Starter Bakery offers new sugar-coated indulgences with Albany expansion

Editor’s note: Nosh covers food and restaurant news across the East Bay, and each week we publish one article covering all the restaurant openings and one article covering closings. Have a tip for Nosh? Submit it here.

In the space that formerly housed Flacos, Ashby Eatery has opened up with a menu including breakfast burritos, biscuit egg sandwiches, avocado toast, acai bowls, banana bread french toast, wraps and sandwiches, and a beverage lineup including smoothies, coffee, wine and beer. There is both indoor and outdoor seating, and pre-packaged items for takeout. Ashby Eatery, 3031 Adeline St., Berkeley

After shuttering temporarily over the summer, Comeback Cafe in Emeryville has opened its doors again. Stop by for banh mi sandwiches and vermicelli bowls, plus drinks like boba, fruit teas and iced coffee. Comeback Cafe, 6009 Christie Ave., Emeryville

Art, music, food, drinks and community events are the cornerstone of Hella Bees, a buzzy new bar and lounge celebrating its grand opening in Oakland this week. Drop by for a new lineup of signature cocktails and Afro-Asian fusion bites, then take it all in either on the patio or at the large indoor lounge area. Follow Hella Bees on Instagram to stay up to date on events like NBA season opener watch parties, paint and sip nights, DJ sets and more. Hella Bees, 2340 Harrison St., Oakland

Impression of Lanzhou

Thanks to a Nosh tipster for letting us know this noodle shop from Concord featuring traditional Lanzhou soup, a traditional beef noodle soup from the northwestern region of China, has expanded to Berkeley and is now softly open. The menu also includes soup dumplings and steamed buns, and the soups come in spicy and mild options and are all prepared with hand-pulled noodles. Impression of Lanzhou, 1878 Euclid Ave, Berkeley

After a year of converting an old dentist’s office into a cafe and bakery, Starter is ready to hold its grand opening on Solano Avenue Saturday, Oct. 25. In addition to items found at the College Avenue Starter location such as quiche, croissants, breads, and kouign amann in a variety of flavors, the Albany outpost will also feature baseball-sized, fluffy beignets with and without fillings. Founder and master baker Brian Wood said he was attracted to the location because of the bustling dining scene on Solano Avenue and the ease of working with the city of Albany.

Wood said he’d wanted to do donuts for a long time, but he hadn’t had the right equipment until the scratch build out of the Albany location, which includes a deep fryer and a griddle. Wood has plans to introduce hot sandwiches like tuna melts in the future.

“We worked on the beignet recipe for two to three months and made 11 or 12 versions,” Wood said. “I wanted it to feel indulgent.” Starter Bakery, 1183 Solano Ave., Albany

A new smash burger spot softly opened in Richmond Oct. 18. Burgers can be ordered with or without cheese and in single, double, or triple-patty versions. Burgers come with “boss sauce,” lettuce tomatoes and caramelized onions. The menu also includes a fried chicken sandwich, french fries cooked in beef tallow, sweet potatoes fries and onion rings. Tommy’s Burger Co., 12560 San Pablo Ave., Richmond

Starter Bakery offers new sugar-coated indulgences with Albany expansion

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