San Francisco : ZagatWire Archive

ZagatWire: February 2006

BuzzEditor — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:52:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Belden Taverna	28 Belden Pl.	San Francisco	415-986-8887
Lettus: Cafe Organic	3352 Steiner St.	San Francisco	415-931-2777
Rogue Chefs	730 Main St.	Half Moon Bay	650-712-2000
Sol y Lago	760 N. Lake Blvd.	Tahoe City	530-583-0358
Velvet Cantina	3349 23rd St.	San Francisco	415-648-4142
Yuzu	3347 Fillmore St.	San Francisco	415-775-1873

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Homestead	2301 Folsom St.	San Francisco	415-282-4663
Rockit Room	406 Clement St.	San Francisco	415-387-6344

Coming Soon

Beard Papa's

Custom-filled cream puffs will be the draw at this forthcoming branch of a popular Japanese dessert cafe (with locations in NY and LA) that's slated to open this month at 99 Yerba Buena Lane.

Bong Su

Tamarine's Anne Le and Tammy Huynh will bring their vision of refined contemporary Vietnamese cuisine to San Francisco's South of Market area (311 Third St.) in April; small plates and communal tables will foster the Vietnamese tradition of the family-style meal.

Divino

The Italian duo behind Noe Valley's Bacco is opening a second Italian venue in Belmont (968 Ralston Ave.); fans of Bacco's daily-changing, housemade risotto and gnocchi won't be disappointed as the menu will showcase similar signature items.

Escape from Mecca

Mecca defectors Stephen Barber (former chef) and Gene Tartaglia (a former owner) are reuniting with other crew members to open this all-American restaurant in Napa's Bel Air Plaza shopping center (Highway 29 and Tracas St.) in early summer; the menu will feature Memphis-style BBQ and seasonal Napa Valley ingredients, served in a setting designed by, not surprisingly, Mecca designer Stephen Brady.

Mantra

This fine-dining restaurant in Palo Alto (632 Emerson St.), slated to open later this month in the space that was once Stoa, will showcase Indian-influenced Californian cuisine crafted by chef Robert Ciborowski, who previously worked at The French Laundry and various Ritz-Carlton restaurants.

Perbacco

Former Scala's Bistro chef Staffan Terje will resurface in the Financial District this summer when he opens this Italian eatery in the space that formerly housed the Gold Coast (230 California St.).

Prana

Jamie Lauren has left Levende to head up the kitchen of this forthcoming restaurant and nightclub at 540 Howard Street. The moderately priced Indian fusion fare will merge Lauren's French cooking technique and propensity for seasonal, organic products.

Salt House

The triumvirate behind Town Hall – brothers Steven and Mitchell Rosenthal and their partner Doug Washington – is planning this informal, modern-day tavern (slated to open at 545 Mission Street in early summer) modeled after England's gastro-pubs that will showcase high-quality ingredients and service in relaxed environs. The regularly changing menu will lean toward American-style seafood, and include updated classics like a burger on a pretzel-dough bun.

Good Deals and Other News

Budo

Napa's avant-garde highflier recently closed but will reopen in March with a new name and a more approachable New American menu; former Budo chef James McDevitt has sold his share in the venture. .

Cortez

Husband-and-wife chef team Quinn and Karen Hatfield have left this Downtown small plateria for the sunnier climes of LA, where they intend to open the eponymous Hatfield in West Hollywood. Longtime underlings at Cortez have been promoted to replace them.

Desiree Café

Owner Anne Gingrass has closed this casual Presidio daytime cafe but fear not – the Hawthorne Lane founding chef expects to return to her fine-dining roots later this year with an intimate French-Vietnamese venture.

Goood Frikin' Chicken

The Mission's bargain-basement Middle Eastern rotisserie chicken joint has opened a more formal dining room next door (20 29th St.) with items such as roasted leg of lamb on its menu.

Grand Cafe

Chef Ron Boyd (last seen at Domaine Chandon) is now the top toque at this Union Square riff on Paris' La Coupole.

Miss Millie's

Noe Valley's brunch phenomenon has served its last pumpkin bread pudding; however, owner Gary Rizzo plans to relocate his Miss Millie's concept to Oakland's Rockridge district (5912 College Ave.) in the spring.

Rubicon

Now that he's taken over as general manager of Niebaum-Coppola Winery's Rubicon Estate, Larry Stone – partner, wine director and soul of this Financial Distict institution – has turned over the day-to-day reins to sommelier Kyle Boatwright.

