East Coast Institution Mamoun’s Falafel Expanding With 8 NorCal Locations

Mamoun’s announces Northern California franchise plans

Northeastern falafel chain Mamoun’s, founded in Greenwich Village in 1971, is expanding its horizons with a major franchising announcement. Fransmart, the franchise developer behind the national proliferation of Five Guys Burgers & Fries and Qdoba Mexican Grill, will spread Mamoun’s falafel and hot — seriously, be careful — sauce to markets across the country including Northern California. Currently, Mamoun’s operates five of its own stores and two franchise locations, and new Mamoun’s franchises in NorCal and other markets like Chicago “will open by year’s end.” Eight locations are in the works locally for Alameda County, San Jose, and Milpitas according to representatives for the brand.

Cento Osteria arrives on the Embarcadero in May

The Former Caputo space at Brannan and Embarcadero is almost ready to become Cento Osteria, with wood-fired pizza, grilled seafood and meat, and freshly made pastas from owner Donato Scotti. Scotti’s restaurants include Donato Enoteca and CRU in Redwood City and Donato & Co. in Berkeley.

Santa Rosa’s 2 Tread Brewing Co

2 Tread Brewing, a brewpub which opened in Santa Rosa Plaza in September but has been pouring local beers from other breweries so far, now has its own craft beer operation up and running. They’re pouring four beers brewed onsite, including a golden ale, an amber ale, and two IPAs.

CBD boba

Steap Tea Bar in Chinatown has a very chill new beverage, The Green Queen, made with matcha mint lemonade and 10mg of hemp-derived CBD, or cannabidiol, one of the active cannabinoids found in marijuana. For the last time, CBD won’t get you high or make you paranoid, but it does have vague and poorly understood anti-inflammatory effects, and it’s somewhat titillating.