San Francisco : Coming Soon

Coming Soon: Cantinetta Piero, Encuentro

BuzzEditor — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:53:00 GMT

Cantinetta Piero, the flagship Tuscan restaurant in the soon-to-open Hotel Luca in Downtown Yountville, is set to debut at the end of November. Meant to conjure up the convivial attitude and open-air lifestyle of Tuscany, the space includes design elements such as vaulted brick ceilings with massive beams, a dedicated pizza bar, an open kitchen with a wood-burning oven and salumi-curing room, and 20-ft.-tall glass walls that open onto an outdoor dining area filled with olive trees. Chris Vacca (formerly of Cantinetta Luca and the Patina Group) will oversee the seasonally driven menu, and longtime Napa veteran Michael Galyen (formerly of Bistro Don Giovanni) will run the front of the house (6774 Washington St., Yountville; 707-944-8080).

A little closer to home is Encuentro Cafe and Wine Bar, a tiny vegetarian enoteca set to open in Oakland's up-and-coming Jack London Square area during the first half of November. Eric Tucker, the chef behind San Francisco’s Millennium, is pairing up with New Jersey restaurant veteran Lacey Sher (formerly of the vegan Down to Earth restaurant) and partner Linda Baz for the project, which will be fashioned from reclaimed materials on the ground floor of a new "green" condo building. The space lacks a full kitchen, however, so expect a limited menu of Mediterranean-style sandwiches, soups and small plates (such as a local, organic vegetable–rennet-based cheese plate) and a selection of biodynamic, mostly New World wines (200 Second St., Oakland; 510-832-9643).

Speaking of Jack London, Blue Bottle opened its second cafe and roastery outpost at 300 Webster Street. Opening hours are Monday–Friday, 8 AM–2 PM (510-653-3394).

Hagar Pursues Paseo

BuzzEditor — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:03:00 GMT

As per the Marin Independent Journal, El Paseo, Mill Valley's Japanese-owned French restaurant with a Spanish name, will soon be getting a new identity now that it’s been sold to the unlikely bedfellows of TV personality Tyler Florence and Sammy Hagar (yes, he of Van Halen and Cabo Wabo fame, who is also a Mill Valley local). The duo plan to reopen the space under the same name in mid-December as an American tavern with a made-in-Marin menu – think in-house charcuterie, breads, oysters and seasonal dishes, with nothing over $30. It’ll also serve beer, wine and hard cider, but lacking a full liquor license, Hagar’s blue agave tequila will, alas, not be available. Plans are in the works for outside seating, as well as lunch and weekend brunch. This is the first of three forthcoming restaurants from Florence, who hopes to open tWayfarer Tavern (replacing SF’s Rubicon) sometime in February 2010 and an unnamed rotisserie restaurant/kitchen store in Napa's Riverfront later that year (17 Throckmorton Ave.).

As for the previous El Paseo owners – Seigo Tekei and his wife, chef Keiko Takashi – this won’t be the last Bay Area foodies will see of them. The couple is in talks to take over a restaurant venue in San Francisco’s Nob Hill.

Meet Delarosa

BuzzEditor — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:16:00 GMT

The previously unnamed modern "bierreria" (as in beer and pizzeria) in the former home of the Marina's Fuzio has found a title, Delarosa. The original Beretta partners, Adriano Paganini, Deborah Blum and chef Ruggero Gadaldi, aim to open the newcomer in mid-November for lunch and dinner. Its menu will showcase nearly 20 artisanal beers and Roman-style pizzas, and will also include seasonal antipasti, salads, panini, pasta dishes, entrees and desserts. The bar, meanwhile, will stock 30 wines and offer a cocktail menu of about 10 beverages similar to, but slightly less elaborate than, those found at Beretta (2175 Chestnut St.).

Opening Bell: Pi Bar Debuts, Quince Returns

BuzzEditor — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:58:00 GMT

Matt Accarrino starts soon at SPQR

Photo: courtesy of Craft

Fall openings shift into high gear this week, with a few hotly anticipated spots cutting the ribbon and a couple of familiar faces returning to the scene.

Out the Door – Fillmore St.: Charles Phan (Slanted Door) will finally be giving Upper Fillmore residents a reason to hustle out the door when he opens a third branch of his Vietnamese street-fooder tomorrow (2232 Bush St.; no phone yet).

