The Essence Redefining Indian Food represents Indian food in all its eccentricity and diversity along with a high quality family dining experience. The Essence provides its guests a feel of traveling across India with all five senses and a plate. A beautiful extension is that the menu undergoes a change every two months with exciting add-ons. Also, whichever region The Essence makes its home, there is an adoption of the local cuisine by its menu.
Traditionally inspired from dishes, ingredients & techniques spanning the Malay archipelago, namely Singapore & Indonesia. Regionally influenced by Northern California’s palette of producers, produce, and presentation. Essentially: expressing these tropical, cosmopolitan island flavor profiles through the abundance of what thrives in Northern California’s Mediterranean climate and terrain. Nusantara cuisines could be characterized as intense, rich, spiced (more than spicy). Steeped in time and layers of complexity, both in the kitchen and in the long history of diverse peoples in this part of the world. Chef Nora Haron draws from this wealth of culinary knowledge, plus contrasting Californian influences, which some could say to be the polar opposite: that deconstructed-composed, whole-ingredients-laid-bare simplicity, the lightness that has evolved in California eating through the few decades of this relatively young place.
PrimaverA ristorante serves both quality interpretations of classic Italian dishes and daring new ventures into the new territories of food. Our restaurant offers the choice to watch the art of cooking as it occurs in the open-kitchen main dining room or with the nearly year-round beautiful weather that allows for our guests to enjoy the action of the surrounding area and fresh air, dining on our outdoor side patio. The bar and lounge dining area is certainly open for all guests enjoying lounge setting for both lunch and dinner service. For drinks, we offer a well thought for and premium handcrafted cocktails & beers created and chosen by our manager as well as an ever evolving Wine-List with plenty of choices by the glass. For larger groups and more private dining, our Tuscan Banquet dining room is open every day for all party sizes when availability permits. Catering and preparing Food for large groups for offsite delivery is accepted by prior arrangement.
With its cheerful exterior and warm and friendly setting, La Piazza in Orinda is a San Francisco Bay area gem. Offering the fun of an open kitchen, where pizzas, pastas, salads and desserts are prepared before your eyes, La Piazza is a perfect choice for dinner or a post-movie treat as it is directly across the street from the Orinda Theatre.
A truly classic Italian menu includes pizza, antipasti, beautiful pasta dishes, heartier entrees and a stunning dessert list. In fact, many visit La Piazza for dolci along with a glass from their comprehensive wine list or excellent and authentic coffees.
