North Italia, Walnut Creek’s Italian Food Giant, is Under Construction. Here’s What We Know.

Bay Area Telegraph Editorial TeamAugust 31, 2025

WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA – Behind a massive plastic tarp at 1179 Locust Street, a future restaurant is preparing to emerge.

North Italia, the upscale-casual Italian chain beloved for its handmade pastas and artisanal pizzas, is officially under construction in the heart of downtown Walnut Creek’s Plaza Escuela shopping center.

The construction site, which once housed clothing retailer Tilly’s, has been stripped down to the studs as crews work to transform the space into what promises to be one of Walnut Creek’s most anticipated restaurant openings (well, after Original Joe’s, that is…).

Current construction progress on North Italia, August 2025. Credit: Thomas Smith/Bay Area Telegraph

What to Expect on the Menu

North Italia, owned by The Cheesecake Factory through its Fox Restaurant Concepts subsidiary, has built a reputation across its 40-plus locations nationwide for higher end Italian cuisine that goes beyond typical chain restaurant fare.

The restaurant’s signature offerings typically include:

Handmade Pasta: Daily fresh-made varieties including short-rib radiatori and dramatic squid-ink mafaldine
Artisanal Pizzas: Cooked in a gas-fired stone deck oven
Seasonal Entrées: Think chicken parmesan with aged provolone and other rotating specialties
Italian-Inspired Bar Program: Craft cocktails with an Italian twist, including their popular spritzes
All-California Wine List: Supporting local vineyards with a curated selection

Portions are generally family-style and shareable, and most California locations offer weekday happy-hour pricing on small plates and spritzes. This approach has made North Italia a popular spot for both date nights and group gatherings at its other Bay Area locations.

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Construction Timeline: When Will It Open?

While city officials initially suggested a late 2025 opening, the current state of construction tells a different story.

After visiting the construction site in late August, we at the Bay Area Telegraph are skeptical about the original timeline. Summer 2026 seems like a more reasonable target.

Right now, the interior is entirely bare, and crews haven’t even begun to build out the meat of the restaurant, much less add the finishes (and get the permits!) required to actually open the place.

Part of a Larger Restaurant Boom

North Italia’s construction is just one piece of Walnut Creek’s current restaurant building boom. Other projects currently underway include:

Stereo41: A music-centric restaurant and bar taking over the former PG&E office
Stillwater: A new concept from local restaurateurs at the former Walnut Creek Yacht Club site
The Foundry: An approved (but not yet under construction) European-style food hall project

And once the rival restaurant reopens, North Italia will have lots of competition in the nearby Original Joes.

But, The Parking!

Every time we write about a new restaurant opening in Walnut Creek, we get a chorus of concerns about parking. Locals are very worried about adequate parking during WC’s restaurant boom.

North Italia will be located within Walnut Creek’s Pedestrian Retail Zone. Basically, city planners expect to you walk from your car to the shops/restaurants in this special downtown district. Parking will thus be handled through Plaza Escuela’s existing garages–North Italia isn’t adding new spots.

Looking Ahead

Again, we’d be shocked if North Italia opens by the end of the calendar year. While it’s unlikely you’ll be eating your holiday dinner there, an opening in Spring or Summer of 2026 seems quite doable.