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Veggie pizza by the slice
Sliver Pizzeria, founded by alumni of Berkeley’s venerable Cheese Board Pizza, has opened its new location at 2174 Shattuck Avenue, in the downtown Berkeley BART plaza. It’s a grand return to the neighborhood — Sliver Pizzeria closed its downtown Berkeley location on Center Street in 2017, and in the meantime, it’s opened two new pizza shops in the East Bay. Now, it’s back on a different block with more slices of the same vegetarian and vegan pies, with one type available per day on a sourdough crust. On Monday, January 7, Sliver will host a “welcome back to downtown Berkeley” opening party and hand out free slices from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Mediterranean wraps to Silicon Valley
Growing local chain SAJJ Mediterranean has opened its ninth location in downtown San Mateo. The 2,700-square-foot restaurant is outfitted with live olive trees, earthy colors, and a communal dining table — a fresh look for SAJJ, and now the chain’s flagship location. Despite the different design aesthetic, folks will find a familiar, customizable menu of wraps, sandwiches, turmeric rice bowls, and salads with unlimited spreads, sauces, and toppings. A grand opening celebration will take place at 251 East 3rd Avenue on Thursday, January 17, with a free meal for the first 50 people in line and 50 percent off orders for everyone else all day.
More Merritt Bakery
Merritt Bakery, the 67-year-old Oakland spot known for festive cakes and fried chicken, appears to be moving into 3355 Lakeshore Avenue, formerly Moroccan Palace Restaurant. According to Berkeleyside, the new location is an expansion and doesn’t signal an end to its current take-out window on the north side of Lake Merritt.
Take your mint mojito iced coffee orders elsewhere
North Berkeley’s Philz — the first Philz in the East Bay — has abruptly closed. The cafe at 1600 Shattuck Avenue had announced it would close on January 13, but it called it quits early.
Another East Bay closure
Albany Mexican restaurant Cantina Del Sol has closed after less than a year. It was operated by the same owners of Little Star Pizza and The Star, and took over their Pacific Northwest-inspired Cafe Eugene. So far, there aren’t any plans for what the restaurant group will try in that space next.
