Opening Date Set For New Cocktail-Restaurant Addition To Theatre Square

LAMORINDA, CA — Sorso plans to open its doors Sept. 23, bringing cocktails, wine, and shared plates to the former Starbucks space in Orinda's Theatre Square.

"T-minus 10 days till Sorso opens its doors!" the restaurant announced Sunday on Instagram. The countdown puts the opening nine days from Monday.

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Orinda resident Daniele Carsano, formerly of Walnut Creek's Montesacro and Berkeley's Casa Barotti, is opening the Italian-inspired bar as its bar and décor take shape.

Carsano's description of Sorso sounds similar to Casa Barotti, located on College Avenue in Berkeley's Rockridge neighborhood.

"Sorso" means "to sip," or to take a big swig, according to online dictionaries. The name fits the vision the owners outlined: "Where cocktails lead, wine follows, and the plates are meant to be shared."

In other words, "Orinda's about to get a little more interesting."

Sorso will join Casa Orinda, with its steer-meets-Sinatra mahogany bar décor, Taverna Pellegrini, Piccolo Napoli pizzeria, the pub-food-focused Fourth Bore, the Boo Boo Lounge, and several other places where Orinda pulls up to a table.

Carsano told the Bay Area Telegraph that he hopes Sorso gives residents a reason to stay in Orinda rather than head to nearby cities. Sorso has not announced its operating hours.

"No bar top. No bottles. No music bouncing off the room. No clinking glasses. Just a blank canvas waiting to become something timeless," Carsano wrote on Instagram several months ago.

But soon, he wrote, "the space will be filled with late nights, first dates, celebrations."

Other recent downtown arrivals include Shemroon Cafe, Lamorinda Atelier, 8Moose Pizzeria, and Nine Tailed Fox, according to reports.

The opening comes as Orinda launches a downtown façade improvement pilot. The City Council allocated $75,000 for the program through June.

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