Sprouts & Shutters: Grand Lake Kitchen, Zatis, Loot

Wondering what new businesses are opening up in your town? Our monthly “Sprouts & Shutters” column highlights restaurant, retail and other business news near Piedmont. 

New near Piedmont is Grand Lake Kitchen, a high-end deli that opened last month on Grand Avenue close to Gold’s Gym. The small eatery serves hearty pork-belly hash, chilaquiles, chicken wild rice soup, open-face smoked salmon sandwiches and other gourmet brunch and lunch dishes. On nice days, you can take your sandwiches across the street and dine on the park bench for a view of Lake Merritt. Also, Grand Lake Kitchen launched Hanukkah Dinner series with special guest chefs through Dec. 15 and it plans to offer dinner service soon. Learn more at grandlakekitchen.com.

As recently reported in Diablo Dish, Zatis, a Mediterranean restaurant on Piedmont Avenue, is closing after 22 years in business. Your last chance to dine there is Dec. 31. But that space won’t stay vacant for long: According to ABC records, a new restaurant called Homestead is set to replace Zatis.

Shopping for a one-of-a-kind holiday gift? You can try Loot, a shop filled with antiques, furnishings, table-top accessories and other eclectic items. You’ll find the new store (relocated from Lafayette) on College Avenue in Brass and Glass’s old space. Read more here in earlier Patch coverage.

Just in time for those New Year fitness resolutions: Game Changer Fitness opened Nov. 26 on Telegraph Avenue. The new gym offers personal training, body sculpt classes and the ever-popular rigorous bootcamp. Learn more at gcfitclub.com.

Commis owner James Shyabout will open Box and Bells early next year on College Avenue in Somerset’s old space. Read more in Patch’s recent New Restaurant Watch.

Shopping just got a little easier with Oakland’s free parking holiday program. Now on each Saturday through New Year's, you get two hours of free parking at city-metered spaces throughout Oakland. For details and limitations, go to http://www2.oaklandnet.com.

BERKELEY

A new vegetarian restaurant, Sliver Pizzeria, will be opening on Berkeley's Center Street in early January, replacing Sportiva Bar-Ristorante that’s closing Dec. 15. The new restaurant, started by three Cheese Board alumni, will feature vegetarian and vegan pizza made with local seasonal ingredients, a full bar and live multi-cultural music. The new Sliver Pizzeria will also donate part of its proceeds to Not For Sale, a Bay Area nonprofit dedicated to fighting human trafficking. Learn more on Sliver Pizzeria's facebook page.

The Griffin’s Nest Curio and Vintage Shop celebrated its grand opening last month on University Avenue. The new shop sells unique home accessories and home decor. Read more about the new store on its facebook page.

Berkeley’s Emerald City Gowns moved into a larger space on Fourth Street, opening its new store Nov. 1 upstairs from Zut. Emerald City Gowns specializes in consignment designer bridal apparel. Learn more at emeraldcitygowns.com.

Want to find out what else is opening the East Bay? Sprouts & Shutters now covers 21 cities. Read the latest columns covering the Walnut Creek area, Tri-Valley and Fremont/Tri-Cities communities.

Did you miss Patch's last retail and restaurant roundup? Read about these and more in our last Sprouts & Shutters column:  

• Bartavelle Coffee & Wine Bar in Berkeley
• Pimlico Place and the now-closed L'Amyx Tea Bar on Piedmont Avenue
• Trappist Provisions and A16 in Rockridge

Know of a business opening or closing close to Piedmont? Please tell Patch about it for a future Sprouts & Shutters column. Simply add it to this short form. Or send me a news tip at patchsprouts@gmail.com.

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