Jay’s guidebook

Jay
Jay’s guidebook

Dining

These are some of our favorite places to eat in Walnut Creek and the surrounding area.
This is by far our favorite pizza in the area. We use to come to Rocco’s even before we lived in Walnut Creek when we lived 35 miles away, just because it was worth it! This is a popular restaurant and it can get crowded, especially on weekends, but the wait is usually not more than 10-15 minutes. It’s about 4 miles from here and will take about 10 minutes to get there depending on time of day. Consistently rated the best pizza in the area. They also have an excellent variety of pastas and Italian food.
Rocco's Ristorante Pizzeria
2909 Ygnacio Valley Rd
This is by far our favorite pizza in the area. We use to come to Rocco’s even before we lived in Walnut Creek when we lived 35 miles away, just because it was worth it! This is a popular restaurant and it can get crowded, especially on weekends, but the wait is usually not more than 10-15 minutes. It’s about 4 miles from here and will take about 10 minutes to get there depending on time of day. Consistently rated the best pizza in the area. They also have an excellent variety of pastas and Italian food.
If you're looking for some pizza but only want a slice, or you would like to sample a couple of different kinds, this is the place to go. The pizza is excellent, and it's only a mile away!
Slice House by Tony Gemignani
1500 Mt Diablo Blvd
If you're looking for some pizza but only want a slice, or you would like to sample a couple of different kinds, this is the place to go. The pizza is excellent, and it's only a mile away!
This is our favorite burger in town! If you go to Broderick’s, bring your appetite! This is a big burger and fries! They have a variety of excellent burgers, including some exotic meats. Great food, great location, great atmosphere. Highly recommended for the hamburger lovers.
8 locals recommend
Broderick Roadhouse
1548 Bonanza St
8 locals recommend
This is our favorite burger in town! If you go to Broderick’s, bring your appetite! This is a big burger and fries! They have a variety of excellent burgers, including some exotic meats. Great food, great location, great atmosphere. Highly recommended for the hamburger lovers.
Gott’s Roadside became famous in Napa and they recently opened this restaurant in Walnut Creek. Although it doesn’t appear to be quite the sensation as it is in Napa, it is still quite popular and can get crowded. It is in the heart of downtown across the street from Broadway Plaza.
Gott's Roadside
Gott’s Roadside became famous in Napa and they recently opened this restaurant in Walnut Creek. Although it doesn’t appear to be quite the sensation as it is in Napa, it is still quite popular and can get crowded. It is in the heart of downtown across the street from Broadway Plaza.
Sauced is a small chain and is easily the most popular barbecue restaurant in town. They specialize in all things bbq and whiskeys and have daily specials. This is a big restaurant with an outdoor area, lots of big screen tvs and even an area for axe throwing. They are famous for their burnt ends, but we haven’t been disappointed in anything we’ve had yet!
8 locals recommend
Sauced BBQ & Spirits - Walnut Creek
1410 Locust St
8 locals recommend
Sauced is a small chain and is easily the most popular barbecue restaurant in town. They specialize in all things bbq and whiskeys and have daily specials. This is a big restaurant with an outdoor area, lots of big screen tvs and even an area for axe throwing. They are famous for their burnt ends, but we haven’t been disappointed in anything we’ve had yet!
Bounty Hunter Walnut Creek
This is our favorite steakhouse in town. If you have never been to Fleming’s, we highly recommend it (but beware, it is expensive).
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
1685 Mt Diablo Blvd
This is our favorite steakhouse in town. If you have never been to Fleming’s, we highly recommend it (but beware, it is expensive).
We probably don’t need to explain much here as most people are familiar with Ruth’s Chris. You can’t go wrong here.
7 locals recommend
Ruth's Chris Steak House
1553 Olympic Blvd
7 locals recommend
We probably don’t need to explain much here as most people are familiar with Ruth’s Chris. You can’t go wrong here.
This is the best seafood restaurant in town. They have a changing menu of ocean-fresh fare offered in a nautical-themed space with an attached fish market. They also have a great happy hour and excellent cocktails! If you like oysters, visit the yacht club for happy hour!
13 locals recommend
Walnut Creek Yacht Club
1555 Bonanza Street
13 locals recommend
This is the best seafood restaurant in town. They have a changing menu of ocean-fresh fare offered in a nautical-themed space with an attached fish market. They also have a great happy hour and excellent cocktails! If you like oysters, visit the yacht club for happy hour!
There aren't a lot of great Mexican food restaurants in town, but this is one of our favorites! Their Chips and salsa are excellent! I love the wet burritos, and my wife loves the Diablo Shrimp and Grits.
Bar Camino
There aren't a lot of great Mexican food restaurants in town, but this is one of our favorites! Their Chips and salsa are excellent! I love the wet burritos, and my wife loves the Diablo Shrimp and Grits.
Looking for a quick bite? This is a relatively new restaurant in town that is very popular, especially at lunch time. Their street tacos are excellent.
