Top Bay Area coffee shop and Indonesian restaurant have closed
SanDai, Walnut Creek's unique Singaporean-Indonesian restaurant, has closed.
Chef-owner Nora Haron announced the news, as well as the closure of her adjacent Indonesian-inspired cafe, Kopi Bar, in a press release Friday. Despite strong weekend crowds, she said that slow midweek activity was too much to overcome. Monthly rent for the space on North Main Street, a quieter stretch compared to the heart of downtown Walnut Creek, was more than $28,500, according to Haron. The businesses closed March 2.
The upscale restaurant and coffee bar opened in early 2023. At SanDai, Haron put a California twist on the cuisine of her family's Nusantara, a geographical and cultural zone which encompasses Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei, as well as parts of Thailand and the Philippines. Haron's sought-after dishes included her pickled pineapple topped beef rendang, fish fried rice and a raviolo stuffed with tiger prawn in a red broth.
'We really had a good time with the fun-loving atmosphere and sunny, stroll-friendly streets of Walnut Creek,' Haron said in an email to the Chronicle. 'We had a lot of very loyal, hyperlocal fans and we made such heartfelt connections in the community.'
Kopi Bar offered Indonesian-inspired beverages like creamy avocado coffees and coconut cappuccinos made with beans roasted by Oakland company Mr. Espresso. Pastries displayed Haron's baking expertise, with croissant muffins stuffed with coconut-egg cream and lapis gulung, a traditional Indonesian cake made with an egg-heavy batter featuring nutmeg and other spices. It ranked among Chronicle restaurant critic Cesar Hernandez's list of the Bay Area's best coffee shops.
While the first incarnation of Kopi Bar has closed its doors the brand will live on, Haron said, she hopes to expand the coffee shop to new locations through next year.
'We're growing, evolving, and bringing Kopi Bar to even more people,' she said. 'This is just the beginning.' A spokesperson for the restaurants said these plans are very early in development and no further information was available.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
14 hours ago
- USA Today
What's next for Bahama Breeze? Owners say big change is coming.
A little over a month after 15 locations were abruptly closed, owners of the Caribbean-inspired chain signal the brand could soon come to an end. Owners of the Bahama Breeze restaurant chain signaled this week that the brand is no longer a priority, and they are considering selling the Caribbean-inspired chain a little over a month after shuttering over a dozen locations. Darden Restaurants CEO Ricardo Cardenas said in an earnings call on Friday, June 21 that they "will be considering strategic alternatives" for Bahama Breeze, such as selling the brand to a new owner or "converting restaurants to other Darden brands." The company's portfolio incudes Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Ruth's Chris Steak House and Yard House, among others. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. "After further review, we have made the difficult decision that these remaining locations and the Bahama Breeze brand are not a strategic priority for us," Cardenas said in the call. The company abruptly closed down 15 restaurant locations in mid-May, leaving what they call their 28 "highest performing" restaurants currently in operation. The company has not issued a projected timeline of either a sale or restaurant conversions and has not disclosed if there is an interested buyer. Cardenas said the company does not expect a potential sale to have a "material impact" on their financial results. The restaurants first opened in the 90's in Florida, where half of their remaining locations remain. Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia all have two locations, according to the chain's website, while the states of Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, South Carolina and Washington have one location. Which Bahama Breeze locations have closed? The following restaurants have closed, as confirmed by a Darden Restaurants spokesperson to USA TODAY: Contributing: Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY. Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her atkapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr.
