Detroit-style pizza (and a Filipino pie) for Walnut Creek

DINING SCENE

With its opening in Walnut Creek, Square Pie Guys is introducing a Filipino-inspired pizza in collaboration with Bay Area hip-hop artist P-Lo. The pizza will be available at all locations through March 31. Spencer Tsang — Square Pie Guys

Lira has closed its doors in downtown Campbell after less than a year. Dai Sugano — Staff Photographer

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By John Metcalfe and Linda Zavoral

Staff writers

For the 22% of people who enjoy their pizza slices square — and that’s from an actual survey in 2021 — a Square Pie Guys is opening in Walnut Creek.

The new pizza joint will have its grand opening today, Jan. 11, at 1991 N. California Blvd., just a stone’s throw away from Walnut Creek BART. It’s the sixth location for the local chain, with others in Campbell, Palo Alto, Oakland and elsewhere.

Since opening its first brick-and-mortar in 2019, Square Pie Guys has been credited with introducing San Franciscans to Detroit-style, crispy-edged square pizza. Oddly enough, its owner is from New York. The pizzas feature a cheddar-cheese edge, which gives them the signature crunch that differentiates Detroit from other styles.

The restaurant timed its newest opening to a collaboration with local Filipino American rapper P-Lo, of the HBK Gang, who himself has collaborated with E-40 and Saweetie. A limited-time, Filipino-inspired pizza will be served at all of its locations: a vodka-sauce pie with longanisa, Italian sausage and hot-honey bomba, finished with spicy ranch and basil.

“The Bay Area is home to one of the largest and most influential Filipino communities in the country,” the restaurant said in a statement. “Filipino culture has shaped Bay Area foodways, music, family traditions and community identity for generations. Developing a Filipino-inspired pie with P-Lo offered a meaningful opportunity to honor that cultural backbone tied to the Bay.”

The special pie will be available until March 31, with a portion of the proceeds going toward a youth-empowerment and violence-prevention charity.

Details: 1991 N. California Blvd., Walnut Creek; squarepieguys.com

campbell's swanky Lira closes after 11 months

Downtown Campbell’s Lira, the much-acclaimed restaurant that made its debut with a celebrity chef at the helm, closed its doors after New Year’s Eve — just shy of a year after opening.

“We are deeply grateful to our guests, friends, neighbors and community for your support, your celebrations and the many memories with us,” the management team posted on the website. “Thank you for being a part of Lira’s journey.”

The owners had been trying to craft a new identity for Lira after Tucker Ricchio, a San Jose native who was the winner of Gordon Ramsay’s “Next Level Chef” (Season 2), departed last June, citing differences with the two South Bay entrepreneur-owners.

Neither co-owners Zachary Smith and Faisal Gowani nor Ricchio has commented on the split, with a non-disclosure agreement in effect.

Diners posted 5-star review after 5-star review after the swanky restaurant opened last Jan. 31 with Ricchio’s top-tier menu. Among the highlights were her signature entree, Seared Scallops & Brown Butter Hummus, a dish that Ramsay praised, along with Jerk-Spiced Lamb and Dubai Cheesecake.

Lira was the first solo restaurant effort for her; she also had worked in Michelin-starred kitchens in San Francisco.

Details: 368 E. Campbell Ave., Campbell; lira restaurant.com

Send restaurant news tips to Linda Zavoral at lzavoral@bayareanewsgroup.com, Kate Bradshaw at kbradshaw@bayareanewsgroup.com or John Metcalfe at jmetcalfe@bayareanewsgroup.com.