There’s a new spot to tailgate for 49ers games that will provide tacos, barbecue, beer, wine and cocktails in a massive space just a short walk from Levi’s Stadium.

The 18,000-square-foot Clara’s Junction, an overhaul of what was once a Carl’s Jr., turned on the grills and opened the taps Sept. 26, in time for the 49ers’ game against the New England Patriots.

“Clara’s Junction is a social gathering place for the vibrant and growing community of Santa Clara, featuring games, sports and entertainment, plus a variety of dining options for all groups and occasions,” said Tom Dillon, CEO of Apicii hospitality group.

The indoor-outdoor concept will provide a traditional American restaurant and bar inside while the outdoor area will provide tons of seating, games, TVs, the Taz’s Tacos truck and The Pit, a live barbecue pit set-up that will host guest pitmasters.

Inside, the menu features items by chef Daniel Sharp, who previously cooked at Chez Panisse in Berkeley and the Inn of the Seventh Ray in Los Angeles, as well as abroad in Italy and Mexico. Items will include tuna poke bowls, honey-glazed chicken wings and BBQ ribs.

The bar menu will include 20 beers from local breweries and seasonal rotating specials as well as wine and cocktails, including “The Pit Punch” with Firefly sweet tea vodka, simple syrup and mint.

Outside, Taz’s Tacos serves chicken tinga, beef birria and Baja fish tacos, as well as other specials. At The Pit BBQ, regional specials like Carolina pulled pork, St Louis style ribs and Korean barbecue short ribs highlight the menu. The Pit also plans on hosting lamb and pig roasts.

Details >> Located a 10-minute walk from Levi’s Stadium and directly across from the Lick Mill VTA light rail stop at 2221 Tasman Drive, Santa Clara.

Dessert in a jar from Top Chef’s Fabio Viviani

Jars, a dessert concept from “Top Chef” star Fabio Viviani, has just opened its latest location in the Bay Street Emeryville shopping mall.

These are artfully layered dessert jars, with rotating flavors often reflecting popular pies and cakes. The brains behind it is Viviani, who competed on season five of “Top Chef” and later cooked at popular local events like the Gilroy Garlic Festival. Half-a-dozen other Jars that have opened in Chicago, St. Louis and other cities since 2022.

The menu is divided into Classic Combinations (starting at $7.29) such as Strawberry Shortcake, Red Velvet Cheesecake, Fabio’s Tiramisu and Banana Cream Pie, and Limited Editions ($8.29) including Carrot Cake, Apple Streusel and Mexican Spiced Hot Chocolate. These flavor combos work their way into milkshakes ($6.49), too, and soft-serve ice cream cups with various crumbly or gooey toppings ($5.50 to $6.50).

A recent taste test found the flavors interesting and the sweetness levels off the chart — if you like to sprinkle sugar on your ice cream, you’re in the ballpark. Still, it’s bound to find an audience, especially within the child-heavy mall atmosphere (and perhaps with some run-off from the nearby dispensary).

Details >> Jars is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily at 5649 Bay St. in Emeryville; https://jarsbyfabioviviani.com.

What to eat at today’s Little Italy SJ Festival

Mangia! mangia! Little Italy San Jose’s annual street festival returns today with a huge lineup of Italian food, from homey specialties to restaurant favorites, plus 150 Italian cars, live entertainment, wine booths and dozens of arts and crafts vendors in the historic district.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and admission is free.

If you’re heading over for the food, there will be South Bay restaurants along with vendors. Also, the Little Italy businesses — Littlest Little Italy, Paesano’s, Henry’s Hi Life, Poor House Bistro — will be open and serving inside.

Local favorites include the Tricarico Social Club with its polenta and sausage and the Sons of Sicily frying up sfingi for dessert.

Look for arrosticini skewers, salumi and formaggio from Valley Fair’s Eataly. gnocchi and tiramisu from Morgan Hill’s Sicilia in Bocca Ristorante; pasta boscaiola with mushrooms, strozzapreti and meatballs from Locanda Sorrento in Campbell; and porchetta, antipasto salad and Caesar salad from Rolatti Ristorante in downtown San Jose. Paesano’s will offer arancini and cannoli outside on Julian Street.

Risotto’s Kitchen is doing limoncello cake, risotto and caprese, and Sugo Cooking is making lasagna and baked pasta. Sleight of Hand Pizza and La Fenice Pizza will sell slices.

Artisanal vendors include Roxane’s Biscotti, Mike & Niki’s Honey, That Garlic Stuff, The Olive Bar, Foustman’s Salami, La Copa Loca Gelato, plus specialties from Aemilia Imports, Luca Nextdoor and Ciao Italia.

Details >> Julian Street and North Almaden Boulevard, San Jose; www.littleitalysj.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.