WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA – When the classic Greek restaurant Opa! closed in downtown Walnut Creek, locals were still reeling.
Opa! had served downtown for years. At the time, we started to speculate about what might follow. Usually, launching a new restaurant in Walnut Creek takes months–maybe even years.
Then all of a sudden, boom–we checked the space, and there was already a new restaurant where Opa! once stood. At the time, I marveled at the speed and apparent ease of the turnaround.
Turns out, the process wasn’t easy at all. It took weeks of 12-hour days and sleepless nights from restaurateur Greg James and his wife Seffie James, who took over and immediately revamped the spot.
Together, they launched Walnut Creek Kitchen and Bar.
I stopped by this week to try it out. They have a fantastic burger–but it’s the secretly amazing cocktails from “the best bartender in Walnut Creek” that really make this place stand out.
The Ambiance
Walnut Creek Kitchen and Bar is at 1532 North Main Street, right in the heart of the historic downtown portion of Walnut Creek.
The bones of the old Opa! building are still there. WC Kitchen and Bar is built around–you guessed it–a central bar that fills the middle of the space.
There’s a small dining room with a few larger tables in the back. But one of the most charming features of the building is also preserved–little wrought iron alcoves with big floor-to-ceiling doors that protrude out into the sidewalk.
With the doors open, these spots make it feel like the restaurant is extending into the bustle of the street–a nice energy for a lounge-like eating spot.
People in their Friday evening going-out clothes stride past as you eat, and you catch snippets of conversations. It’s a great people-watching opportunity!
Although the structure of Opa! is still there, James and his wife Seffie have entirely changed the rest of the ambiance.
Instead of old-world details, there’s a fun purple theme that’s carried through the whole restaurant–from an illuminated, swirly purple design on the bar to purple napkins, purple flowers, and even purple countertops in the bathrooms.
That makes eating at Walnut Creek Kitchen and Bar feel decidedly different from the vibes of the restaurant that came before it.
The Food
I visited Walnut Creek Kitchen and Bar with my wife on a Friday night to try the food and drinks (James invited and hosted us–thanks!).
We started with a mango and whitefish ceviche. I appreciated that the sweet mango made this different from the Peruvian ceviche I usually have at places like Parada.
It was served with crunchy, housemade chips–a nice touch.
For entrees, we decided to lean into the “bar” side of the “Kitchen and Bar” concept (more on that later), trying handheld, bar food specialties. WC Kitchen and Bar also serves larger entrees–pastas, meat dishes, and the like. But again, handheld food felt like the right choice.
My wife got Jake’s smash burger.
This was a thin patty–smashed down on the grill–covered in melted cheese and topped with layers of mushrooms, served on a brioche bun.
It was excellent–she described it as one of the best burgers in Walnut Creek.
I had steak tacos, which were also tasty.
I appreciated that they came with a fresh and delicious salad on the side, in addition to crispy French fries we had with the burger. Healthy food, amiright?
The Standout Drinks
The real standout of the experience at Walnut Creek Kitchen and Bar, though, was the drinks.
Behind the bar, you’ll find Juan, a young bartender with a tattoo under his chin and some serious mixology skills. James described him as “the best bartender in Walnut Creek”, and he’s not wrong.
Juan’s creations were fantastic.
I got what was essentially a mezcal margartia, but with the surprising addition of falernum–a sweet liquor usually associated with the tropics and Tiki drinks. It was fantastic.
My wife got Jake’s lavender drop, a beautifully purple vodka cocktail served in a margarita glass, which was excellent as well.
Some friends of ours happened to stop into Walnut Creek Kitchen and Bar while we were there, and sat at the bar to get drinks. Juan whipped up a custom cocktail for them that was so visually stunning I needed to come over and photograph it.
Topped with foam and a cabernet float and a piece of blood orange, it looked like something that a bartender might spend months dreaming up–except here it was, created for fun on the spot.
There’s some obvious standout talent here. It was really fun to experience it–in a setting where we weren’t necessarily expecting the drinks to the the main focus of the meal.
For dessert, we enjoyed a fantastic molten lava cake.
Served hot and genuinely liquid in the center, it was a great way to end the meal. WC Kitchen and Bar’s chef, Daniel, came out to greet us as well.
The Verdict
I’m not a restaurateur, and I don’t purport to know how to run a restaurant. But I am an enthusiastic and professional eater, so I know a good think when I see it.
If I was James (or rather, the Jameses, since this is clearly a family business) I would lean hard into the “Bar” part of “Kitchen and Bar.”
Juan’s drinks are plenty good enough to anchor a restaurant.
And with Chef Daniel’s delicious burgers and other elevated, handheld items–as well as a perfect, central spot for people-watching in the heart of downtown and a fun interior with a clear design concept–you’ve got all the ingredients for a cherished local lounge.
Sure, you could stop in here for a full, sit-down meal. But I see WC Kitchen and Bar as the ideal spot to enjoy a pre-show drink before heading to the Lesher Center for a show, or to go on a date night when you want stellar cocktails and a fun, casual, “sit at the bar” kind of vibe.
There’s a gap in the market for that kind of spot in Walnut Creek. Most of the new restaurants are avowedly sit-down kinds of places with high-concept food. Original Joes is amazing and Stereo41 looks beautiful, but they’re “two hour anniversary meal” kinds of joints.
On the other end of things, you have classic sports bars like Stadium Pub next door. The middle ground–creative drinks and tasty food but a faster, lounge-like vibe–is largely missing. Spots like Ruby Lou’s down the block and Havana are filling it–and WC Kitchen and Bar can slot in there, too.
The great news is that as a diner, you can simply go ahead and enact this for yourself. Drop by WC Kitchen and Bar for a burger and a cocktail. There’s a Happy Hour where drinks are only $13.
Sit at one of the high tops by the windows and watch the night go by–or hang by the bar and chat with Juan or the Jameses. They’re clearly the kind of devoted owners who are staffing their own restaurant most nights.
Embrace the purple. Have a chocolate cake.
And who knows–maybe the “best bartender in Walnut Creek” will make you a custom drink, too!
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