Zagat Survey Discussions

New Restaurants

Coming Soon

Cuvée

Corks will once again pop at the Napa restaurant space (1650 Soscol Ave.) that housed Restaurant Budo. The same partners that backed that highly acclaimed but short-lived venue are behind this more casual American replacement opening later this month. In an appeal to locals, a new toque (Budo chef James McDevitt has left to assume the reins at NYC's soon-to-open Le Cirque) will prepare a more moderately priced menu of updated, simply presented comfort food (braised meats, grilled fresh fish), and a larger bar area will feature a late-night menu and an affordable roster of draft wines.

Finegan's Marin

Novato's longstanding watering hole, Bit-A-Honey (877 Grant Ave.), will soon be transformed into this casual tavern run by the owner of the nearby Kitchen at 868 Grant. Slated for a June opening, it will serve affordable, slightly upscale Irish-American fare until midnight daily.

Joey & Eddy's Seafood

Fans who thought they'd have to wait a year before tucking into plates of chef-restaurateur Joseph Manzare's straight-up Italian fare at his forthcoming Joey & Eddy's in SoMa take heart – Manzare plans to open this Italian-American–inspired seafood restaurant in Noe Valley (1708 Church St.) later this spring. The joint will serve dinner six nights a week and feature an outdoor patio for weekend brunch.

Roosevelt's Tamale Parlor

The Mission's vintage tamales mecca (2817 24th St.) will reopen shortly before Cinco de Mayo under new owner Issac Mejia, who also operates Andalu, Bar Tartine and Pizzaiolo. Ringing in a new era of tamales will be local cook Karen Taylor, who will whip up the Slow Food–inspired Mexican fare she's known for at her Primavera stands at both the San Francisco and Berkeley farmer's markets.

Also Coming Soon

Wine country restaurateur Cindy Pawlcyn (Mustards Grill, Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen) has snatched up the St. Helena space that last housed Pinot Blanc (641 Main St.) and plans to transform it into a modern interpretation of a classic West Coast–style fish house – think Tadich Grill with a sushi bar. The as-yet-unnamed restaurant is slated for a July opening.

Good Deals and Other News

Absinthe

Every week, Hayes Valley's coolest boîte presents a Thursday night "Bar School," during which a guest bartender lectures on the merits of a particular spirit; happily, it's a hands-on course, meaning students get to imbibe a flight of the featured booze for $9, or order $6 cocktails showcasing the featured liquor (6–9 PM; 415-551-1590).

A 16

Founding chef and certified pizzaiolo Christopher Hille has sold his partnership in this Marina Neapolitan; his number-two man, Nate Appleman, another certified pizzaiolo and maker of the restaurant's housemade salumi, has been promoted to executive chef and will continue to present the same style of cuisine.

Myth

This Jackson Square New American's casual next-door sibling (490 Pacific Ave.; 415-677-8986), formerly known as Zero Degrees, has been renamed Myth Cafe. Open daily from 8 AM–4 PM, it offers an updated lunch menu featuring both American comfort food and upscale French-inspired soups, salads and panini served from 11 AM–3 PM; the rest of the time, coffee drinks, ice cream and freshly baked goods prepared by Myth's pastry chef are on offer.

Thomas Keller-Ville

Thomas Keller is arguably becoming the most powerful landowner in the tiny town of Yountville. In addition to plans for a butcher shop and an inn, he has snatched up the restaurant space at 6476 Washington Street, which was recently vacated by the Wine Garden. The concept is still vague – but one rumor is that the chef, a fan of California's iconic fast-fooder In-N-Out, aspires to open a burger joint of his own.

• Geranium