shelves. The fruity Paraiso spritzer is a palate-pleaser with no added sugar, and only 7 percent ABV
During 2025, I sampled many wines for various articles. Wine from two underdog wine regions caught my eye. Though I am familiar with white wines like Pinot Grigio from the Veneto region in Italy, I recently enjoyed Maculan Palazzotto, an outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon from near Verona. Recently brought Vara Winery Sparkling Brut from New Mexico to holiday party and shared it with my friend Iliana Osterholt from Pleasanton. “Vara is good paired with gouda cheese, but I would choose Dom Pérignon to celebrate.”
I agree that Dom Pérignon is a great wine, But I will raise a glass of Wente Morning Fog Chardonnay and hope for sunny times for everyone in 2026.
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