I like what Water Light Public Plaza represents, even if it's poorly designed…read more Unfortunately, the three walls that make up the Plaza have no sound dampening. So if you have multiple people speaking or children being children, the sound carries to the point it's unpleasant. It couldn't be made into a park because the noise would be deafening. The Plaza has little to no greenery and only receives sunlight during certain points of the day and year, generally being a concrete shaded rather cold space with tables that go largely unused. It would liven up the area dramatically if they put in a small coffee shop that had games you could check out (like Salesforce Park), but my guess is they have to keep it a community space for tax purposes. In my opinion the seating at Growers Square and the Wells Fargo Fountain are far more successful. They're both more comfortable and have a mix of shaded and sunny areas. So all in all, while the idea of the Plaza (with it's beautiful tiled backdrop and fountain) is great, the actual usability of it day to day is fairly low.

This is a really cute public space in Walnut Creek, with a few plants along the border and several…read moretables available to enjoy snacks or drinks. Half of the seating area was covered by shade when we visited, which was a relief on a hot Sunday afternoon. The glass and ceramic mosaic mural along the wall, titled Water Light, is a beautiful reflective art piece by Jason Middlebrook, whose works connect art, history, and nature. The arcs of water flowing from the jets blend in with the artwork on the wall beautifully. The biggest surprise was the wooden grand piano at the corner of the plaza adorned with images of tiny trees and polka dots whose colors match the mural in the background (part of the Painted Piano Project). We got to play and listen to lovely melodies while relaxing in this simple yet delightful space.

Lafayette is a rather small city nestled between Orinda and Walnut Creek!!…read more The downtown area has some nice restaurants. I come here mostly for the Lafayette Reservoir and their annual Art & Wine Festival, which is very popular!! The Reservoir is also very popular, especially on sunny weekends. You can see all the cars parked there from the freeway. Definitely a small town feel here, although not as small as nearby Orinda, and the city is surrounded by rolling hills, lots of trees!!

Main reason I come to this city now is for friends…read more Quality/Quantity - Before moving to Alameda, we also looked at - Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda. I/we are so glad that we chose the city of Alameda. Not that there's anything wrong with the above 3 cities, but Alameda is amazing; see other reviews. Anyways, other than the great public school district, here are some other positives of the City of Lafayette: 15.21 square miles, 0.17 of it is water. Elevation = 320 feet. Population = 25k+. Atmosphere - The main attraction is the "greenery." Hope you have a good gardener. Decent amount of land, but usually not all usable. The traffic is NOT easy in and out, which can be both a good and bad thing. Outdoors - Reservoir, hiking, walking and bike friendly. Small town feel. Art and wine festival. Art and culture. Service - Good. Price - Slightly above average. But it also depends on what you do, eat, or drink. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1848.

Strolling through downtown Walnut Creek, I felt the unmistakable pull of destiny--a dinosaur-sized…read morehunch that something primal was calling. And there it was, the RAWR sculpture by artist Joyce Hsu, standing tall and proud like a raptor with a degree in modern art. It's as if the spirit of Jurassic Park whispered to Hsu: "What if dinosaurs weren't extinct, just... fabulous?" This T-Rex channels more sass than menace, its metallic frame a shimmering reminder that life, much like art, finds a way. The craftsmanship is impressive, its industrial skeleton begging for a caption like, "Clever girl... or clever welder?" The quirky title, RAWR, strikes the perfect chord--equal parts prehistoric roar and millennial text-speak. A must-see for anyone who loves dinosaurs, movies, or existential reflections on what a T-Rex might say if it had Twitter/X. In a world of beige suburban monotony, RAWR is the cultural chaos we didn't know we needed. Five prehistoric stars! [RAWR is a series of imaginative sculptures by Joyce Hsu, including a 12-foot-high T-Rex Robot and a 6-foot-high Dino Bench, located in Walnut Creek's Broadway Plaza.]

I've been here a couple of times for business events…read more Today we had the salmon and lamb, and both were excellent. The wines are always tasty, and the complimentary bread with herb butter is soft and fluffy. The strawberry salad was especially good, even better than the arugula salad. Lemon tart and tiramisu are both great.

We dined here to celebrate my son-in-law's birthday. I have mixed reviews about this place. The…read moreambience is nice, cozy, intimate, and fun. Menu items are on the high side, so be prepared to shell out some dough. We had a nice waiter, pleasant, cheerful, and very accommodating. I would give the waiter a rating between 4 and 5 stars. It was near closing time when we got there, but we didn't feel rushed to order or eat our dinner so that they could clean up and close the restaurant and head on home. We started with an appetizer and garlic bread (see picture). We had about six pieces of bread and as you can see in the picture, it was on the burnt side. I cannot believe that for the price you pay for a bread, they would serve this. I also ordered a black coffee, but it tasted like it had been sitting there since the morning and tasted really nasty. I asked to have a hot tea instead. Food was good. We ordered spaghetti, carbonara, some chicken dish, and a grilled salmon. All the food tasted delicious and we cleaned out the carbonara and spaghetti. After we ate our dinner, they gave my son-in-law a slice of tiramisu with a lighted candle. Overall, it was a pleasant evening and we enjoyed our food (except for the garlic bread). I'd like to see them do me good and give me a nice garlic bread the next time I eat here.

