Vegan Favorite Millennium Kickstarts For a New Home in Rockridge

Vegans and omnivorous fans of plant-based cuisine were heartbroken when 20-year-old Millennium, SF's only vegan fine-dining restaurant, announced that it would be closing on April 30. But as promised, co-owner and chef Eric Tucker and general manager Alison Bagby are bouncing back, with plans to revive Millennium in the East Bay. They're currently running a Kickstarter campaign with an eye on taking the recently vacated Box & Bells space in Rockridge, though they haven't yet signed a lease; the idea is to maintain proximity to BART and the freeway, ensuring the restaurant's longtime clientele can easily make the trip for dinner in Oakland.

If all goes as planned, the new Millennium will be a bit smaller than the original, with 51 seats inside, 17 barstools, and seating for up to 40 more on the back patio. (The SF space boasts over 100 seats, plus a dozen at the bar.) Bagby says the menu will remain 100% vegan, though the space will be much more up-to-date than the one on Geary, with the white tablecloths nixed in favor of sustainable wood tabletops and a "modern rustic" vibe. They'll open with dinner and brunch, and hope to add lunch service as well, if there's demand. And they'll be retaining Box & Bells' full liquor license, with plans to keep wine and spirits pairing dinners and other themed events on the calendar.

In order to secure the B&B space, Tucker and Bagby need to raise at least $50K (and are hoping to take in more). They're offering Kickstarter rewards like a signed cookbook ($40) or dinner for two ($100). Should they hit their goal, they're targeting a mid-June opening.