Pi Bar: Richard Rosen’s (Chenery Park) pizza dreams are no longer pie in the sky starting October 1, when he’ll unveil his mathematically themed Mission pizzeria, open continuously from 3 PM–midnight daily (though it won't take reservations). The "Pi R Square Happy Hour" from 3 PM–6 PM will offer a cheese slice and the beer of the day for $6.28 – do the math to figure that one out (1432 Valencia St.; 415-970-9670).

Quince: After much anticipation and some delays, Michael and Lindsay Tusk's popular eatery will reopen in its new Jackson Square digs for private events this week, with reservations for the general public beginning October 6 (470 Pacific Ave.; 415-775-8500). Note: the opening of its casual sister cafe, Cotogna, has been pushed out for several months, until everyone settles into Quince.

SPQR: After a two-week hiatus, this red-hot Fillmore osteria reopens on September 30 under the culinary reign of new chef Matt Accarrino (Craft and Per Se), who replaces NYC-bound Nate Appleman (1911 Fillmore St.; 415-771-7779).

A Slice of Emilia's

BuzzEditor — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:14:00 GMT

The East Bay pie wars will have a new contender this fall when former IT worker-turned-pizzaiolo Keith Freilich (formerly of Pizzaiolo and Grimaldi’s in Hoboken, NJ) opens up Emilia's in Berkeley at 2995 Shattuck Ave. According an interview with the owner on Slice, the simple New York–style pies will be prepared with simple, high-end ingredients and cooked in a 800+ degree gas oven, and are not intended to compete with the recent flush of artisanal Neapolitan pizza purveyors. Do note, however, that with only 6 seats, it will mostly be a take-out affair.

Mia to Market

BuzzEditor — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:34:00 GMT

Christopher Losa, owner of Bar Bambino, is another San Franciscan readying to jump into the new Jack London Market fray. In early spring, he's planning to open a massive European-style delicatessen, Mia Filino, on the ground floor of the market. Expect artisan cheese (and a state-of-the-art cheese cave), as well as executive chef Lizzie Binder’s signature Italian cured meats and other gourmet products from around the world, offered both in-store and to-go. Libations will include plenty of wine and craft beers.

Fall Preview

BuzzEditor — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:12:00 GMT

Photo: Micky

With autumn almost here, it's time to look forward to the season's restaurant openings:

Acme Burgerhaus: Yet another burger joint’s comin’ this fall, this one to the Western Addition, where it will feature "custom-mixed" patties – the customer’s choice of toppings are blended into the burger and then grilled to order. Rounding out the menu will be an extensive, organic salad bar and beer on tap (559 Divisadero St.).

Barbacco: Perbacco’s next-door eno-trattoria spin-off, slated to open in late November, will be a two-in-one concept. By day, it’ll be a fast, affordable lunch joint presenting a slate of rustic, pan-regional panini, soups, salads, pastas and daily specials – available with table service or for takeout; at 4 PM, the vibe will transition into a vino-focused venue with a progressive menu suitable for a bite and a glass of wine or a full meal. Over 120 wines from the West Coast and Italy will be offered, of which at least 50–60% will be available by the glass, taste, quartino and mezzo litro – all will be stored at the appropriate temperature in a state-of-the-art wine cabinet (230 California St.).

Unnamed Birreria and Pizzeria from the Beretta Team: Having just opened Starbelly, the team behind Beretta is now turning its attention to this yet-to-be-named Marina pizzeria and bar specializing in Roman-style 14-inch ultra thin pies, accompanied by more than 40 beers and specialty cocktails. Slated to open in November (2175 Chestnut St.).

Bluestem: Set to open later this fall (between October and December), this forthcoming American steakhouse/brasserie located in SoMa’s newest pedestrian pathway near Yerba Buena is named for the premium grass favored by cattlemen. It will feature sustainable and unusual cuts of meats, accompanied by seafood options and seasonal sides overseen by chef Michael Magliano (formerly of Craft in LA). Olle Lundberg, who designed The Slanted Door, is behind the 200-seat, multilevel space, which includes a lounge and rooftop patio (1 Yerba Buena Ln.).

Burger Bar: Hubert Keller’s (Fleur de Lys) third outpost of his luxe patty purveyor (with branches in Las Vegas and St. Louis), housed on the sixth floor of Union Square’s Macy’s, is slated for mid-October. In addition to burgers, the 185-seat venue will offer sweeping views of Downtown and a wine cellar (170 O'Farrell St.).

Cotogna: The owners of Quince plan to open this more casual, all-day sidekick in late fall; the seasonally driven menu will be dominated by a wood-fired oven and a rotisserie, offering pizzas, roasts and housemade pastas complemented by custom-blend wines (490 Pacific Ave.).

