Walnut Creek Restaurant Finds Success With Unusual Twist

WALNUT CREEK, CA — Walnut Creek has no shortage of Mediterranean restaurants.

Now it has one that combines a vegetarian-focused menu with Mediterranean flavors and a beverage program built around nonalcoholic and low-alcohol drinks.

The concept adds a new option to the city's dining scene rather than competing directly with traditional Mediterranean eateries in Walnut Creek's growing restaurant district.

The concept also recently earned regional recognition, something not taken lightly in Walnut Creek or, more broadly, throughout Contra Costa County's restaurant community.

Sipeos opened on Broadway Plaza in November 2024 and serves dishes influenced by the cuisines of Morocco, France, Italy, Greece, and Turkey, made with California-grown ingredients and seasonal produce.

The restaurant specializes in vegetarian fare and offers a drink menu that includes zero-proof cocktails, low-alcohol drinks, local beer, and California wines.

The founders Dhruma and Hetal Shah describe Sipeos as the Bay Area's first Mediterranean vegetarian restaurant. The menu was developed with chef Blair Warsham, and emphasizes fresh ingredients and plant-forward cooking.

Before opening the restaurant, the couple launched Sipeos as an e-commerce business selling nonalcoholic beer, wine, spirits, and mixers, according to reports.

When the business led them to open a restaurant, they carried over the same platform, giving non-drinkers options on occasions where nonalcoholic drinks might otherwise be limited or unappealing.

The owners say their goal is to create an inclusive dining experience that appeals to vegetarians, vegans, omnivores, and people across a spectrum of drinking preferences.

As Walnut Creek continues to attract new restaurants and culinary concepts, Sipeos was recently recognized by SFGate as the Bay Area's top vegetarian restaurant. The recognition has helped raise the restaurant's profile beyond Contra Costa County.