About five months after DJ's Cafe closed its two remaining restaurants, we're learning what will replace the original location on Tennyson Street.
Wendell's, another breakfast and lunch spot, will open at 3838 Tennyson St. in mid-May. It's owned by Avanti Food & Beverage co-founder Patrick O’Neill and The Way Back and American Grind co-owner Kade Gianinetti.
From the sound of it, we can expect something not too unlike DJ's Berkeley Café — diner-style breakfast and lunch with classic "more contemporary" menu options, according to a press release. That means things like chicken fried steak and avocado toast with pickled beets and herbed ricotta coming out of the kitchen helmed by Eric Lee, who most recently worked as the executive chef at Linger.
“I’ve wanted to open a modern take on a classic diner for some time, when the old DJ’s space became available we jumped at the opportunity; we love timeless elements in restaurant concepts,” O'Neill said. “Kade and I both live in the neighborhood and really wanted to serve the needs and desires of Berkeley. DJ’s was a fixture here for some time, we hope to both continue and enhance what they started.”
Wendell's will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekends, and will not take reservations.
