North Italia, the popular Italian restaurant chain, will open its first Bay Area location in Walnut Creek on March 25. The new restaurant will be located at Plaza Escuela in Walnut Creek. To celebrate Walnut Creek and the Bay Area, North Italia worked with Local Edition Creative to create a mural inside the space.
North Italia Expands to the Bay Area
Fox Restaurant Concepts, led by Sam Fox, founded North Italia in 2002 as an Italian concept restaurant. The restaurant is renowned for its house-made Italian dishes, hand-tossed pizzas, and expertly crafted cocktails.
Fox Restaurant Concepts also operates other brands, including Culinary Dropout, The Henry, and Flower Child.
This spring, North Italia is set to open its newest location in Walnut Creek, California. It marks the brand’s first location in the San Francisco Bay Area and its seventh in California.
Located at Plaza Escuela, 1179 Locust Street, Walnut Creek, North Italia plans to bring its chef-inspired Italian menu to the area. Along with its popular happy hour, seasonal dishes will add to Walnut Creek’s growing dining scene.
After the Walnut Creek opening, the company will continue expanding on the West Coast, with its 50th restaurant set to open in Brea, Southern California.
Unique Dining Experience
The new restaurant will be situated inside the Plaza Escuela’s open-air shopping center. The space spans more than 8,500 square feet and seats more than 200 guests. It offers both an indoor dining room and an outdoor bar area. The open kitchen lets guests watch chefs craft dishes from scratch each day.
For the new location, North Italia has partnered with San Francisco arts agency Local Edition Creative to create a mural inside the restaurant. The artistic interior represents and honors the local Bay Area community.
The artwork features a modern interpretation of Venus surrounded by native wildflowers and rolling hills. A view of the Golden Gate Bridge is also included, highlighting both Northern California scenery and the restaurant’s Italian roots.
Menu Highlights
A team of experienced chefs and managers will lead the new Walnut Creek location. It will be serving well-known Italian dishes and new seasonal offerings. Some of the menu highlights include:
- The Classico Board with cured meats and cheeses, White Truffle Garlic Bread, Sicilian Meatball Garlic Knot Sliders, and the Giardino Stromboli.
- Pasta favorites like Bolognese, Spicy Rigatoni Vodka, Sunday Night Lasagna, and Braised Short Rib Lumache. Other main dishes include Braised Short Rib Marsala.
- Brunch options feature Strawberries & Cream French Toast and Bistro Steak & Eggs.
- For dessert, guests can choose from the Brookie Sundae, Tiramisu, or Hazelnut Torta.
The drink menu includes craft cocktails such as the New Italian Spritz and Sicilian Margarita, along with a wide selection of wine, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks like the La Spezia.
Reservations will be available through OpenTable ahead of the opening. North Italia is hosting a job fair at 1179 Locust St. now through March 8, inviting local residents to join the team ahead of opening.
As the San Francisco Bay Area’s dining scene continues to grow, the arrival of North Italia adds another fresh option for locals and visitors.
