925 Area's Hottest New Restaurants Are Redefining Local Dining

A big part of my day involves visiting and photographing restaurants around the 925 for you, our readers.

Here at the our website, we've had a busy start to 2026. I've already visited and reviewed 10+ restaurants, and our team has been busy too.

These are 7 of the spots we've covered so far in 2026 (in no particular order). Enjoy!

1. Duck Donuts - Walnut Creek

This new donut shop in Walnut Creek had lines out the door when it first opened. Why? Because it does donuts differently.

Duck fries each donut to order, then tops it with creative things like melted marshmallow, raspberry sauce, or even bacon.

Waits can be long, since they're handmaking each donut. But the fresh donuts are delicious, and it's a very cool experience.

• Location: 2920 North Main Street, Walnut Creek
• Review: REVIEW: Every Donut at Walnut Creek's Fancy New Shop is Hot From the Fryer

2. Lita - Walnut Creek

Our food critic Richard Eber visited this Walnut Creek Caribbean gem, and said it was the most memorable meal he's had in a long time.

Creative entrees including curried goat caught his fancy, and the interior is bright, dramatic and perfect for a date night.

• Location: 1602 Bonanza Street, Walnut Creek
• Review: REVIEW: "Best Meal in Recent Memory" at Walnut Creek's Lita Caribbean Fusion Hotspot

3. Walnut Creek Kitchen and Bar - Walnut Creek

The big standout here was the drinks. The owner of Walnut Creek Kitchen and Bar described his bartender, Juan, as the best in Walnut Creek. We tend to agree.

Juan spun up incredible cocktails, and even custom options for other guests. Heads up that one reader wrote in to say he went when Juan wasn't there, and the cocktails were fine but weren't like we experienced during our visit.

So perhaps plan around a visit when the "Best Bartender in WC" is on shift.

• Location: 1532 North Main Street, Walnut Creek
• Review: Review: Standout Cocktails and Burgers at Walnut Creek's New Lounge-Like Restaurant

4. Original Joe's - Walnut Creek

This is one of the most hyped-up restaurants in Walnut Creek. Amazingly, Original Joes not only lives up to, but actually exceeds the hype.

We had Italian classics, and the pasta is especially delicious. But the best thing here is the atmosphere-the interior is beautiful, people are thrilled to be there, the service is fantastic and there's an energy and bustle to the place that's hard to describe.

• Location: In the former Stanford's spot near Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek
• Review: REVIEW: Original Joe's is the Most Exciting New Walnut Creek Restaurant in a Generation

5. Meadowlark Dairy - Livermore

Meadowlark Dairy has existed in some form in Pleasanton for a century, and its iconic drive through dairy has been around since 1969.

Now, the local gem has finally opened a new location in downtown Livermore.

My wife and I stopped by with our kids, and the ice cream is every bit as good (and cheap!) as the OG spot.

• Location: Livermore (new location)
• Review: REVIEW: Generations-Old Meadowlark Dairy Finally Expands With New Ice Cream Shop

6. Brioche de Paris - Lafayette

If you're looking for a place to work in a beautiful, light setting in downtown Lafayette, the new Brioche De Paris is the spot. A giant skylight and big windows make it an ideal place to sit with a laptop.

There's pastries and coffee, too.

• Location: 998 Moraga Rd, Lafayette, CA 94549
• Review: REVIEW: I Tried Lafayette's Brilliantly French New Brioche De Paris Bakery

7. Slice House - Livermore

Tony Gemignani is one of the world's best pizza chefs, holding multiple international titles and four Guinness World Records.

We visited his new Slice House pizza in Livermore on opening day. The slices and pies are fantastic, and so are the family-friendly vibes. Livermore's food scene is growing, and Slice House will accelerate that.

• Location: 1948 1st Street, Livermore
• Review/First look: First Look: The Bay Area's Best Pizza Chef Just Launched a New East Bay Restaurant, and Lines Are Out the Door