Sydney's

Owner John Hurley has yet again morphed his Presidio Heights restaurant. Gone is Sydney's, and in its place are two new separate restaurants: California Street Delicatessen & Café, a New York–style Jewish deli (see "New Restaurants" above for more details), and, opening later this month, (415) Asian Restaurant and Lounge, a Pan-Asian eatery. (Look for more information on (415) in the March ZagatWire.)

Angkor Wat
Budo
Desiree Café
Miss Millie's
Sydney's

ZagatWire: January 2006

BuzzEditor — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:52:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Bar Tartine	561 Valencia St.	San Francisco	415-487-1600
Couleur Café	300 DeHaro St.	San Francisco	415-255-1021
Dosa	995 Valencia St.	San Francisco	415-642-3672
Les Amis	568 Sacramento St.	San Francisco	415-291-9145
Lure	204A Second Ave.	San Mateo	650-340-9040
Nihon	1779 Folsom St.	San Francisco	415-552-4400
Ottimista Enoteca-Café	1838 Union St.	San Francisco	415-674-8400
Patxi’s Chicago Pizza	441 Emerson St.	San Francisco	650-473-9999
Patxi’s Chicago Pizza	511 Hayes St.	San Francisco	415-558-9991

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Ottimista Enoteca-Café	1838 Union St.	San Francisco	415-674-8400
Sugar Lounge	377 Hayes St.	San Francisco	415-255-7144

Coming Soon

Belden Taverna

Pino Spinoso (Café Tiramisu, Brindisi Cucina di Mare) will expand his Belden Lane monopoly when he opens this moderately priced Mediterranean restaurant later this month at 28 Belden Place.

Coi

Daniel Patterson – who made his mark at Frisson with cutting-edge cuisine using aromatherapy techniques – will return to the dining scene later this month at a decidedly less avant-garde Financial District restaurant (373 Broadway) offering multicourse dinners of French-Californian cuisine.

La Joya Restaurant & Bar

This Mexican eatery is slated to replace the Cuban-inspired Habana (2080 Van Ness Ave.); the new owners and chef, who hail from restaurants in mainland Mexico, will keep the decor and the mojitos while instituting an authentic south-of-the-border menu.

Good Deals and Other News

Boulange de Fillmore

Pascal Rigo has morphed Galette, his crêperie at 2043 Fillmore Street, into another link in his chain of boulangeries; breads, crêpes and other Gallic vittles will be available on-site and to go.

Campton Place

Daniel Humm has left this luxe Downtowner to head the kitchen at Eleven Madison Park in NYC. His replacement has not yet been named.

Jack Falstaff

James Ormsby, who oversaw the menu at this SoMa Californian, has resigned as corporate chef of parent company the PlumpJack Group. No word yet on where he will land or who will replace him.

Tallula

This sultry Castro Indian will serve its last dosa on Valentine's Day, as owner Harveen Khera does not intend to renew her lease. Call ahead to inquire about special final tasting menus (415-437-6722).

Galette
Habana

ZagatWire: April 2006

BuzzEditor — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:51:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Abigail’s Bakery and Cafe	2120 Greenwich St.	San Francisco	415-929-8889
Kwanjai Thai	3242 Scott St.	San Francisco	415-563-1285
Mantra	632-636 Emerson St.	Palo Alto	650-322-3500
Pappo	2320 Central Ave.	Alameda	510-337-9100
Sebo	517 Hayes St.	San Francisco	415-864-2122
Tortilla Heights	1750 Divisadero St.	San Francisco	415-346-4531
Wine Valley Restaurant	1146 Main St.	St. Helena	707-963-3371

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Rye	688 Geary St.	San Francisco	415-786-7803

Coming Soon

Joey & Eddy's

Bronx-inspired, family-style Italian dinners – think giant plates of spaghetti and meatballs – will be the bill of fare at this new restaurant being hatched by Joseph Manzare (Globe, Tres Agaves, Zuppa) and partner Ed Maiello at 616 20th Street in the up-and-coming Dogpatch neighborhood. The duo plan to tear down the existing building and develop residential lofts before opening the restaurant – which, if all goes well, is still a year and a half off.

