Butterfish Sushi

Thai Table has a new adjacent neighbor in inviting, modern Butterfish Sushi, already garnering enthusiastic reviews after a quiet soft opening. The sleek and cozy new sushi bar and restaurant took over Boochman Kombucha’s former digs. Butterfish Sushi, 915 University Ave. (between Seventh and Eighth streets), Berkeley

Cha Thai Tea

Shattuck Avenue’s new tea shop is Cha Thai Tea, with iced or hot Thai tea drinks, fruit teas, slushies and snacks, including various fresh-topped toasts and Thai desserts. Cha Thai Tea, 1796 Shattuck Ave. (near Delaware Street), Berkeley

Clio’s

Clio’s, a new but blissfully old-fashioned bar and bookshop on Grand Avenue from art editor Timothy Don and Adam Hatch, former owner of the Starline Social Club, opened in February. Located near Children’s Fairyland, the bookstore with new and used books does feature a tiny children’s nook, but the moderately-priced full bar and uniquely curated collection for grown-ups are the draws, with drinks to complement the classics, philosophy, esoteric deep dives and a lovingly-arranged assortment of all kinds of intriguing lit. Look for a light food menu to come and a forthcoming deeper dive into Clio’s and its robust event schedule from Nosh. Clio’s, 353 Grand Ave. (at Perkins Street), Oakland   

Horn Barbecue

His original Horn location in West Oakland leveled by a November 2023 fire, pitmaster Matt Horn last week opted to move the barbecue operation into his Matty’s Old Fashioned restaurant property on 8th Street. The consolidation retains Matty’s menu items but has pivoted to focus on the sought-after barbecued meats that made Horn famous, and can now offer cocktails to complement those ribs and brisket. Horn reopened in the new Oakland space on April 26. Horn Barbecue, 464 8th St. (between Washington Street and Broadway), Oakland

Lulu Solano

April’s showers have brought a wonderful crop of May openings. Lulu, the buzzy Cal-Palestinian mezze restaurant from chef Mona Leena Michael that was formerly at 1019 Camelia in Berkeley’s Gilman District, reopens May 4, on Solano Avenue in Albany. The former La Crema’s airy, refreshed interior is a brunch-lover’s dream, and after sunset becomes an inviting dinner destination, both for seasonal Palestinian-inspired small plates, salads and larger dishes that are colorful, beautiful, fresh, healthful and flavorful. Menus are here. Lulu, 1106 Solano Ave. (near San Pablo Avenue), Albany 

Mumu Hot Pot

May 3 will mark the first day for Bay Street’s newest sit-down restaurant Mumu Hot Pot, according to a note on the group’s Emeryville Yelp listing. The growing, upscale-modern hot pot chain has six locations in California, including in Pleasanton, San Francisco and Sunnyvale, and is notable for featuring fresh, quality ingredients and cuts of meats and seafood, as well as options for a range of diets, including vegans. The crisp, appealing new dining room is on the lower level of the shopping plaza, where Bay Street meets Christie Avenue. Mumu Hot Pot, 5699 Bay St. (at Christie Avenue), Emeryville

Roses On Adeline

A Berkeley opening to watch, Roses On Adeline softly opens this week—that’s ‘roses,’ plural, not possessive, though it would come by either spelling honestly given the owner’s name. Chef-owner Rose Soffa Clarke, a San Francisco industry vet, alongside her parents David Soffa and Teresa Clarke, with deep family roots in the restaurant’s Lorin District, have together transformed the interior of the former Nick’s Lounge (R.I.P. to the closed neighborhood bar,). The bright, welcoming California bar and restaurant will feature a menu of seasonal, elevated bar food, “crispy tofu lettuce cups, ahi tuna tartare, ceviche, beets with ricotta … smoked pulled pork nachos, chicken cutlets, fresh pasta, kofta meatballs,” according to an email from Soffa Clarke. Additional offerings include smaller bar snacks such as spiced nuts and deviled eggs to go with a drinks menu from beverage director Jennifer Colliau (The Interval at Long Now, Here’s How). “Our dream is to bring more neighborhood and destination dining to Berkeley and the larger East Bay,” reads the restaurant’s opening announcement, “and to be the change we want to see in the industry by making a more enjoyable, fulfilling and sustaining workplace.” After this week’s soft opening, look for a grand opening on May 9. Roses On Adeline, 3218 Adeline St. (between Harmon and Fairview streets), Berkeley

Tallboy

If the appeal of the name doesn’t lure patrons to this new Temescal neighborhood bar opening May 1, the menu sure will—new Oakland “martini dive bar” Tallboy, from North Light’s Den Stephens, features a menu of savory, elevated bar bites from the team behind Oakland’s now-closed Lion Dance Cafe. Thanks to Elena Kadvany at The Chronicle for first sharing the long-awaited, “irreverent yet welcoming” venue’s fuller story. Tallboy, 4210 Telegraph Ave. (between 42nd and 43rd streets), Oakland