The Hit List: New East Bay Restaurants To Try Right Now

"Lulu has found a new, bigger home on Albany’s Solano Avenue in a space that looks like a cute tea lounge with poppy and fig wallpapers and calming green tones. The Cal-Palestinian brunch spot’s signature feast ($35 per person) is a cure-all for morning meal decision fatigue: an assortment of hummus, muhammara, and labneh are piled next to roasted halloumi and crudité on a small turntable. The dish is so good, and a step above your standard eggs benedict and avocado toast brunch. Adding to this no-brainer meal are impressive, sweet-centric coffee drinks made with things like pistachio cold foam, and colorful plates like the rich knafeh pancake and baklava french toast topped with honey and cream. They’re all conversation starters, and why we’re excited to return for dinner. " - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez