East Bay Dinner Meet feeler post
08-08-06, 12:32 AM
#36
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: California
Posts: 566
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by JspecSC3
Im from San Jose but this sounds like fun. Count me in also. It is always nice to meet new faces and get to know who our NorCal members are. 
Awesome!! I have added you to the list as well...thanks.
08-08-06, 07:43 AM
#37
Originally Posted by RMMGS4
Mike, Concord / Walnut Creek area is fine with me.
Let's hear some suggestions from the locals to show us out-of-towners what they have in the east bay.
I think the usual selections are, non-standard chains that anyone cannot find locally. A variety selection of food, cooked in whatever cuisine they offer. It was a diaster the last time we tried to eat at Elephant Bar and BJ's. Let's not do that again please?
Not too high end, just reasonable pricing.
Some standard preferences are:
1. Good parking and safe
2. Easy to get in not too crowded, but must take reservations instead of first come first served
3. Room to seat all of us in one table area.
4. A reasonably quiet area or semi-private banquet room.
Let's hear some suggestions from the locals to show us out-of-towners what they have in the east bay.
I think the usual selections are, non-standard chains that anyone cannot find locally. A variety selection of food, cooked in whatever cuisine they offer. It was a diaster the last time we tried to eat at Elephant Bar and BJ's. Let's not do that again please?
Not too high end, just reasonable pricing.
Some standard preferences are:
1. Good parking and safe
2. Easy to get in not too crowded, but must take reservations instead of first come first served
3. Room to seat all of us in one table area.
4. A reasonably quiet area or semi-private banquet room.
Concord, many non-standard chain restaurants as well. Not as "high end" as WC. But they are not all centrally located like WC, unless you want a chain restaurant like El Torito. It is located at a shopping plaza along with other chain restaurants. There is plenty parking, we can get a big table, and doesn't get packed until around 8 pm. But I don't know if everyone wants to go here. There is a Korean BBQ place on Clayton Road in Clayton (next to Concord). Again, plenty parking, we can get a big table if we call ahead, not noisy (but we can change that when we get there). Again, depends on what type of food everyone likes.
Pleasant Hill, many chain restaurants, parking could be tough, centrally located.
I hope this sparks other suggestions from people in the area.
08-08-06, 10:45 AM
#38
Rookie
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: CA
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I agree on parking being a problem in Walnut Creek. Though my fav restaurants are there, they are also very crowded on Fri/Sat nights, thus difficult to get a really large table at without a specific reservation. Long waits up there.
I can speak to Danville which was previously mentioned. There is a restaurant in the Livery off the Sycamore exit called Piatti that could host a large party. Also, parking is not a big problem in the livery. To boot there is a great connoisseur car store in the Livery called Auto Affair. Auto Affair
Unfortunately, Auto Affair closes at 5:30 on Saturdays.
Aside from that location the only other spot that could provide good parking is in Blackhawk (East Danville). There are a few good restaurants out there as well (sushi, mexican, pizza, etc.) Sushi
Mexican Food
General Blackhawk Plaza info - all other restaurants..
Also, in Blackhawk is the Blackhawk Auto Museum which closes at 5pm on Saturdays..
Car Museum
I can speak to Danville which was previously mentioned. There is a restaurant in the Livery off the Sycamore exit called Piatti that could host a large party. Also, parking is not a big problem in the livery. To boot there is a great connoisseur car store in the Livery called Auto Affair. Auto Affair
Unfortunately, Auto Affair closes at 5:30 on Saturdays.
Aside from that location the only other spot that could provide good parking is in Blackhawk (East Danville). There are a few good restaurants out there as well (sushi, mexican, pizza, etc.) Sushi
Mexican Food
General Blackhawk Plaza info - all other restaurants..
Also, in Blackhawk is the Blackhawk Auto Museum which closes at 5pm on Saturdays..
Car Museum
Last edited by shiwen; 08-08-06 at 10:49 AM.
08-08-06, 10:45 AM
#39
Rookie
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Ca
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I live in the area, a good place might be in that willow pass plaza off of willow pass road, big parking lot. There is frudruckers and some other resturants in that plaza, there is also frudruckers in walnut creek with a small-medium size parking lot. San Ramon also has alot of resturants that dont get too busy. There is a new chinese buffet place that is on crow canyon, Ive never been there but it looks huge and no one is ever in there, there is lots of parking.
Last edited by jmlex; 08-08-06 at 10:49 AM.
08-08-06, 11:00 AM
#41
I suggest we start a poll so that we have an idea what kind of cuisine everyone has a taste for. Majority rules. This way, we can pin point a specific restaurant in the area. Can a forum administrator help?
08-08-06, 11:17 AM
#43
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (12)
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: California
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is a Pyramind Brewery in Berkeley, but there is a smaller one in WC. Parking is an issue there, but there is a parking garage down the block near the movie theaters that is free. The spaces are a little tight though.
So right now the food choices seem to be Japanese, Mexican, Italian and American
sound about right? Mike wanna set up the poll?
So right now the food choices seem to be Japanese, Mexican, Italian and American
sound about right? Mike wanna set up the poll?
08-08-06, 12:52 PM
#45
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: California
Posts: 566
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rather than try to complicate things more, we are going to come up with three or four choices (hopefully) and then post a poll so people can choose which restaurant. Along with cuisine, we have to make sure there is adequate parking and the restaurant will have to easily accomodate a large party...either through reservations or a short wait. Hopefully we'll have choices up by the end of this week...
Again, if you know of a place that fits the criteria, LMK.
Again, if you know of a place that fits the criteria, LMK.