La Ciccia

Noe Valley diners will get their fill of Sardinian-style cucina when this new ristorante (its name is slang for "belly") opens shortly at 291 30th Street. Chef and co-owner Massimiliano Conti, who previously cooked at Acquerello, Antica Trattoria and Palio D'Asti, will oversee the menu, to be complemented by Sardinian wines and other imports from The Boot.

Orson

Patissier extraordinaire Elizabeth Falkner and Citizen Cake partner Sabrina Riddle are growing their empire. This fall, they will move all the baking production out of Citizen Cake and into this new SoMa venue (508 Fourth St.). Billed as a "full sensory experience," it will house a loungey, mod-inspired dining room, a large bar and a party space with a DJ booth; the menu will feature wood-fired pizzas and other shared eats, and there will be a chocolate sommelier.

Woodhouse Fish Company

The Castro will land a new seafood restaurant later this spring when this casual, affordable New England–style fish house opens at 2073 Market Street, the corner space that formerly housed World Sausage Grill.

Good Deals and Other News

Dialing for Dinner

Two restaurateurs have recently launched dinner service to help homebound diners solve the eternal question of "what's for dinner?" Luna Park chef-owner AJ Gilbert now offers nearly everything off his menu for delivery in select San Francisco neighborhoods (including the Mission, Castro, Bernal Heights and Potrero Hill); there's a $3 charge and no mimimum order. For those who want a week of dinners, Todd Davies (formerly the chef at mc2 and Lark Creek Inn) has launched the aptly named www.weekofdinners.com, where clients can customize seven days worth of seasonal, organic dinners and have them delivered for free within Marin County.

Barndiva

After its annual winter break, this stylish Healdsburg hangout has reopened with a new seasonal menu, a new cocktail list and a new chef, Paul Smith. Smith comes to the wine country by way of New York, where he worked at Bobby Flay's Bolo.

Bouchon Boucherie

Thomas Keller plans to open a butcher shop across the street from his Bouchon Bakery in the Vintage 1870 complex located at 6525 Washington Street. The shop will centralize butchery operations for Keller's French Laundry and Bouchon, and will double as a retail shop that will also sell artisan charcuterie; slated to open in winter 2007.

Café Grillades

Crepes du Monde has a new name – and a new branch, also known as Café Grillades, opening this month in Hayes Valley (501 Hayes St.).

Chez Panisse

The mother ship is still sailing strong, but Berkeley's culinary icon will have to steer without Alice Waters while she takes a sabbatical to focus on other projects, including a school lunch program; she will return to running the restaurant's day-to-day operations by summer's end.

Globe

Owner Joseph Manzare may have been traveling the globe lately doing research for his Southern Italian restaurant, Zuppa, and south-of-the-border Mexican, Tres Agaves, but he's recently circled back to his original restaurant. The nine-year-old late-night haven, Globe, has been given a face-lift, with new light fixtures, cushy banquettes, olive-green walls and dark hardwood floors resulting in a warmer, quieter space. Chef Jason Tallent has also unveiled a new seasonal menu, as well as a supplemental "Sunday Farm Menu," a $29 four-course prix fixe featuring direct-from-the-farm fare.

Jack Falstaff

Jonnatan Leiva, who replaced founding chef James Ormsby, has added more international influences to the menu (think spicy tuna tartare served on crispy pappadams) of this South Park link in the PlumpJack chain.

Moving In Grille

Francis Ford Coppola has purchased the Chateau Souverain winery in Geyserville, where he plans to relocate his Niebaum-Coppola wine production. He has also taken over the property's on-site restaurant, formerly known as the Alexander Valley Grille, and temporarily renamed it the Moving In Grille (400 Souverain Rd., 707-433-3141), where chef Martin Courtman continues to prepare the same country French menu. However, the wine list now exclusively features Coppola's proprietary wines. Eventually, the restaurant will assume a new identity, but until then, the Moving In Grille is open for lunch (Monday–Saturday, 11:30 AM–2:30 PM), dinner (Friday–Sunday, 5:30–8:30 PM) and brunch (Sunday, 11 AM–2:30 PM).

N.V.

Downtown Napa's newest venue is now serving lunch six days a week (it's closed on Sundays). Both smaller, lighter meals (think soups and salads) and heavier, dinner-worthy items are available.

Papalote Mexican Grill

A second branch of this popular taqueria has opened at 1777 Fulton Street (415-776-0106) in the Western Addition.

Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay

Aaron Zimmer is the new chef de cuisine at this Coast-side resort, replacing Peter Rudolph, who left to become the executive chef at Campton Place. Zimmer is no stranger to the property – he was the sous-chef under Rudolph before heading east to help another former Californian, French Laundry protégé Eric Zeibold, open CityZen at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington, DC. Zimmer, who rejoined the kitchen at the end of March, will gradually change the menu at Navio, as well as at the more casual Conservatory dining area.

Scott Howard

Scott Howard has launched weekday lunch service at his eponymous Downtown restaurant.

Straits Café

Chef-owner Chris Yeo has spent the last few years growing his popular Straits Cafe chain in the South Bay and Peninsula, but come this fall he intends to open a second San Francisco branch (the original is located in the Richmond) in Downtown's Westfield San Francisco Center (865 Market St.), near the future home of Bloomingdale's.

Tra Vigne

Now that avant-garde chef Eric Torralba has left after just six months, this rustic Italian in St. Helena is not only between the vines (as its name suggests) but between chefs too. In the meantime, executive chef Nash Cognetti is holding down the fort.

ZagatWire: March 2006

BuzzEditor — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:51:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Annabelle's Bar & Bistro	68 Fourth St.	San Francisco	415-777-1200
Eguna Basque	1657 Powell St.	San Francisco	415-402-0011
Green Chile Kitchen & Market	601 Baker St.	San Francisco	415-614-9411
Ora	24 Sunnyside Ave.	Mill Valley	415-381-7500

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Annie's Social Club	917 Folsom St.	San Francisco	415-974-1585
Shine	1337 Mission St.	San Francisco	415-255-1337

Coming Soon

Cafe Grillades

This Hayes Valley offshoot of San Bruno's Crepes du Monde will serve French savory and sweet crêpes, panini and North African halal dinners (till midnight on Fridays and Saturdays) when it opens later this month at 501 Hayes Street.

Farmer Brown

Affordable soul food with a healthy Californian sensibility will be the bill of fare at this forthcoming restaurant attached to Downtown's Hotel Metropolis (25 Mason St.) and run by former Blue Jay Cafe owner Jay Foster. The menu will showcase produce from Bay Area African-American farmers thanks to its partnership with Mo' Better Foods, a local organization that works with black farmers in Northern California to get their produce into markets, restaurants and other organizations in predominantly black Bay Area neighborhoods. It also hopes to train and employ interested youth from the nearby area. Expected to open in a few months, the restaurant will initially serve dinner and Sunday jazz brunch and a lounge will feature DJs and occasional live music.

Kookez Café

Opening this month in the Noe Valley space that formerly held Miss Millie's (4123 24th St.) is this New American cafe that hopes to maintain its predecessor's famed brunch and homey cooking; expect the original Miss Millie's to soon resurface at 5912 College Avenue in Oakland's Rockridge district.

Modern Tea

Forget Boston – a tea party is brewing in San Francisco's Hayes Valley. This forthcoming cafe and retail store, slated to open soon at 602 Hayes Street, will serve a wide selection of organic and fair-trade teas, as well as a smattering of soups, salads and savory dishes.

NoPa

Denizens of the neighborhood known as North of the Panhandle will have a new place to call their own come April, when a triumvirate of Chow alumni opens this affordable restaurant at 560 Divisadero Street. Chef Laurence Jossel (formerly of Chow and Chez Nous) will orchestrate what he calls "urban rustic wood-fired cuisine" – local, seasonal, organic fare prepared in the kitchen's wood-fired grill, rotisserie and pizza ovens and served until 1 AM nightly. There will also be mezzanine seating overlooking the open kitchen, a 14-seat communal table and a concrete-topped bar, which will mix juiced-to-order cocktails.

Swanky Steakhouse

The Rat Pack will meet the Castro's buff six-pack set at this retro steakhouse from the folks behind Lime and Sneaky Tiki that's slated to open later this spring (2251 Market St.). Let's just hope this throwback eatery fares better than its predecessor, Repastoria Satyricon, itself an attempt at throwback Italian cuisine.

Also Coming Soon

Alumni of The Village Pub in Woodside are launching a yet-to-be-named New American restaurant in a soon-to-be-built shopping center in Granite Bay, a tony suburb of Sacramento (the center will also house a branch of Pizza Antica). The space will boast an 800-sq.-ft. deck overlooking a large pond; a fall opening is planned.

