For a complete list of Tri-Valley restaurants, click here Wayfinding / EAT
Roya Afghan
Cuisine Roya
offers something for
everyone and at a
great value. The veal
“kebab” arrives as an
enormous T-bone;
the challaw badenjan
brings a lush eggplant
stew. Six juicy
hunks of meat come
skewered in the
lamb kebab; wedges
of sweet pumpkin
are smothered in
yogurt in the challaw
kadu. 2020 First St.,
925.447.0576, roya
afghancuisine.com.
Lunch Tues.–Sat.,
dinner Tues.–Sun.
$$
Sauced BBQ &
Spirits Stacks of
wood, banks of TVs
and the alluring smell
of smoke create
a warm feeling at
this family-owned
barbecue joint.
The ribs, smoked
half chicken and
burgers are all tasty.
2300 First St., Ste.
120, 925.961.1300,
saucedbbqand
spirits.com. Lunch
and dinner daily.
P $$
Simply Fondue
There’s nothing
simple about Simply
Fondue. The average
table time is two
hours, and the experience
is as much
spectacle as meal.
The four-course dinner
starts with a light
salad, followed by
generous samplings
of cheese and meat
fondue. Wrap it up
with a personalized
chocolate fondue.
2300 First St., Ste.
110, 925.443.6638,
simplyfondueliver
more.com. Dinner
daily, brunch Sun.
P $$$$
Star Anise The
modern Thai–Southeast
RO
R A H C L E F O Y S E T Asian food
R U here lives up to its
CO V I S I T T R I VA L L E Y.COM 6 5 Las Positas Rd.,
925.371.0412,
petra-livermore.com.
Lunch and dinner
Tues.–Sun. $$
Posada The
offerings at Posada
are particularly
wonderful at brunch,
when diners can nosh
on sublime huevos
rancheros, meaty
enchiladas with fried
eggs and grilled
oysters Posada. Happily,
the restaurant’s
spicy mahi-mahi
tacos, crispy lamb
flautas and lush short
ribs with blackberry
mole are as good as
ever. 988 Murrieta
Blvd., 925.606.1004,
posadarestaurant.
com. Lunch and
dinner Wed.–Sun.,
brunch Sun. $$
The Press
Artisan Café With a
walk-up counter that
flows into minimalist
yet spacious decor,
The Press serves
fresh, creative and
affordable toastinis
and paninis. The avocado
tripled cheese
panini is as lush as
a sandwich can be,
while the B.L.E.T.
with egg (and Hobbs’
Applewood Smoked
Meats bacon) and
side salad was a steal
at $10. The original
is in Pleasanton.
2470 First St., Ste.
110, 925.292.1916,
thepressartisancafe.
com. Breakfast and
lunch daily.
$
Range Life This
neighborhood
favorite serves
high-quality, seasonal
fare in a restored
1800s brick building.
2160 Railroad Ave.,
925.583.5370,
rangelifelivermore.
com. Dinner Wed.–
Mon., breakfast and
lunch Sat.–Sun.
$$$
St., 925.495.4118,
hopsandsessions.
com. Lunch and dinner
daily. P $$
The Last Word
Trade your Coke for a
cocktail, and get truffle
instead of butter
on your popcorn, at
this hip saloon behind
Livermore Cinemas.
Pair your Blood
and Sand (a smoky
Manhattan) or a
Death in the Evening
(licorice sparkling
wine) with upscale
sliders, spicy chicken
and waffles, or a
sophisticated arugula
salad. 2470 First St.,
925.493.7293,
lastwordbar.com.
Dinner Tues.–Sun.
P $$
Monica’s
Livermore Housed
in a soulful brick
building with a fantastic
shaded patio,
Monica’s specializes
in big, homey plates
of traditional breakfast
and lunch fare
and simple, fromscratch
pastries.
While our Reuben
sandwich and shrimp
omelet were so-so,
a hearty huevos
rancheros and two
grilled chicken salads
were standouts.