Business Upturn
a day ago
- Business Upturn
Media Advisory: Astro Yogurt Brand Unveils 'So Canadian' Flyover Welcome Message for Toronto Pearson International Airport Arriving Passengers, Ahead of Canada Day
By GlobeNewswire Published on June 20, 2025, 22:48 IST TORONTO, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On Monday, June 23, 2025, media are invited to attend a special event at Lactalis Canada's yogurt processing facility in Etobicoke, Ontario as part of its iconic Astro yogurt brand's bold new 'So Canadian' campaign in the lead up to Canada Day. WHAT: The unveiling of a special rooftop mural at Astro's processing facility adjacent to and on the flight path of Toronto Pearson International Airport. The uniquely Canadian rooftop mural will be visible to passengers flying into the Toronto airport, reflecting the kind, warm and inclusive identity that defines Canadians. The event will also include remarks from Lactalis Canada President & CEO Mark Taylor and other company executives, government and community partners, a photo opportunity with a giant Astro yogurt tub and Canadian-inspired festivities. WHEN: Monday, June 23, 2025 • Media Registration: 10:30 a.m. • Opening Ceremony: 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. • Photo Opportunity: 11:35 a.m. Media are encouraged to arrive at 10:30 a.m. for registration. Media accreditation required. WHERE: Lactalis Canada Rakely Plant, 25 Rakely Ct, Etobicoke, ON M9C 5G2 PHOTO OP: Following the ceremony and photo opportunity, media will have the chance to conduct 1:1 interviews with speakers. About Lactalis Canada Inc. With over 140 years of brand heritage, Lactalis Canada is the Canadian dairy leader behind iconic brands Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond, P'tit Québec, Balderson, Cheestrings Ficello, aMOOza!, Astro, Khaas, siggi's, IÖGO, IÖGO nanö, Olympic, Lactantia, Beatrice, Bfit, Enjoy!, Marie Morin Canada, Galbani, and Président. With more than 30 operating sites including 20 manufacturing facilities across Canada, the company and its more than 4000 employees are committed to enriching and nurturing the lives of Canadians through sustainable and responsible growth, high-quality products, contribution to communities and partnership with farmers, customers, partners and suppliers. Lactalis Canada has been named on Forbes' 2025 Best Employers in Canada and one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers for 2025. The company is part of Lactalis Group, the world's leading dairy company, headquartered in Laval, France. For more information, visit Media Contact: Lactalis Canada Media Relations [email protected] Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Top Bay Area coffee shop and Indonesian restaurant have closed
SanDai, Walnut Creek's unique Singaporean-Indonesian restaurant, has closed. Chef-owner Nora Haron announced the news, as well as the closure of her adjacent Indonesian-inspired cafe, Kopi Bar, in a press release Friday. Despite strong weekend crowds, she said that slow midweek activity was too much to overcome. Monthly rent for the space on North Main Street, a quieter stretch compared to the heart of downtown Walnut Creek, was more than $28,500, according to Haron. The businesses closed March 2. The upscale restaurant and coffee bar opened in early 2023. At SanDai, Haron put a California twist on the cuisine of her family's Nusantara, a geographical and cultural zone which encompasses Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei, as well as parts of Thailand and the Philippines. Haron's sought-after dishes included her pickled pineapple topped beef rendang, fish fried rice and a raviolo stuffed with tiger prawn in a red broth. 'We really had a good time with the fun-loving atmosphere and sunny, stroll-friendly streets of Walnut Creek,' Haron said in an email to the Chronicle. 'We had a lot of very loyal, hyperlocal fans and we made such heartfelt connections in the community.' Kopi Bar offered Indonesian-inspired beverages like creamy avocado coffees and coconut cappuccinos made with beans roasted by Oakland company Mr. Espresso. Pastries displayed Haron's baking expertise, with croissant muffins stuffed with coconut-egg cream and lapis gulung, a traditional Indonesian cake made with an egg-heavy batter featuring nutmeg and other spices. It ranked among Chronicle restaurant critic Cesar Hernandez's list of the Bay Area's best coffee shops. While the first incarnation of Kopi Bar has closed its doors the brand will live on, Haron said, she hopes to expand the coffee shop to new locations through next year. 'We're growing, evolving, and bringing Kopi Bar to even more people,' she said. 'This is just the beginning.' A spokesperson for the restaurants said these plans are very early in development and no further information was available.