Good Deals and Other News

Annabelle's Bistro

This SoMa restaurant (at 68 Fourth St.) reopened on Valentine's Day with a brand-new kitchen, dining room and toque. Chef Matthew Lee, former chef de cuisine at Poggio, has updated the French menu with a Californian influence, and now has a rotisserie and pizza oven in his arsenal of cooking equipment.

Boulange

Pascal Rigo's bread business is rapidly expanding. Come May, he plans to open three more boulangeries serving pastries, panini, savories and soups (akin to those served on Polk and Cole streets) at 543 Columbus Avenue in North Beach, 500 Hayes Street in Hayes Valley and 125 Strawberry Village Drive in Mill Valley.

Cafe Cacao

After a monthlong closure, the chocolate-oriented cafe located at the Scharffen Berger factory (914 Heinz Ave.) will reopen in March with a new menu and decor. The kitchen will be jettisoning its savory dinner selection for a daytime menu (dessert and lunch) focusing primarily on the sweet stuff. Its new hours will be 8 AM–6 PM daily..

Café Gratitude

Raw-food fans have two more reasons to show gratitude now that this crunchy cafe has opened two new locations – 1336 Ninth Avenue in the Sunset District and 1730 Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley; both branches share a phone number at 415-824-4652.

Chez Maman

A third location of Jocelyn Bulow's growing French bistro chain has opened at 802 Cortland Avenue in Bernal Heights (415-824-2674), where it offers a menu similar to the other outposts.

Frisson

Chef Sarah Schafer has introduced a new lunch service tailored to both Financial District diners on the go and those who can linger longer. Quicker menu "Flirtations" include spring rolls and spinach and radicchio salad, while the "Commitment" category features burgers and seared tuna niçoise. In addition, the restaurant has introduced a new evening soiree called "First Thursdays," a series of art installation and cocktail receptions hosted on the first Thursday of every month.

Platanos Cocina Platanos

Now that Platanos is co-owned by small-plate pioneer Pascal Rigo, it should come as no surprise that this Latin-inspired eatery in the Mission has turned to a small-plates format (tweaking its name in the process). As of this month, new chef Jesus Dominguez (ex Chez Nous) will oversee the menu (dishes cost approximately $4–$8), which will still feature a few of the old favorites – including large plates of mole.

Pinot Blanc
Tita's hale 'aina
Wine Garden Food and Wine Bar

ZagatWire: May 2006

BuzzEditor — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:40:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Coi	373 Broadway	San Francisco	415-393-9000
Junnoon	150 University Ave.	Palo Alto	650-329-9644
La Ciccia	291 30th St.	San Francisco	415-550-8114
Modern Tea	602 Hayes St.	San Francisco	415-626-5406
NoPa	560 Divisadero St.	San Francisco	415-864-8643
Terzo	3011 Steiner St.	San Francisco	415-441-3200

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

ZagatWire: August 2006

BuzzEditor — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:39:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Joe DiMaggio's Italian Chophouse	601 Union St.	San Francisco	415-421-5633
Meadowood, The Restaurant	900 Meadowood Ln.	St. Helena	707-967-1205
Roosevelt Tamale Parlor	2817 24th St.	San Francisco	415-824-2600

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Crash	34 Mason St.	San Francisco	877-342-7274
DaDa	86 Second St.	San Francisco	415-357-1367

Coming Soon

Alembic

Slated for a summer opening, this Haight Street restaurant and bar (1725 Haight St.), from the folks behind nearby Magnolia Pub, will showcase beers, wines, sakes and spirits from boutique producers complemented by an all-American small-plates menu with a similarly seasonal, local focus (e.g. an artisanal cheese and charcuterie sampler).

Burgers and Half Bottles

Ad Hoc, Thomas Keller's fleeting, homespun New American prix fixery opening in September in the former Wine Garden space (6476 Washington St.; 707-944-2487), will transform into this permanent burger joint sometime in 2007. Complementing the patties will be fries, shakes and, of course, half bottles of California wine.