Tacos Walnut Creek
Looking for a quick bite? This is a relatively new restaurant in town that is very popular, especially at lunch time. Their street tacos are excellent.
Classic Italian dining spot for homemade meals & wine in a warm family-style setting.
Benvenuti Ristorante
1627 N Broadway
Classic Italian dining spot for homemade meals & wine in a warm family-style setting.
This circa-1989 Italian eatery offers classic Tuscan cooking plus a full bar & is closed on Mondays.
Montecatini Ristorante
1528 Civic Dr
This circa-1989 Italian eatery offers classic Tuscan cooking plus a full bar & is closed on Mondays.
The best (and only) Cuban restaurant in town! The food is excellent, as are the mojito's! Don't miss happy hour!
Havana Restaurant
1516 Bonanza St
The best (and only) Cuban restaurant in town! The food is excellent, as are the mojito's! Don't miss happy hour!
This is our favorite Thai take-out restaurant in town. It's close, convenient and delicious!
Vanda Thai
1250 Newell Ave
This is our favorite Thai take-out restaurant in town. It's close, convenient and delicious!
By far the nicest Thai restaurant in town. In the heart of the downtown district, this restaurant is excellent.
Torsap Thai Kitchen
By far the nicest Thai restaurant in town. In the heart of the downtown district, this restaurant is excellent.
This is our favorite Chinese restaurant in town. It's relatively inexpensive and the food is very good.
Dragon's Pond
This is our favorite Chinese restaurant in town. It's relatively inexpensive and the food is very good.
This is one of our favorite restaurants in town. This is a Greek restaurant with a variety of Mediterranean dishes that should be able to please anyone. Jay loves their gyros and Opa fries! They have an excellent happy hour.
10 locals recommend
Opa! Walnut Creek
1532 N Main St
10 locals recommend
This is one of our favorite restaurants in town. This is a Greek restaurant with a variety of Mediterranean dishes that should be able to please anyone. Jay loves their gyros and Opa fries! They have an excellent happy hour.
This is a new and very popular Mediterranean restaurant. The decor is very "Santorini-esque." A bit on the pricey side, but the food and atmosphere are excellent. And, it's in the heart of downtown.
Elia Walnut Creek
This is a new and very popular Mediterranean restaurant. The decor is very "Santorini-esque." A bit on the pricey side, but the food and atmosphere are excellent. And, it's in the heart of downtown.
In our opinion, this is the best looking building in town and it sits at the busiest intersection in town (Mt. Diablo Blvd. and Main Street). Rooftop is as the name implies…a restaurant on the roof of a third story building. If the weather is nice, this is a great place to get a drink and enjoy the views. We’ve never eaten there, so we can’t comment on the food but it seems to do ok.
30 locals recommend
Rooftop Restaurant & Bar
1500 Mt Diablo Blvd
30 locals recommend
In our opinion, this is the best looking building in town and it sits at the busiest intersection in town (Mt. Diablo Blvd. and Main Street). Rooftop is as the name implies…a restaurant on the roof of a third story building. If the weather is nice, this is a great place to get a drink and enjoy the views. We’ve never eaten there, so we can’t comment on the food but it seems to do ok.
This is a very popular restaurant in the heart of downtown Walnut Creek. The eclectic eatery offers small plates & wines from around the world in a picturesque setting.
32 locals recommend
Va de Vi
1511 Mt Diablo Blvd
32 locals recommend
This is a very popular restaurant in the heart of downtown Walnut Creek. The eclectic eatery offers small plates & wines from around the world in a picturesque setting.
Known for their excellent breakfast but are also an all-day eatery serving up sustainable American eats, from breakfast burritos to burgers.
9 locals recommend
Sunrise Bistro And Catering
1559 Botelho Dr
9 locals recommend
Known for their excellent breakfast but are also an all-day eatery serving up sustainable American eats, from breakfast burritos to burgers.
This is our favorite breakfast spot in town. In addition to great breakfast, their smoked meat sandwiches make for an excellent lunch!
The Original Hick'ry Pit
1495 S Main St
This is our favorite breakfast spot in town. In addition to great breakfast, their smoked meat sandwiches make for an excellent lunch!
Hands down, this is the best place to get a sandwich in town. If you go at lunch time, expect to stand in line for 20 minutes (the line is usually out the door). I would suggest going before 11AM or after 2PM. We’re not even going to bother recommending other sandwich places because none compare.
8 locals recommend
Morucci's Si Mangia Bene
1218 Boulevard Way
8 locals recommend
Hands down, this is the best place to get a sandwich in town. If you go at lunch time, expect to stand in line for 20 minutes (the line is usually out the door). I would suggest going before 11AM or after 2PM. We’re not even going to bother recommending other sandwich places because none compare.
Beautiful restaurant in an old building on Main Street. They specialize in sushi but offer lots of other options. It’s on the pricey end of restuarants.
12 locals recommend
Sasa
1432 N Main St
12 locals recommend
Beautiful restaurant in an old building on Main Street. They specialize in sushi but offer lots of other options. It’s on the pricey end of restuarants.

