A modern Bear’s Lair coming to UC Berkeley
The Bear’s Lair, a beloved Berkeley hangout since 1962, is getting a major makeover.
The new restaurant and bar, which opens this month at the same address — 2465 Bancroft Way — has been modernized and redesigned with a gastropub menu, distressed wood communal seating and bright beer garden illuminated with festival lighting.
The remodeled fine-casual bar and grill is under the management of Reign Free, founder of The Red Door Group, a Bay Area catering company. Longtime
friend David Lawrence of 1300 on Fillmore is serving as consulting chef and helped create the diverse, fresh menu.
Look for his signature 1300 Fried Chicken Sandwich with jalapeno slaw and honey mustard dressing on a brioche bun in addition to other shared plates and entrees, like a California-style pizza, the Impossible Burger with tahini piquillo spread, grilled salmon with mint pomegranate tabbouleh and preserved lemon yogurt and a classic mac ’n’ cheese.
The restaurant will serve seasonal BLT sandwiches, as well as FOMO, or fear of missing out, fries, which will change regularly. Bear’s Lair’s service model will be similar to other fine-casual spots. Guests order food and beverage from the counter and select a table in the dining area with an order receipt in hand. Servers deliver meals and drinks tableside.
The beverage program will highlight 20 rotating beers, cider and kombucha on tap plus signature cocktails, and a selection of California and global wines available by the glass. BCooperative, the design firm behind Drake’s Dealership in Oakland, is behind the Lair’s new look, which will be open and airy, with seating for more than 100 guests and walls covered with archived Berkeley images.
Bear’s Lair Tavern will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at 2465 Bancroft Way, Suite 104, Berkeley. “Hoppy” hour specials will be offered from 3 to 7 p.m. weekdays. For updates, go to www.bearslairtavern.com.
Cholita Linda brings pan-Latin comfort food to Alameda
A wave of Oakland restaurateurs continue to open eateries in Alameda. The latest is the Temescal darling, Cholita Linda.
The pan-Latin restaurant famed for its fish tacos has been open at 1337 Park St. since Aug. 24. Whether or not you live on the island, you’ll be willing to cross a bridge or zoom through a tube for its Latin American street fare, which includes spit-roasted pollo al pastor, savory pulled pork Cubano sandwiches, pescado fritos plates and crave-worthy sangria that has been packing
its brightly colored Oakland location since it opened in 2014.
Before that, owners (and Oakland native) Vanessa Chavez and husband Murat Sozeri served their cuisine at farmers markets. You can still find them at Old Oakland Farmers’ Market (Fridays), Temescal Farmers Market (Sundays) and Jack London Square Farmers’ Market (Sundays).
The new Alameda location, in the former Flavors of India space, has the same popular menu and bold colors as the original location and will retain its soft opening hours of 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily for now. For updates, go to www.cholitalinda.com.