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New Restaurants

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Coming Soon

Ad Hoc

For a brief moment in time, the hottest table to score in Yountville may not be at The French Laundry, but just down the street at Thomas Keller's fleeting, homespun New American prix fixery, slated to open this month in the former Wine Garden space (6476 Washington St.; 707-944-2487). A walk-in-only affair, it will serve $45 four-course meals (including salad, dessert and a cheese course) Thursday–Monday from 5 PM–9:30 PM (with a slightly earlier Sunday supper); the menu will feature Keller's childhood comfort foods (fried chicken, beef stroganoff) elevated to French Laundry sensibilities, down to the salad greens he hopes to harvest from the vaunted kitchen's on-site gardens. The restaurant is only intended to remain open until the end of the year, after which it will transform into a permanent venue – either burger joint or sushi bar, depending on which direction Keller chooses. Jeff Cerciello, executive chef at Bouchon, will oversee the food, which will also include a limited à la carte bar menu.

Angawa

Restaurateur Joseph Manzare (Globe, Zuppa) is actively looking for a space in which to open this high-end, late-night sushi restaurant. Angawa refers to the outer fin of halibut that, when prepared correctly, is considered a delicacy. With this new enterprise, Manzare hopes to fill the void that was created when master chef Sachio Kojima of Kabuto left town last year.

Barracuda

Hoping to outfox a cursed location, this sophisticated Castro newcomer (2251 Market St.) will present Japanese fusion fare with a Brazilian flair, along with a full bar shaking swanky cocktails, when it opens later this summer. The space, originally reported to become Swanky Steakhouse, was previously home to the short-lived Repastoria Satyricon and Tin Pan.

Circa

Bye, bye Cozmo Grill. The shuttered Marina nightspot (2001 Chestnut St.) will reopen later this summer with a new name, a swanky Michael Brennan–designed interior and an Eclectic menu of both small and family-style plates. Cozmo Grill chef Erik Hopfinger will oversee the menu, which will bear his whimsical style (think PB&J foie gras and Dungeness crab tater tots).

Eureka Restaurant & Bar

Set to open in the fall, this tentatively named New American in the Castro (4063 18th St.) promises to be a formidable addition, given that it will be run by the folks behind Glen Park's successful Chenery Park.

The Front Porch

This forthcoming New Orleans–inspired Mission gastropub (65A 29th St.) will feature affordable comfort food with a Caribbean influence from the former executive chef of Emmy's Spaghetti Shack; expect lots of loungey booths, a beer garden and a slew of cheap but respectable wines, along with brunch and late-night weekend hours.

Go Fish Grill

Plans are progressing for Cindy Pawlcyn's previously reported West Coast–style fish house in the former Pinot Blanc space (641 Main St., St. Helena). Now scheduled to open in August, it will feature a sushi bar overseen by none other than Hana chef Ken Tominaga, as well as executive chef Andrew Budnyj (formerly of San Jose's Arcadia).

Perbacco

Shoehorned between two venerable Downtown restaurants – Tadich Grill and Aqua – this sprawling, luxe bi-level restaurant (230 California St.) will showcase seasonal Northern Italian (and a bit of French) cuisine crafted by Staffan Terje (formerly the executive chef of Scala's Bistro); Cass Calder Smith (LuLu, Terzo) will redesign the historic building, fusing old-world brick walls with modern elements like an open kitchen and loungey seating. It's scheduled to open in late August.

Good Deals and Other News

Bong Su Restaurant & Lounge

This swank Vietnamese newcomer has started serving weekday lunch; it also hosts a happy hour (Monday–Friday from 4–6:30 PM) in the lounge featuring half off all appetizers.

C&L Steakhouse

Chef-owner Laurent Manrique is moving his innovative, regionally inspired steakhouse from its old, now-shuttered Nob Hill address at 1250 Jones Street to a larger, more high-profile locale. He's not yet signed a lease, but anticipates an early 2007 reopening; the kitchen will feature a wood-fired oven and is expected to churn out a broader offering of seafood items.

The Flying Pig

The owners of the San Rafael outpost of Dipsea Cafe have transformed that popular breakfast nook into an authentic Texas-style barbecue joint that still serves those infamous all-day breakfasts.

Fork

San Anselmo's Californian-influenced French small-plates spot has a new chef following the departure of Charles Solomon, who took over when founding chef Scott Howard left to open his eponymous San Francisco restaurant. Saman Javid hails from none other than Scott Howard so while he intends to roll out new menu items, no dramatic changes are expected.

French Shake-Up

at Baraka, Chez Papa Bistrot and La Suite: Executive chef David Bazirgan has resigned from Baraka and Chez Papa Bistrot to work on his own, as-yet-unnamed venture. At Chez Papa, a new chef will emphasize the Provençal aspects of the menu; Baraka is still seeking a replacement. Bazirgan was also the executive chef of the Downtown brasserie La Suite, which will close at the end of this month and reopen in September as a Pan-Asian small-plates bistro headed by chef Mike Yakura (formerly of Le Colonial).

Palio d'Asti

Current chef Daniel Scherotter, who's worked at this Downtown Italian since 1994, has purchased the business from founding owner Gianni Fassio; Fassio has retired to his homeland of Asti, where he is growing Barbera grapes and hazelnuts and procuring white truffles, all of which will be showcased on Palio's menu. While Scherotter will give the place a minor face-lift, he intends to keep the seasonal concept, serving Northern Piemontese and Bolognese fare in the fall and winter, Roman and Umbrian cuisine in the spring and Southern Neapolitan and Sicilian cuisine in the summer.

Phoenix Next Door

This Berkeley Italian has moved to a smaller space at 1250 Addison Street and is now open as a retail store only (510-883-0783).

Postrio

Steven Rosenthal, who shared the title of executive toque with his brother, Mitchell, for over a decade, has left this high-profile Puck eatery to focus on Town Hall and his forthcoming gastropub Salt House, which is expected to open at 545 Mission Street in the fall.

The Ritz-Carlton at Half Moon Bay

An ongoing "Summer School" series features weekly culinary classes in the resort's kitchens. This month's topics include "American Wines and Cheese" with expert Laura Werlin (July 7th); a "Bastille Day Menu" with the resort's executive chef Xavier Salomon (July 14th); "Entertaining the Spanish Way" with Ryan Poli, executive chef of Chicago's Butter (July 21st); and "Ice Cream, You Scream" with pastry chef and cookbook author Emily Luchetti (July 28th). The 90-minute classes include a complimentary copy of the guest instructor's latest cookbook (6–7:30 PM; $70 per class; call 650-712-7696 to register).

Scala's Bistro

This Downtown eatery is closing for renovations this month and plans to reopen by August debuting new executive chef David Cohen's menu. Cohen replaces Staffan Terje, who has left to open Perbacco (see the "Coming Soon" section above) later this summer.

Victorian Gardens

Chef-proprietor Luciano Zamboni passed away in May. The future of the restaurant is currently unclear.

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