ONE DAY in Livermore

Ivermore is so much more than the home of that famous nuclear lab. The city’s downtown bustles, and its buzzy restaurants, thriving wineries and brewery scene send a siren call. A beer trolley? A hot dog-mezcal bar? With a dozen new ways to eat, drink and

LNEW EATS

All sorts of fun eateries have taken root in Livermore in recent years. Challenging as it must be to open a new business during a pandemic, locals and visitors alike are benefiting from the delicious additions.

Wingen Bakery tops this list. Pastry chef Aimee Wingen, whose resume includes stints at Oakland’s now-shuttered Homestead and Livermore’s Range Life, and husband Bryan opened this pastry spot in June. The cafe is a gluten-filled dream with sourdough breads, bagels, baked goods and fantastic specials — like the eggplant Parmesan sub and fig toast with chevre we sampled on our visit. Local produce, carefully sourced ingredients and heartfelt craft are all vividly present.

Bar Quiote, which opened last spring, is a fun new spot that specializes in mezcal and hot dogs. (Yes, really — and we are helpless to resist.) The robust, comprehensive mezcal list is available by the glass or the flight. And that hot dog menu is wildly creative, with nine varieties ($9-$12) including the namesake Quiote Dog, served with smash beans, bacon, salsa verde, chili oil and cotija cheese. They do non-hot dogs, too, including chili, queso and Oaxacan-style peanuts, a must for any mezcal tasting session — and agua frescas for kids and the non-mezcal crowd.

And Da Boccery, the most recent endeavor by the saucy folks behind Plucked and Sauced, just wants you to have a good time. The new place took over the old Campo di Bocce digs this summer with a game menu that includes bocce, of course, and ax throwing, cornhole, foot pool and more. With pizzas ($15-$23), creative sandwiches ($17$24), fish and chips ($23) and a kids menu, there’s something here for everyone.

DETAILS >> Wingen Bakery opens at 8 a.m. Wednesday-Sunday at 50 S. Livermore Ave.; www.wingenbakery.com. Find Bar Quiote at 112 Maple St., where the bar opens at 4 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday and noon Friday-Sunday; www.barquiote.com. And Da Boccery opens at 11 a.m. daily (and 9:30 a.m. Sundays) at 175 E. Vineyard Ave.; www.daboccery.com.

ABOVE AND TOP: COURTESY OF AMBER TURPIN LEFT: DOUG DURAN — STAFF ARCHIVES Bar Quiote is a fun new spot specializing in mezcal and hot dogs in downtown Livermore. The mezcal list is comprehensive. Try them by the glass or flight. And for the kids? Enjoy agua fresca, also perfect paired with one of their nine varieties of hot dogs.

The fig and chevre-topped toast at Livermore’s new Wingen Bakery is a winner.