New gastropubs: Santa Clara, Berkeley and Los Gatos
Dining Scene
Brewpub mania: In the Bay Area, brewpub restaurants are proliferating almost as fast as poke places. Here’s what’s new:
In Santa Clara, restaurateur n Charlie Moon and entrepreneur Derek Kempinsky have transformed a cavernous Santa Clara strip mall space into The Halford, a gastropub with seating for 100-plus — and a whopping 71 beers on tap. (Yes, we counted! We think that may put them at No. 2 on the South Bay tap parade, with the tap-crazy Yard House still No. 1.) Chef Matt Close (Firehouse Gastropub) upgrades the pub menu with charred baby octopus in a linguiça broth, maple-glazed duck leg confit and, for dessert, Guinness ice cream. Open daily, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (or later); 1494 Halford Ave.; http://thehalford.com.
The Half Moon Bay Brewing Co., n known as much for its ocean views and current events forums as for its brews, is opening its first outpost. Called Pacific Standard Taproom and Growler Station, this Berkeley venue’s taps will showcase beers from the on-site brewery, plus others. Chef Federico Godinez will offer a small but locally sourced menu of bites, including prawns in a Crystal hop-flower marinade, panini and pretzels. Open daily, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (or later); 2055 Center St.; www.pacificstandardtaproom.com.
In Los Gatos, the Youkilis Brothers n — Scott the restaurateur (Hog & Rocks, Hi-Lo BBQ in San Francisco) and Kevin the retired pro baseball player and beer lover — have turned the former local brewpub into Loma Brewing Co. The head brewer is Warren Billups, formerly with Heretic. Chef Aubree Arndt (Maverick in S.F.) is pairing his beers with a full menu that includes pork belly with bitter stout caramel, smoked trout flatbread and flatiron steak with salsa verde. Open daily for lunch/brunch and dinner, until 10 most nights, 12 Friday-Saturday at 130 N. Santa Cruz Ave.; www.lomabrew.com.
Another Mona: At Concord’s Oak Grove Plaza, Mona’s Burgers & Shakes has taken over the 54Mint Ristorante space. It’s an offshoot of the eatery that partners Dennis Aragon and Mouloud Toumert opened in 2015 in Walnut Creek. A popular choice is the Drunken Burger, made from Niman Ranch Angus chuck and topped with beer-honey sauce, blue cheese, bacon and crispy onions. During happy hour, 2 to 5 p.m., the $5.75 milkshakes (think Nutella, espresso flavors) go for $3. (BTW, 54Mint fans will find the original in San Francisco and one in Walnut Creek.) Open daily from 11 a.m.; 785 Oak Grove Road; www.monasburgers.com.
The scoop: Smitten’s ultra-fresh ice cream is now available in San Jose ,at Santana Row’s Park Valencia area. Yep, thanks to owner Robyn Sue Fisher’s brainstorm and a 2,000-liter liquid nitrogen tank in each shop, Smitten delivers ice cream to customers mere seconds after it’s made. Fall’s featured flavor is Creme Fraiche with Pear Caramel, made with organic Bartlett pears. Flavors, hours: www.smittenicecream.com.
Last chance: The Comal guys, John Paluska and Andrew Hoffman, say they simply weren’t able to make a go of it in Berkeley’s Elmwood district, so they’re closing their year-old venture, The Advocate. You have until Oct. 27 to get in some last dinners there. 2635 Ashby Ave.; www.theadvocateberkeley.com.