Deep Modern Izakaya: Deep Sushi returns from shutterdom with a new name and concept; it's been in soft-opening phase (sans liquor license) for several weeks, but opens officially on September 16. In addition to offering fare from its previous menu (such as the Marilyn Monroll), former Plouf chef Thomas Weibull is concocting innovative small plates, such as a wild mushroom salad, miso-glazed lamb chops and a bowl of pork belly over ramen noodles (1740 Church St.).

Ebisu: Like its SFO branch, this third Downtown outpost of the popular Sunset sushi spot will primarily be a cafeteria-style setup with bento box lunches and simple dinners. Slated for sometime after Thanksgiving (336 Kearny St.).

560 Central Park: Baker Street Bistro’s Jacques Manuera is eyeing a mid-to-late October opening for this bistro off the Panhandle in the Western Addition, where he'll serve Gallic classics and more modern fare. Other plans include pooch-friendly sidewalk seating and an early-bird prix fixe (560 Central Ave.).

Farmstead: A three-acre St. Helena property recently taken over by owners of the Long Meadow Ranch (providers of organic produce, eggs, olive oil and grass-fed beef) will host this farm-to-table American opening November 15. Sheamus Feeley (Rutherford Grill) will be executive chef, and there will also be demonstration gardens, an open-air market and a tasting room, the latter of which is currently slated to open October 15 (738 Main St.).

Fondue Cowboy: As the name suggests, fondue served in a Wild West–themed setting is the come-on at this SoMa arrival slated to open in September (1052 Folsom St.).

Frances: Former Fifth Floor chef Melissa Perello will return to the stoves this fall with her first very own venture, an affordable neighborhood restaurant and wine bar in the Castro (3870 17th St.).

Gracias Madre: Café Gratitude’s first vegan taqueria blends organic cuisine with the notion of “sacred commerce” (in which business fosters not just profits but community). A special mural has been commissioned to grace the walls. Hoping for a late October opening (2211 Mission St.).

La Costanera: Carlos Altamirano of Mochica and Piqueo's will open his third Peruvian in Montara this October. Located in the long vacant Chart House, the three-story coastsider will be redesigned by Michael Brennan (Miss Pearl's Jam House), and the menu will feature an extensive cebicheria bar, plus many South American wines and, of course, pisco cocktails (8150 Cabrillo Hwy.).

Mayes Oyster House: After several iterations, the classic Polk Street venue (which dates back to 1867) returns to its roots this October as a mostly old-school seafooder with a raw bar and cocktails; expect a few newfangled items like sake shooters (1233 Polk St.).

Out the Door: Charles Phan’s long-awaited Upper Fillmore location of his popular casual Vietnamese venue is slated to open the last weekend of September. In addition to offering the usual suspects found on the Westfield and Ferry Plaza menus, the neighborhood-oriented spot will serve both Vietnamese- and American-style breakfasts (2226 Bush St.).

Pi Bar: Plenty of thin-crust pies – and π references such as $3.14 slices – will be offered at this locally sourced, late-night Mission pizzeria when it opens mid-September (pending city permits). It will be run by New York native Richard Rosen, who’s also the co-owner/chef at Chenery Park (1432 Valencia St.).

Pizzaiolo’s spin-off: Over in the East Bay, Charlie Hallowell’s cult Telegraph Avenue pizzeria will spawn an offshoot in a few months when it takes over the defunct Di Bartolo space on Lake Merritt near the Grand Lake Theater; the new joint will have a different, not-yet-decided name and will focus on antipasti and wood-burning pizzas, offering fewer primi and secondi than the original (3310 Grand Ave.).

Quince: Michael and Lindsay Tusk will relocate their seasonally driven Italian-French jewel box to a much larger Jackson Square venue by the end of September/late October. Pastry chef William Werner (ex Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay) will be the executive pastry chef for both Quince and Cotogna (470 Pacific Ave.).

Yet-to-be-named Quince replacement: Poised to take over the space currently housing Quince after it relocates Downtown, husband and wife duo Jeffrey and Lori Banker (former executive chef and pastry chef of Home, respectively) will open a casual New American dinner spot and bakery. Not surprisingly, given that Lori is a former pastry instructor at the California Culinary Academy, all the breads will be made in-house and the couple plans to open an on-site bakery. Due in mid-November, the restaurant's working title is Brown Butter (1701 Octavia St.).

