Walnut Creek’s Château, a new restaurant and lounge, opens Friday

Château, a new restaurant and lounge serving Champagne, caviar and charcuterie is set to host its grand opening Friday, Aug. 30.

The lounge is the project of husband-wife duo Domingo and Raquel Williams. It builds on Raquel’ catering company, Honey + Brie, where she’s spent the past five years serving up specialty charcuterie and grazing boards.

The restaurant also offers a range of small plates — plus a burger that’s already surprisingly popular, Williams says. There’s also a truffle grilled cheese sandwich with hot honey and hamachi with citrus yuzu and a creamy avocado sauce.

The restaurant will have a mezzanine bar, a champagne room and a patio with European-style alfresco dining, she says.

“What we really wanted to bring to the East Bay and downtown Walnut Creek was a bit more elevated casual fine dining,” she says.

The restaurant is the couple’s first and, she says, “It came with a lot of challenges. …You don’t know what  you don’t know.” Plans to open earlier this year hit delays, but her team, including the architect and landlord, supported the project to bring it to fruition, she says.

Details: Open 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday at 1376 N. Main St., Walnut Creek; chateauwalnutcreek.com.