Hiking

Walnut Creek has some of the best hiking trails around.
If you are looking for a great place for a local hike, this is it!
Shell Ridge Trail
Shell Ridge Trail
If you are looking for a great place for a local hike, this is it!

Shopping

People come from all over the area to shop at Broadway Plaza. Whatever your taste, from Tiffany's and Neiman Marcus to Banana Rupublic, Broadway Plaza probably has you covered. There are also tons of great places to eat in the area.
80 locals recommend
Broadway Plaza
1275 Broadway Plaza
80 locals recommend
People come from all over the area to shop at Broadway Plaza. Whatever your taste, from Tiffany's and Neiman Marcus to Banana Rupublic, Broadway Plaza probably has you covered. There are also tons of great places to eat in the area.

Bar's and Nightlife

Bourbon Highway
1677 N Main St
This is a locally owned bar that has been around for about 30 years. This is the best and busiest sports bar in town and is a great place for viewing televised sports of all kinds. They have a large beer selection & extensive pub-food menu.
6 locals recommend
Stadium Pub
1420 Lincoln Ave
6 locals recommend
This is a locally owned bar that has been around for about 30 years. This is the best and busiest sports bar in town and is a great place for viewing televised sports of all kinds. They have a large beer selection & extensive pub-food menu.
6 locals recommend
Tiki Tom's
1535 Olympic Blvd
6 locals recommend

Wine/Winery

This is a great little, family-owned wine tasting room. They do not make their own wine, the purchase from various vendors and put in their own bottle. Very reasonably priced and a good place to go for a quick drink before or after dinner.
Buon Vino
This is a great little, family-owned wine tasting room. They do not make their own wine, the purchase from various vendors and put in their own bottle. Very reasonably priced and a good place to go for a quick drink before or after dinner.
Walnut Creeks only winery! Shadowbrook Winery has become the East Bay’s most decorated winery in San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition with over 69 medals. With the recent opening of their brand new, state of the art winery and tasting room, you’ll discover the same thoughtful approach, patience and handcrafted care found in every glass of Shadowbrook Wine.
Shadowbrook Winery
1 Meritage Lane
Walnut Creeks only winery! Shadowbrook Winery has become the East Bay’s most decorated winery in San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition with over 69 medals. With the recent opening of their brand new, state of the art winery and tasting room, you’ll discover the same thoughtful approach, patience and handcrafted care found in every glass of Shadowbrook Wine.

Sightseeing

Shadowbrook Winery has become the East Bay’s most decorated winery in San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition with over 69 medals. With the recent opening of our brand new, state of the art winery and tasting room, you’ll discover the same thoughtful approach, patience and handcrafted care found in every glass of Shadowbrook Wine. So, book a tasting today, visit our new facility and discover Walnut Creek’s newest destination.
9 locals recommend
Lime Ridge Open Space
Ygnacio Valley Road
9 locals recommend
Shadowbrook Winery has become the East Bay’s most decorated winery in San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition with over 69 medals. With the recent opening of our brand new, state of the art winery and tasting room, you’ll discover the same thoughtful approach, patience and handcrafted care found in every glass of Shadowbrook Wine. So, book a tasting today, visit our new facility and discover Walnut Creek’s newest destination.