Sipeos’s Cafe & Bar Opens Soon in Walnut Creek With Inclusive Food and Nonalcoholic or Low ABV Cocktail Menu | Eater SF
"Founded by Dhruma and Hetal Shah after they launched an e-commerce brand selling nonalcoholic beer, wine, and spirits, the project brings "health-forward choices" to the forefront with a Mediterranean menu and drinks composed of nonalcoholic and low-ABV options, beer, and wine — a chance to be inclusive to all, the Shahs say. "It all revolves around helping people feel included in these social settings, especially those that abstain from drinking alcohol," Hetal Shah says. "I think the majority of those that have tried NA beverages enjoy them, giving them another alternative to participate. And so we were super excited, based on the feedback we got from friends and family and co-workers that were like, 'Let's figure out how we can raise awareness and accessibility to these beverages.'" The Shahs, well-versed in e-commerce and tech (Dhruma in biotech; Hetal previously at Postmates, Uber, and eBay), moved into hospitality with connections to Roy Hospitality and drink consulting from West Bev. Diners can expect a mix of salads and dips, plus a selection of skewers, pinsa flatbread pizzas, and more — nosh on beet hummus dip with flatbread or slathered eggplant skewers and pair those dishes with drinks from the bar menu. Some nonalcoholic offerings mimic classic cocktails, such as a Negroni made with a nonalcoholic spirit alternative and "tastes just as good," Hetal says. Other drinks are new — and low-ABV if diners prefer — such as the pepper shandy made with a pomegranate-pink peppercorn syrup with beer and lemon on top, served in a pilsner glass. "There’s a movement in the NA industry to change terminology, to rebrand these beverages from mocktails — which is what most people call them — to adult NA beverages," Hetal says. "We’re excited about that, and we’re always helping people learn that these are not mocktails. They’re not juice-based, they don’t have the sugar content that most mocktails do, that you can find at most restaurants." The concept is framed as a space for those who are sober or sober-curious — or anyone who enjoys a great drink. "The whole point of the NA beverage menu is to show people that you don’t have to have sugary mocktails," Dhruma says. "It’s about utilizing NA spirit alternatives to create creative new drinks. Not just your regular margaritas and your gin and tonics and things like that, but creative drinks, that feel like adult beverages." Located at 126 Broadway Lane in Walnut Creek, it debuts on Saturday, November 30, and will be open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week." - Brenna Houck
