A classic Greek restaurant in downtown Walnut Creek, California, has served its last plate of flaming cheese and its last shot of ouzo.
Opa! restaurant in downtown Walnut Creek has officially closed. It appears the restaurant closed over a month ago, but initially, the closure was listed as temporary.
That now seems to be permanent. Construction is happening on the road right in front of Opa!’s Walnut Creek location, and it has been removed from the local chain’s website.
Opa served Greek food in a heavily customized restaurant in downtown Walnut Creek for over a decade. I have a personal connection to the restaurant—it was one of the first places I would go with my wife when we moved to California in 2013.
At the time, Broadway Plaza had not yet undergone its huge renovation, Walnut Creek was a much smaller and sleepier city, and the East Bay didn’t have the restaurant scene it does today (at least on this side of the tunnel).
A lot has changed since then. Walnut Creek is now a culinary destination. Big restaurants from the city have started to move into the far East Bay, and there’s a lot more competition in Walnut Creek than there once was.
It’s unclear exactly why Opa! closed. It appears that the parent company of the chain is still in business, as their locations in the South Bay and the city remain open.
Either way, it’s sad to lose this classic restaurant. And it does feel like part of a trend. The Walnut Creek Yacht Club, another longtime restaurant in the city, has also announced that it will close.
If you’re looking for great Greek food in Walnut Creek, the good news is that new restaurants have come into the space. Elia on Locust is a fantastic option.
It’s also encouraging to see a new generation of restaurants taking over classic spots in other cities. Amarin Thai in Lafayette temporarily closed, which freaked out many locals.
The good news is that the popular and long-serving restaurant quickly reopened under new management with a beautiful new interior.
We’re sad to see Opa! go, but we’re excited about the future of Walnut Creek’s restaurant scene.
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