New Restaurants
New Nightspots
| Name |
Address |
City |
Phone |
| Pres a Vi |
1 Letterman Dr. |
San Francisco |
415-409-3000 |
| Woody Zips |
1609 Powell St. |
San Francisco |
415-982-8898 |
Coming Soon
Beluga and Caviar Bar
The duo behind Alexander's Steakhouse will turn its attention to seafood at its forthcoming ventures in the soon-to-be-renovated Vallco Fashion Park (10123 N. Wolfe Rd., Cupertino). The intimate Beluga will be the more upscale of the two restaurants, while the larger, adjacent Caviar Bar will cater to the drinking and grazing crowd – both are on track for late 2007 openings.
Gialina
This artisan pizzeria-rosticceria headed by former Lime chef Sharon Ardiana will debut in Glen Park (2842 Diamond St.) in early 2007.
Good Deals and Other News
Chef-owner Calvin Schneiter may sell his five-year-old Mission spot, but reveals that the new owners will maintain the small-plates format, with minor interior changes and a possible name change sometime in the spring. Until the sale goes through and for several months thereafter, it will be business as usual.
This Valencia wine bar started its first-ever daytime service last month. It now serves lunch Thursday and Friday (11:30 AM–2 PM) and brunch on Saturday and Sunday (11 AM–2 PM); alas, it does not take reservations for either.
Chef Jon Kosorek (ex Terra) is the newest top toque at this San Anselmo restaurant that has seen a rash of chefs lead its kitchen since founder Scott Howard left last year to open his own restaurant in San Francisco.
This SoMa Californian has introduced "5-Spot Neighbor Night," offering $5 specialty cocktails along with $5–$10 small plates from 5 PM onwards on Mondays.
On January 5th, Ken Frank ushers in his Silver Anniversary Truffle Menu Celebration featuring fresh black truffles in each of five courses, including dessert. Available until mid-February, the menu is $150 per person, $212 with wine pairings.
This Divisadero Street hot spot now accepts reservations a month in advance instead of its previous policy of accepting same-day reservations only.
More details have emerged about the fate of this Saratogan stalwart. The new owner has hooked Peter Armellino (chef de cuisine of Michael MinaAqua) to head the soon-to-be-renovated restaurant. Slated to close on February 17th, the formerly Continental kitchen will reopen around the first of May with a modern Californian, seafood-heavy menu featuring spotted prawns, spiny lobsters and sea urchin bred on the premises. Designwise, the main dining room will be relocated to the former lounge space to fully take advantage of the 20-ft. ceilings and views overlooking the Santa Cruz mountains, while the bar area will be moved into the adjacent room.
Founding chef Rob Riescher has gone back to New York but co-owner John Jasso has already tapped chef Alvin Luna (formerly of Michael MinaAntica Trattoria), who worked with him previously at Michael MinaGary Danko, to assume the top toque position. Luna has begun to make his mark on the contemporary New American cuisine, both on the à la carte menu and on the nightly $35 prix fixe dinner menu.