Wonderful dinner last night at Locanda Positano in Lafayette. Locanda Positano is tucked away on…read moreBrown Street in Lafayette. So much delicious food in a wonderful atmosphere. We savored the Locanda Salad, Fritto Misto, incredible focaccia from the Bread Basket, Arancini, Linguini Alle Vongole, Penne Alla Vodka, and the evening special: rigatoni with braised beef and sausage. Every dish was delicious! I'm still thinking about the Locanda salad; it was fabulous! We enjoyed dinner at the bar. The drinks were fantastic, Danny provided excellent service, and Renato and the rest of the staff made us feel right at home. IG: robinmwood

Their average star rating exactly reflects everything at Locanda Positano. Nothing spectacular,…read morejust solid all the way across the board and in the up and down experiences provided by most restaurants these days, there is something to be commended in consistency. Food is good, potions of pasta are a touch on the small, I recommend ordering a starter for the table to share. Service is excellent; attentive and friendly both indoors and out. Ambiance is right out of the "how to decorate an Italian restaurant" playbook, but that doesn't mean it's a bad thing. Currently sitting comfortably in my #2 Italian Food spot in the area.

What a lovely evening in The Creek. How different it is there than i the streets I more…read morecustomarily travel. So pale. So placid. Not in a bad way. A passel of patriots plied the portals of perfection for a handful of hours last night, passing from place to place, pleasing our palate with the plenty poured ... Stop. Sorry. It was a lot of fun. A dozen or so eateries and shops and a piano store to visit, each with a small sample of their fare or something they brought to get us in the door. The crowd wasn't huge, the beneficiary of the gate a lovely organization about which I'd like to learn more. I think I liked those little sausages in a taco proffered at Stelle Bistro the best of all. While my big hands made the sausages look so small once I wrapped my lips around them there was no turning back. I had two. They were so good. Nique, Jayzee, 'Nessa and I tripped those lights fantastically. The evening's end on the couches at Residual Sugar sipping the bubbles thank you very much for the bubbles, my dear, was as pleasant a group together as I've had in a very long time. We didn't Gallop. We strolled. We're from Oakland, after all.

Now this was one nice little fun walking adventure I must say! A self-paced guided tour of Walnut…read moreCreek, in which it was created to raise funds and help students of the Diablo Ballet. I can't say I've ever been to an actual ballet performance, but after meeting the staff and supporters that put this event together; I wouldn't mind checking out one of their shows in the future. Just to show my support. The great thing about this event was that it began at one of my favorite places, Massimo! We checked in, started out with a serving of Cesar salad, pasta, and garlic bread. A good starting location, as you explored that map and scheduled your adventure. I've already done over half of the places listed, like: Massimo, Walnut Creek Yacht Club, Lark Creek, Hamachi, SF Creamery Company, Lottie's Creamery, Silk Road, The Counter, and Peet's Coffee. But I would have to highlight where I stopped: ~Massimo's soft penne pasta bolognese! Perfect! ~WC Yacht Club's watermelon gazpacho with shrimp and pine nuts! Delish! ~Lottie's served up some floats! Loved the root beer and orange flavored soda! ~Silk Road had some fresh hummus and flatbread with chicken pomegranate. This was some serious stuff! I should've asked for a second serving. ~The Counter: Sweet potato, onion strings, and parmesan garlic fries. Ok, but not a fan. Highlights of new places I've never stepped foot in, until now: ~Steinway Piano Gallery - Served up some wine from Las Positas Vineyards. Sorry, didn't like the wine, but loved the background music from the pianist. ~SkinSpirit - Serving Laughing Glass Cocktails and L'Artisan Gourmet Parisian Macarons. Unfortunately I gave up drinking, but gave the drink a sip and knew it was too good for me to finish. As for the macarons, they were OK only a little too soft for me. ~54 Mint Forno - Wow, my third favorite stop. A new WC bakery discovery. Loved the samples, but recommend everyone to take home one of their quiche's. Egg buttery goodness! ~Opa! - My second favorite stop. Why? Because everyone should try their spanakopita. Super flaky and made just right. As was their dolmas. It wasn't overly lemony like most places make it. Damn near perfect! ~We Olive - MY FAV! Enjoyed the ladies that helped me out. I sampled everything and very much plan to come back. This place gets its own personal highlights because of the variety of balsamic and olive oils. Ellen displaying her Chubtastic Wine Bottle Art as well. I wish I knew of this place long ago. Oh, and the brownie/wine combo...mmm!!! Overall, if you haven't really explored Walnut Creek, then this would have been a great opportunity to do so. And also a great way of showing your support for the hard working ballet students. If this continues next year, I shall plan to gallop once again. My only negative star would be because, I didn't see fellow yelpers flaunting any Elite name badges :(

This mural is on the backside of Brendan Theatre, across from the parking garage. The theme is from…read morea manga (Japanese comic) story. In vivid colors of black, red, & black, a female motorcyclist is racing in one panel. Another panel has the phrases "In such seconds of Decision" & "Entire Future Are Made". Definitely action oriented. Space constraints & tree branches hinder the messaging of mural. Creators: John Horton, 333 Arts, #Creative Concord...

