Quick Hits: Two New Sushi Restaurants Now Open + Other Dining News

A bite from Robin's omakase menu
A bite from Robin’s omakase menu

Two exciting new Japanese restaurants have opened their doors in the Bay Area this week. First up is Nobu Palo Alto, Nobu Matsuhisa’s high end sushi restaurant with a club-like atmosphere. Nobu is located in the Epiphany Hotel, which is owned by Oracle’s founder, Larry Ellison—who happens to be one of Matsuhisa’s partners. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be available daily. In Hayes Valley, Robin, a sushi restaurant from Adam Tortosa (formerly of Akiko’s) opened last night. Diners can choose from a hyper-seasonal omakase experience or select dishes from an a la carte menu. Items range from salmon belly with whipped tofu to sesame noodles with shaved black truffles and Japanese chimichurri.

Joe Panik, Brandon Belt, and Tony Gemignani
Joe Panik, Brandon Belt, and Tony Gemignani

Pizza maestro, Tony Gemignani, has joined forces for the second year in a row with Giants baseball players, Joe Panik and Brandon Belt to help raise funds for local charity the George Mark Children’s House. From now until September 20, proceeds from two special pies solid at Gemignani’s 2nd Street Slice House and the Walnut Creek location will go to the children’s house fund-a-bed campaign. Last year, the trio set out to raise $5,000 but exceeded that by $3000. This summer, the goal number is $10,000. Each Giant designed a pizza: the Panik Parm Pie features breaded chicken cutlets, sliced mozzarella, tomato sauce, garlic, parmigiano, and oregano. Belt’s Monster Meat Pizza has pepperoni, sausage, bacon, red and green onion, bell pepper, and shaved parmigiano and romano cheeses.

The rooftop patio at Dirty Habit is upping its brunch game
The rooftop patio at Dirty Habit is upping its brunch game

Dirty Habit is launching a new brunch series on its beloved outdoor heated patio. The first Addicted at Dirty Habit will take place on Sunday, July 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The decadent brunch includes an over-the-top spread of upscale dishes like a tator tot bar, opened-faced tartines, maple-smoked bacon, eggs Benedict and more. There will be bottomless mimosas, a Bloody Mary bar, and live music by resident DJ Jakey.