The restaurant, which opened at 1010 El Camino Real in February 2014, suddenly went dark this June. A message posted in the restaurant’s window and on its website read: "With great sadness, we are closing the Borrone MarketBar. We are a family business, and our family situation at this time requires our attention."
From left to right, Roy and Rose Borrone (who opened Cafe Borrone in 1979), Josh Pebbles and Marina Borrone at Borrone MarketBar on Jan. 22, 2014. Photo by Michelle Le/The Almanac.
Marina, who opened the restaurant with her husband Josh Pebbles, declined to comment at the time, but wrote in an email Monday that the restaurant closed because of an illness. News website InMenlo reported last week that the couple plans to fully reopen the restaurant "some time after the first of the year." Marina confirmed this but said no date has been set yet.
Meanwhile, head to the former MarketBar space this Wednesday, Dec. 23, and Thursday, Dec. 24, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to satisfy all of your holiday food cravings. They’ll have focaccia (there are four flavor options), arancini, duck pate, raviolis, lasagna, Brussel sprouts, quiche and Italian torta. There will also be pastries and desserts, from bombolini and morning buns to chocolate ganache tart and coconut cake.
"We are excited about our pop up this week," Marina said. "We did not want the holidays to pass without offering marketbar specialties to the community. It is certainly our passion to want to create memorable meals."
View the full pop-up menu on Cafe Borrone’s Facebook page, here. The restaurant is also taking pre-orders at 650-600-8095.
