Photos: Look Inside Walnut Creek’s Stunning New Stereo41 Restaurant

WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA – You wouldn’t expect much from a former PG&E office in downtown Walnut Creek, California.

But a local family of restaurateurs had other ideas. After taking over the drab-looking former utility office, they entirely gutted it and transformed it into a very swanky new restaurant.

We were the first to break the story about Stereo41, when it was little more than a permit application. Now, it’s open for business.

I stopped by while leading a photo walk group in Walnut Creek, and the staff were kind enough to let us inside as they prepared for the day, giving me a chance to snap some exclusive photos of the whole space without worrying about disrupting other patrons.

Here’s a look inside.

Stereo41 (sometimes written “Stereo 41”) is a new “hi-fi restaurant” in downtown Walnut Creek that pairs an elevated, music-forward dining room with a menu blending Middle Eastern flavors and Japanese influences.

The project is tied to a familiar local team: Victor Ghaben and Berk Gibbs (World Famous Hotboys), working alongside Sofia Ghaben-Sabet and Helmy Sabet (LITA in Walnut Creek).

It’s at 1535 Bonanza St, Walnut Creek. Architectural details like this concrete screen in front are preserved.

Stereo41 describes its food as a meeting of Middle Eastern tradition and Japanese refinement, grounded in California seasonal ingredients.

The kitchen is led by Chef Jonathan De La Torre, who has worked at well-known San Francisco restaurants including Mourad.

The Stereo Mezze Platter, Sweet Potato Tempura, Nori Falafel, and mains like slow-cooked lamb neck and grilled trout are all on the menu.

Music is central to the concept: co-owners have DJ and music-producer backgrounds, and the room is built around high-quality playback and live DJ sets.

There’s a DJ booth when you first walk in.

They’re spinning real vinyl here! There’s even a disco ball on the ceiling.

The bar is extremely extensive and beautiful, too, and is clearly a central feature of the restaurant.

It’s so big that the bartender had to climb a ladder to access things at the top.

We can’t wait to stop by and try out the food! Make sure to join my free 925 News newsletter so I can share a review as soon as I get a chance to try it.