A couple of new food options are coming to the Shattuck Avenue environs in downtown Berkeley. First up there’s Pathos Restaurant and Bar (2430 Shattuck), a new Greek restaurant from Kokkari alum and East Bay-native Nicholas Eftimiou. Diablo Dish reports that Eftimiou is aiming for casual, simple, and authentic Greek food that’s “Kokkari-esque but more cost effective.” He’ll do staples like moussaka, grilled calamari, and baklava, and he’s aiming for an early October opening. Then, a couple doors up and next door to Comal will be Belli (2434 Shattuck), a ravioli-focused restaurant from first-time chef-owner Paul Oprescu.
Oprescu says he wants Belli “to be to raviolis what Pizzaiolo was to pizza,” and he’ll be rotating through 150 different ravioli recipes to highlight different ingredients. Non-ravioli options will include a few entrées served with polenta, some raw crudos, and paninis. Look for Belli to open around early October as well.
Once these two new places open up, the downtown Berkeley scene will be giving the longstanding Gourmet Ghetto further up Shattuck a run for its money — what with Gather, Ippuku, Comal, Five, and Revival having all opened within a few blocks in the last three years.
Weekly Dish: Belli Brings Gourmet Raviolis to Berkeley [Diablo Dish]
