San Francisco : Closings

A Trio of Closings

BuzzEditor — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:42:00 GMT

SFGate is reporting three more restaurants have closed their doors: Downtown Med Cortez, Berkeley European Eccolo and Presidio Eclectic Pres a Vi.

Aix Out, But Not For Long

BuzzEditor — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:27:00 GMT

Bistro Aix bid adieu last month, but only temporarily. Owner Jonathan Beard plans to completely renovate his long-running bistro and reopen by the end of December or early January 2010. When it returns, the restaurant will feature a new oak fireplace grill, a glassed-in patio with a 100-year-old olive tree, lots of reclaimed redwood and an updated façade.

One Cool Closes, Another Comes

BuzzEditor — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:06:00 GMT

After 10 years, Jesse Cool has closed her jZCool Eatery and Wine Bar in Downtown Menlo Park. But all isn't lost – in late July she plans to reopen an organic lunch cafe in a larger venue at 1525 O'Brien Drive. The new cafe, another Cool Café, will be similar to her popular museum eatery at the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University, with a slightly updated menu. Cool's CoolEatz catering arm will be moving to the new East Menlo Park locale as well. Meanwhile, the old jZCool space has been sold, and its new owner plans to turn it into an Italian restaurant. More details on that to come.

Lark Creek Inn and Bouchée Bid Adieu

BuzzEditor — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:54:00 GMT

Lark Creek Inn, Marin's long-running special-occasion restaurant – the one that put chefs like Bradley Ogden on the map – shut its dainty Victorian doors last weekend. But the owners intend to reopen the space May 25 as The Tavern at Lark Creek – the word “tavern” being code for a more casual, less pricey sort of place. Chef-partner Erica Holland Toll will still prepare seasonal American fare, though the $15-and-under menu will skew more toward crowd favorites (think meatball sandwiches and pot roast) and will be complemented by value wines. While the exterior of the creek-side 1888 Victorian will remain the same, the interior is getting a total body makeover, including the addition of a wood-burning oven in the dining room and a refurbished brick patio.

April 18 is the last day for Carmel’s Bouchée, which recently was sold to new owners. From now until then, current owner David Fink (who will subsequently focus his time on his other operation, L'Auberge Carmel) invites guests to partake in a special three-course $35 prix fixe farewell dinner. New owner André Lemaire, a native of France, intends to reopen the restaurant around April 24 as André's Bouchée, with a similar bistro format.

Bong Su Signs Off

BuzzEditor — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:04:00 GMT

Bong Su, the three-year old swanky SoMa contemporary Vietnamese restaurant and lounge, has closed, meaning fans of chef Tammy Huynh’s cuisine will now have to trek down to sister restaurant Tamarine in Palo Alto. Other recent shutters include YaYa Cuisine, Ephesus Kebab Lounge and Fournou's Ovens.

PlumpJack Flatlines

BuzzEditor — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:28:00 GMT

After 14 years, the Cow Hollow location of PlumpJack Cafe has closed its doors for retooling. Owners hope to reopen up with a new concept and name under the direction of it current chef, Rick Edge, sometime later this year.

JoJo to Bow Out at Year's End

BuzzEditor — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:17:00 GMT

JoJo, the Zagat-acclaimed country French bistro run by former Chez Panisse alum Mary Jo Thoresen and her husband Curt Clingman (ex Oliveto) will close its doors for good after a nine-year run after dinner on New Year’s Eve. Reason? The economy, stupid.

Closed: Seaweed Café, PJ's Oyster Bed, Nua and More

BuzzEditor — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:52:00 GMT

Seaweed Café has wrapped it up in Bodega Bay; longtime seafooder PJ's Oyster Bed has closed after more than 30 years. Ora has closed in Mill Valley to move to San Francisco, off Union Square. Newcomer Nua is ova and Mercury has shuttered as well.

Closed: Tinderbox

BuzzEditor — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:13:00 GMT

Tinderbox, the edgy Bernal Heights newcomer, may have flamed out (it closed on May 24), but the owners are plotting a phoenixlike comeback in the space later this summer when they reopen with a different, yet-to-be-determined concept.

Closed: Zaré

BuzzEditor — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:47:00 GMT

On July 29th, chef Hoss Zaré's Napa restaurant Zaré shut its doors for the last time.

Zaré is also selling the property, which he had hoped to develop into an elegant new restaurant and bed and breakfast. He plans to take some time off but hopes to eventually open a new restaurant back in San Francisco, where he ran his first eponymous restaurant for 9 years, before moving to Napa.

Closed: Senses, Simmer and More

BuzzEditor — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:28:00 GMT

Bistro 1689, a French Californian in Noe Valley, Senses, a French Californian in the Mission, and Spanish Fly, a tapas purveyor in Inner Richmond, have closed.

California Street Delicatessen & Café and (415) Asian Restaurant and Lounge, both in Presidio Heights, have also shuttered.

The owners of Corte Madera's Simmer have called it quits to focus on their catering business aimed at the pre-school set.

After 35 years, MacArthur Park has closed its Downtown Front Street restaurant. However, its younger sibling in Palo Alto (27 University Ave.) is doing well and will remain open for business.

Closed: Chez Nous

BuzzEditor — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 21:23:00 GMT

Chez Nous, Pascal Rigo’s Mediterranean tapas joint that unleashed the small-plates craze in 2000 and forever changed the dining habits of San Francisco, closed last week. Rigo will continue to run his other restaurants, including Le Petit Robert and Cortez (which recently reopened after a flood caused a temporary four-month closure), as well as focus his energy on his burgeoning Boulange bakery empire.

Closed: P.J. Steak and Platanos Cafe y Cocina Rustica

BuzzEditor — Fri, 11 May 2007 20:32:00 GMT

P.J. Steak in Yountville and Platanos Cafe y Cocina Rustica, a Nuevo Latino small-plater in the Mission, have closed.

Closed: Cafe Grillades in Hayes Valley

BuzzEditor — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 14:39:00 GMT

The Hayes Valley outpost of Cafe Grillades has closed. Stacks, the all-American breakfast chainlet with branches in Burlingame and Menlo Park, will replace it sometime in May.

March Closings

BuzzEditor — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 17:01:00 GMT

Foothill Cafe in Napa and Pisces in Burlingame have closed.