– Meesha Halm

Phaning the Flames

BuzzEditor — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:17:00 GMT

Charles Phan

Photo: courtesy of Out the Door

After much delay, the long-awaited Upper Fillmore location of the Charles Phan family’s casual Vietnamese venue Out the Door is slated to open the last weekend of September. According to Angkana Phan, the storefront will aim to strike a neighborhood vibe and, in addition to offering the usual suspects found on the Westfield and Ferry Plaza menus, will serve both Vietnamese- and American-style breakfasts (think everything from rice and noodles to bacon ‘n’ eggs). Architect/designer Olle Lundberg is finalizing a wooden wall design element that will serve as the room’s focal point (2226 Bush St.).

Fang Almost Ready to Bite

BuzzEditor — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:32:00 GMT

Chinatown’s answer to the Soup Nazi, House of Nanking, is aiming to open its SoMa offshoot, Fang, next Thursday. It’ll be run by the same owner, but wok up some additional new dishes. No word yet if he’ll chose your food there too (660 Howard St. 415-777-8568).

Hip to Be Square

BuzzEditor — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:03:00 GMT

Oakland’s revitalized Jack London Square will be home to a massive culinary marketplace three times larger than San Francisco’s Ferry Building come April 2010. More than 15 restaurants are set to open in the waterfront area adjacent to the market hall, including Pizzeria Zanna Bianca from Richard Corbo (ex Ducca), casual Italian-Mediterranean joint Bracina from Daniel Patterson (Coi), and the patisserie Miette. The first new venture, however, will be Bocanova, opening September 1 in a restored 1920s vintage icehouse, where chef Rick Hackett (ex Chez Panisse and MarketBar) will craft old-world Latin American cuisine with NorCal sensibilities and ingredients (55 Webster St.).

Ebisu Goes For Three

BuzzEditor — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:48:00 GMT

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

Now that their remodeled Inner Sunset flagship has reopened, the Ebisu owners are turning their attention to readying the forthcoming Downtown branch at 336 Kearny St. Like their SFO branch, the Downtown outpost, expected to open in the next few months, will primarily be a cafeteria-style setup with bento box lunches and simple sushi dinners.

Limòn Returning to the Limelight

BuzzEditor — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:15:00 GMT

It’s baaack. Well, almost. We wouldn’t exactly count our pollos before they hatch, but the latest word from the boys behind Valencia’s Limòn is that they plan to reopen their long-shuttered, fire-ravaged Nuevo Latino Peruvian hot spot in the third week of August. The interior and menu will be slightly different, but the main change is that its infamous ceviche bar will be moved front and center next to the main bar. Let the Pisco Sour pouring begin!

Manuera Nabs 560 Central Park

BuzzEditor — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:34:00 GMT

Baker Street Bistro’s Jacques Manuera is keeping busy. In addition to running his 18-year-old boîte and being a co-owner in the new Metro Café, he’s planning a second affordable venture, 560 Central Park, near the Panhandle. The 49-seat bistro, due to open mid-September/October, will feature Gallic classics and more modern fare like a vegetable soufflé. Other plans include pooch-friendly sidewalk seating and a possible early-bird prix fixe (560 Central Ave.).

Metro Morphing

BuzzEditor — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:46:00 GMT

Owner Roshan KC announced last week that he was closing his three-year old Nepalese Western Addition restaurant Metro Kathmandu and morphing it into a Cal-Med bistro named District 5. However, due to mounting objections by the owners of SoMa’s bar/lounge District, and in the name of good karma, Roshan has renamed his latest venture Metro Café, harkening back to the name of the establishment that preceded Metro Kathmandu.

Calculating Pi

BuzzEditor — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:41:00 GMT

Forthcoming Mission pizzeria Pi Bar plans to roll out plenty of pie (and π references) when it opens mid-August in the former Suriya Thai space. Native New Yorker Richard Rosen (co-owner/chef at Chenery Park) will be tossing NYC-style, thin-crust pizzas in the open kitchen, where he plans to upgrade classic topping combos with fresh, locally sourced produce, flour, olive oil, and cheeses (while eschewing the squash blossom-clam-arugula fancy-pants mold).

Large pies will be 22 inches in diameter, divided into seven slices (to equal π, get it?), while regular slices will cost – you guessed it – $3.14 each. A selection of soups, salads and pastas, plus local beers on tap and affordable California wines, will round out the menu, which will be served seven days a week from 3 PM–midnight (1432 Valencia St.).