I attended the Walnut Creek Art & Wine Festival over the first weekend of June. For the second year…read morein a row, it was held at Civic Park downtown. The weather was perfect. Both days were in the 70s. The layout was similar to that of last year. On the west side, there was a beer garden, rides for kids, and numerous vendors. On the east side, there were even more vendors, a petting zoo, large stage for musical acts, and an excellent lineup of food vendors. It seemed to me that there were more new vendors this year than last year. I interacted with some of them and they were all friendly. It's nice that there were several city-owned garages within walking distance. The organizers also operated shuttles to and from BART. I'm not a drinker so the prices of alcohol was of no concern to me. Someone in my group did mention drinks ran north of $10 per glass. On the food front, premium prices were charged. Four pieces of chicken strips cost $24. The musical acts were good. A lot of 80s and 90s tunes were played. Overall, it was a nice event. Will check it out again next year.

Wow! My first time here taking BaRt to Walnut Creek in 2025 and it was easy to find the shuttle…read morebus which was a school bus to take the riders to the park where the Art and Wine Festival was. Very easy. If all festivals are like this, I might as well venture out and explore! This was a new temporary location for this festival as the original was further away but it was being fixed or upgraded. I loved the set up as it was easy to walk around to see the vendors, rides and food! Yummy! You know I came for some good BBQ and it was great. Nice warm weather and good opening act Michelle Lambert the singer sounds great. She sounds like a Lee Ann Rimes and she plays a violin which was amazing to see and hear. As I was walking around there was food booths and vendors all around. My friend and i walked around the entire area. It's worth to trip to get a change of scenery and explore new vendors we don't normally see where we live. I bought some fresh nuts and bought my bbq lunch. My friend had to buy the cute succulents that came in a box of three. Would I come back here? Sure got good food, entertainment and vendors that were all well balanced.

The main reason I come to this city is for friends…read more Cut and pasted from the internet: "The town is named in honor of Joaquín Moraga." I learned something new as I always thought Moraga was a city.... "The key difference between a town and a city lies in their size, complexity, and administrative structure. Generally, a city is larger, more complex, and has a more developed infrastructure than a town. Towns are typically smaller, more compact settlements with a stronger sense of community." Quality/Quantity - Before moving to Alameda, we also looked at - Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda. I/we were so glad that we chose the city of Alameda. Not that there's anything wrong with the above 3 cities, but Alameda is amazing; see other reviews. Anyways, other than the great public school district, here are some other positives of the Town of Moraga: 9.45 square miles, 0.01 of it is water. Elevation = 499 feet. Population = Almost 17k+. Atmosphere - The main attraction is the "greenery." Hope you have a good gardener. Decent amount of land, but usually not all usable. The traffic is NOT easy in and out, which can be both a good and bad thing. Outdoors - Reservoir, hiking, walking and bike friendly. Small "town" feel. Art and wine festival. Art and culture. Service - Good. Price - Slightly above average. But it also depends on what you do, eat, or drink. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1974.

St Mary's college is one of the highlights. Small town feel. Lots of nature. Can feel a bit…read moreisolated though. Canyon Club Brewery one example of a fine business in this town. Very friendly owners and perfect to bring the whole family. Outdoor seating just perfect for the spring and summer weather coming up. St. Mary's college has beautiful buildings but it feels so isolated from the rest of the world. It almost seems as if it were a punishment to force young people to study here. Nothing nearby. No escape. Feels like Alcatraz. Lots of nature. Beautiful green spaces and windy roads. Nothing on a grid it seems. Some part of me likes the freeness of the design the other part of me thinks its just too difficult to navigate. The one road you definitely need a German car of some sort to handle the twisties. Proximity to San Franciso is also within reason. Overall 3.5 stars.

Sept 16, 2025 I haven't spent a nickle on goods or services…read morein Walnut Creek now for four years. I occasionally see a restaurant on YELP that makes Walmut Creek look attractive but I have proudly shaken the cheating Walnut Creek dust off of my sandals. There was an exception where I was taken to that God forsaken place due to me being in a coma. Also I am taking my daughter there for a Dr. appointment today. Restaurants and shopping and parking in that trap? Not going to happen until Hell freezes over.

Downtown Walnut Creek is always very lively!!!…read more The Broadway Plaza is a good sized outdoor shopping mall with lots of high end stores and plenty of restaurants. As a matter of fact, a lot of the downtown area has plenty of restaurants, bars, bookstores, coffee shops, and other businesses. Sometimes, parking may be a challenge, and just driving through here might take some time with all the people walking around, it's a very walkable area. This is definitely the place to be in Walnut Creek, and I would say this place has way more action than the other surrounding cities have in their downtown areas!!