Pasta Armellino expands to Cupertino
A little Michelin cred has come to Cupertino.
Two years after opening in Saratoga, Pasta Armellino, the Italian-themed offshoot from the Michelin-starred Plumed Horse, has expanded to the Main Street Cupertino complex.
The restaurant from executive chef Peter Armellino and co-owner Josh Weeks takes over the space that had been occupied by another Italian concept, Panino Giusto.
As in Saratoga, the team will be melding French influences with Italian sensibilities and California ingredients. “It’s my cuisine, and pasta is the vehicle,” Armellino said when opening the first restaurant.
Because of COVID-19 limitations, the restaurant has opened for outdoor seating and takeout and delivery orders only. (Indoor dining will come later.) It’s first come, first served for patio tables; no reservations are being taken at this time.
Armellino’s inaugural menu here features a select number of pastas, including his signature Pasta Armellino, tagliatelle tossed with crab, uni, Parmigiano and black pepper.
The restaurant is open daily: 5 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends.
DETAILS >> 19469 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino; www.cupertino.pastaarmellino.com
Chef Rodney Worth closes two more restaurants
Tri-valley restaurateur Rodney Worth has closed Worth Ranch in San Ramon and the 10-year-old The Little Pear in Danville.
As first reported by Patch, Worth cited that the coronavirus pandemic and the state’s “harsh business climate” contributed to his decision. He also said that the fallout from Pacific Gas & Electric Co. power shutoffs in late 2019 contributed to his decision to close.
The weekend power shutoffs were devastating to the restaurant, Worth said. He didn’t want to pass on the rising costs of beef and pork to customers at Worth Ranch, which opened four years ago on San Ramon Valley Boulevard.
The Little Pear opened 10 years ago at Blackhawk Plaza, an area of Danville that has experienced multiple vacancies in recent years. Worth said that the vacancies also played a factor in his decision to shut down.
The closures mark the third for Worth this year. In January, he shuttered Prickly Pear Cantina, also in Blackhawk Plaza. Worth’s other restaurants, Danville’s The Peasant & The Pear and Alamo’s The Peasant’s Courtyard are still open for business.
Comal Next Door taqueria opens in Oakland
Two years after opening a taqueria next door to their popular Cal-mexican restaurant in Berkeley, the Comal folks are doing it again.
Only this time in Oakland. Comal Next Door made its debut June 22 on Grand Avenue in the Adams Point neighborhood, in the former Barlago space.
Two years in the planning, the eatery was originally conceived as Bar Comal, a hybrid of Comal and Comal Next Door. But owners John Paluska and Andrew Hoffman and executive chef Matt Gandin decided that the COVID-19 era would be more conducive to the takeout concept.
So, as in Berkeley, they are offering curbside pickup and delivery of burritos, bowls and tacos stuffed with Berkshire pork carnitas, grilled achiote chicken, tofu chile verde and other locally sourced ingredients. The aguas frescas, chorizo, even the crema are made in-house.
Batched cocktails and beer are also available to go.
“With time we will expand our menu to include things like brunch as well as our takes on classic bar snacks like nachos,” Paluska said in a statement.
Comal Next Door is open from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily. And at some point the eatery will also offer indoor seating.