Fillmore Jazz Heritage Center

A slew of restaurants are tied to the spring 2007 opening of the Fillmore Jazz Heritage Center at the corner of Eddy and Fillmore streets in the Upper Fillmore district. The anchor tenant will be a second outpost of Yoshi's – in addition to a 400-seat jazz music club, chef Shotaro Kamio, who made waves at Ozumo, will prepare modern Japanese cuisine in an 180-seat dining room, with an additional 150-seat lounge. Also opening inside the center is Blue Mirror Restaurant and Lounge, which will present elevated Southern fare (think hushpuppies and fried chicken) by chef-owner David Lawrence, who spent years at the Carnelian Room. Across the street, Joseph Manzare (Globe, Tres Agaves, etc.) will get in on the act with Fillmo' Betta Restaurant and Lounge (1520 Eddy St.), a late-night jazz lounge serving BBQ and other Southern comfort food à la NYC's Blue Smoke.

Mercury

Cocktails and Asian tapas will be on offer at this hip nightspot from Mecca and Betelnut Pejiu Wu alum; it's opening near Cow Hollow (1434 Lombard St.) in late summer/early fall.

Oxbow Market

Up in Napa, plans are in place to open this gourmet emporium of restaurants and food vendors modeled after San Francisco's Ferry Building Marketplace. The project, to be located across from COPIA along the Napa River in Downtown Napa, is slated to open in fall 2007 with at least 30 tenants, including four sit-down restaurants. Notably, Donna Scala and Scott Warner of Napa's Bistro Don Giovanni have signed on to open La Frasca, a 200-seat riverside enoteca serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Presidio

The Next Restaurant Row? A spate of exciting new eateries, many of them by well-established restaurateurs, are in the works to feed the projected 1,500-strong workforce generated by the arrival of Lucasfilm, which opened in June. This fall, Chez Spencer's Laurent Katgely will open La Terrace, a French bistro (215 Lincoln Ave.) featuring a wood-burning oven and a dining room, bar and patio designed by Michael Brannan (Cortez), all with views of the bay. At Presidio Social Club, the designer behind Slanted Door will transform the century-old Building 563 into a large, convivial all-day spot featuring American food with a twist, plus a full bar and a patio, to open by the end of the year. Also debuting this fall will be Pres a Vis, an offshoot of Walnut Creek's Va de Vi, which will serve globally inspired small plates in Building C of the Letterman Digital Arts Center, near the corner of Chestnut and Lyon streets.

Spanish Fly

This Spanish tapas and wine bar is scheduled to debut in August at 3300 Geary Blvd., where it will replace Straits Cafe (reopening this fall in swankier digs in the forthcoming Westfield Centre; see below). Straits owner Chris Yeo and his culinary director Barney Brown will oversee the new joint.

Westfield San Francisco Centre

Fine dining in a mall setting seems counterintuitive in a cosmopolitan city like San Francisco, but when this upscale shopping complex (835 Market St.) opens next month, Downtown diners will have a host of boldface restaurants to choose from. Notables include Straits Cafe, to be the only remaining city link of Chris Yeo's stylish Singaporean chain; Lark Creek Steak, a chophouse and seafooder from Bradley Ogden and Lark Creek Restaurant Group; 'wichcraft, an offshoot of Tom Colicchio's NYC eat-in/take-out sandwich cafe; Zazil, an upscale Mexican seafooder from the folks behind Colibrí Mexican Bistro; and Out the Door, another branch of the Vietnamese gourmet take-out shop from Charles Phan, which stocks meal kits for signature Slanted Door items such as "shaking beef." The complex will also house a fancy food court with 15 fast-food venues serving on china, plus a mega Food Emporium run by Bristol Farms.

Also Coming Soon

Perry Butler, who earlier this year snapped up Prego, the longtime Cow Hollow Italian at 2000 Union St., has temporarily closed that venue, and plans to reopen it as a French brasserie. Butler is working with the Bacchus Management Group, also behind The Village Pub, Pizza Antica and the forthcoming Cal-Med restaurant Spruce (3640 Sacramento St.).

Good Deals and Other News

Dopo

This petite East Bay trattoria is expanding ever so slightly, adding a wine bar and about 10 more seats. It will close after Labor Day and reopen in October with a few more items on its menu.

Dosa

Is now serving weekend brunch and lunch, including new savory items and Indian fusion dishes such as egg dosas.