2074 Second St.,
925.292.5568,
monicaslivermore.
com. Breakfast and
lunch daily, dinner
Thurs.–Sat. P $$$
Petra This family-run
restaurant offers
Jordanian dishes as
authentic as you’ll
find anywhere in the
Bay Area. Solicitous
service and plenty of
freebies—including
cardamom tea and
creamy lentil soup—
make it a homey gold
mine. The classics—
falafel, hummus,
baba ghanoush and
tabbouleh—are all
extraordinary. 4524
to the fresh veggies.
A Mediterranean
burger brings the
flavors of Greece—
oregano, feta,
tomato and grilled
red onion—into each
juicy bite. 2235 First
St., 925.373.0306,
demitristaverna
livermore.com. Lunch
and dinner Tues.–
Sun. $$
El Charro The
full bar and festive
yet-relaxed ambience
have turned a
family operation into
a modern Livermore
standout. The restaurant
features smoked
pork chops for carnivores,
chili rellenos
for vegetarians and
killer enchiladas for
anyone. The El Charro
margarita, made
with agave nectar,
could very well be
the best drink in
town. 186 Maple St.,
925.371.8297,
elcharrolivermore.
com. Lunch and
dinner Tues.–Sun.
P $$
Hops & Sessions
This pour-your-own
beer pub is a wideopen
communal
space with a wall
of 28 rotating taps
and a “starting
line” where you
scan your driver’s
license and credit
card in exchange
for a wristband. The
beer selection is well
rounded with local
brews. The pub food
is above average,
with sausages,
a crispy chicken
sandwich and a
killer wedge salad
on offer. 2339 First
Blvd., 925.292.8587,
buathailivermore.
com. Lunch and
dinner Tues.–Sun.
$$
Campo di Bocce
On the outskirts
of town, Campo di
Bocce can evoke
a Tuscan retreat,
where daily specials
like osso bucco and
grilled halibut grace
romantic fireside
nooks. But the indoor/
outdoor space
is family friendly:
Reserve a bocce
court (where bowling
meets croquet)
and order a plate
of lamb lollipops or
a pepperoni pizza.
There’s a big bar with
a great local wine
list. 175 E. Vineyard
Ave., 925.249.9800,
campodibocce.com.
Lunch and dinner
daily, brunch Sun.
P $$$
Cinco TacoBar
Instagrammers love
this hip taqueria, with
its vibrant calavera
murals and neon sign
pleading, “Feed me
tacos and tell me I’m
pretty.” You’ll want
to order at least two
tacos, which are
served in thick corn
tortillas and stuffed
with fillings such as
soft carne asada,
sweet al pastor and
grilled squash. 4526
Las Positas Rd.,
925.583.5300,
cincotacobar.com.
Lunch and dinner
daily. $
Demitris Taverna
Meals in this warm
remodeled space
start with heated
pita bread and a garlicky
spread called
skordalia. The tender
dolmades come with
a tangy avgolemono
sauce, and the village
salad uses kalamatas
and briny feta for a
salty counterpoint
Yanagi Sushi &
Grill This contemporary
dining room
is divided into three
sections—a sushi
bar, a teppan area
and regular booths.
We were taken
with zippy chicken
yakitori skewers and
the delicate tempura
shrimp and veggies.
The adventurous
should try the Heart
Attack roll appetizer,
with fried jalapenos,
cream cheese and
spicy tuna. 6599
Dublin Blvd., Ste. K,
925.556.9575,
yanagisushigrill.com.
Lunch and dinner
daily. $$
LIVERMORE
Bar Tatami This
attractive Asian
restaurant inside Casino
580 is surprisingly
good. We indulged
in dazzling Thai mussels,
Asian pear short
ribs, Korean tacos
and a very decadent
all-American burger
stuffed with rich
goodies. If you gamble,
the food can be
tastefully brought to
your betting table—
where a diverse $5
casino menu is also
available. Check
out the bountiful
580 breakfast 962
N. Canyons Pkwy.,
925.800.0076, parkwestcasino580.
com.
Breakfast, lunch and
dinner daily.
$$
Bua Thai Kitchen
Soft brown leather
booths and hardwood
decor make
this Thai eatery feel
warm and inviting.
The food is equally
homey, with the
mango yellow curry
being a standout,
as the sweetness
of the mango
contrasts nicely with
the heartier curry.
1106 E. Stanley
