Marshawn Lynch’s Soul Food Restaurant Opens This Week

Beast Mode

Oakland NFL star Marshawn Lynch is about ready to debut his first restaurant, Rob Ben’s Restaurant & Lounge at 3627 San Pablo Avenue in Emeryville. Staff told the East Bay Express that it’s opening Friday, December 14. Lynch bought the restaurant — formerly the 50-year-old soul food staple Scend’s — in the summer of 2017, and details remain scarce about his vision for the new venture. According to the Express, menus are still in the works but it’ll be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Find a new East Bay bakery, for now

A car crashed into Emeryville’s Arizmendi Bakery & Pizzeria yesterday morning, causing a fire and a gas leak. Fortunately, all of the employees got out safely, but the co-op bakery is now closed until further notice.

Holiday specials at Magnolia

Magnolia Brewing Company’s Haight location is trying to spread the holiday cheer with a few limited time specials, including all day happy hour on Tuesdays, 20 percent off all growler fills on Wednesdays, and $5 bites — mini corn dogs, crab fritters, etc. — paired with $5 pints for lunch and dinner Mondays and Sundays.

And sweets for the holidays at Puesto

San Diego-based Mexican restaurant Puesto, which has locations in Santa Clara and Concord, has unveiled a new dessert menu via new pastry chef Erik Aronow, most recently the sous chef at LA’s Destroyer. The options include rompope paleta, a popsicle with eggnog and brandy; coconut crema trifle, with chocolate cake, peanut butter crunch bar, and coconut; and mangoloco, with pepita crumble, mango chamoy coulis, and jamaica confit in a chocolate shell.