Epicurious Garden

North Berkeley's recently opened gallery of gourmet take-out shops and specialty retailers (1509-1513 Shattuck Ave.) offers a fine assortment of food to be enjoyed chez vous. Noteworthy tenants include Kirala 2, which serves sushi and bento boxes; Socca Oven, an offshoot of the popular Provençal eatery Gregoire; Imperial Tea Court, a branch of the famed Chinatown purveyor; Soop, which specializes in handmade soups, stews, chowders and chilis; and Taste, featuring fusion-style rotisserie chicken, clay-oven-baked breads and a wine tasting bar. In addition, there are outposts of Dom Petroff Caviar (a sister company of Petrossian Caviar), local gelateria Cia Gelato and the chocolatier Alegio. The brick building also features a courtyard garden and an on-site culinary school. Open Monday–Saturday from 11 AM–9 PM and Sunday from 11 AM–7 PM.

Luella

This Russian Hill Med has introduced "Kid's Night" on Sundays from 5–8 PM, when kids under 10 can choose items such as a Shirley Temple ($1.50) and mac 'n' cheese ($4) or pizza ($5) from the "Little Luella" menu while their folks hit the harder stuff (e.g. Coca Cola pork shoulder).

Press

Founding chef Keith Luce has resigned from this Napa chophouse. A replacement has yet to be named, though no major changes to the menu are expected.

Yabbies Coastal Kitchen

Is now serving weekend lunch.

Zaré

Chef Hoss has introduced "Friends of the Valley" nights: on Sundays and Mondays, a special $29 three-course prix fixe menu is offered in addition to the regular menu. Meanwhile, the bar lineup now includes burgers and Cosmos. Recent Closings

Winterland

ZagatWire: June 2006

BuzzEditor — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:38:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Bong Su Restaurant and Lounge	311 Third St.	San Francisco	415-536-5800
Brick	1085 Sutter St.	San Francisco	415-441-4232

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Kelley's Tavern	3231 Fillmore St.	San Francisco	415-567-7181
NOPA	560 Divisadero St.	San Francisco	415-864-8643

Coming Soon

Bi-Rite Creamery

The owners of Bi-Rite Market, the Mission's venerated gourmet grocer, will expand later this summer with this family-friendly ice cream shop opening across the street (3692 18th St.). In addition to handcrafted organic ice cream using Straus Family Creamery products, it will serve sorbets, granités, popsicles and the market's already famed desserts, including chocolate pot de crème and panna cotta.

Bistro 1689

Noe Valley's Restaurant Row will soon see the addition of this intimate 45-seat French bistro and wine bar, which is taking over a shuttered Chinese restaurant at 1689 Church Street.

Ici

Like the soon-to-open Bi-Rite Creamery (listed above), this sweet shop from former Chez Panisse pastry chef Mary Canales will specialize in organic ice cream when it opens later this month at 2948 College Avenue in Berkeley. Besides the handmade cones, she'll be whipping up bombes, bonbons and other sublime stuff, which can be savored at a handful of indoor stools or at one of the sidewalk benches.

Sam's Chowder House

Fresh seafood will be served with a real sea breeze at this New England–style fish shack, slated to debut this August in Half Moon Bay (4210 N. Cabrillo Hwy., near Hwy. 1). Cetrella chef Lewis Rossman will consult on the menu, which will feature selections from a clam and oyster bar.

Also Coming Soon

A yet-to-be-named Cal-Asian newcomer is planned for the former Mikeytom Market space (1747 Church St.) just down the street from Noe Valley's forthcoming Bistro 1689 (listed above). Scheduled to open this summer, it will feature a chef who's done stints at Nectar Wine Lounge and U Street Lounge.

Good Deals and Other News

bacar

During happy hour on Thursdays (4–6 PM) and Fridays (2:30–6:30 PM), oysters on the half shell are $1 each and cocktails and beer are half-price.

Cafe Grillades

The Hayes Valley outpost of San Bruno's international crêpe cafe opened last month at 501 Hayes Street (415-553-8500).

Destino

Sunday brunch (11:30 AM–2 PM) has been introduced at this Nuevo Latino spot.

Domaine Chandon

This showcase restaurant at Yountville's sparkling winery is being relaunched this month with the new name Etoile, a nod to its signature sparkling wine. Chef Chris Manning, who recently assumed the position of top toque, will oversee the slightly revamped Cal-Med menu, but the biggest changes will be evident in the main dining room's more dramatic design. In addition, the wine bar is morphing into an intimate lounge with cozy couches and tree stumps for seating, where guests can order off a casual sharing menu, or procure prepared picnic lunches and blankets to enjoy the winery's landscaped grounds.

The Ferry Building Marketplace

Now that spring has arrived, the city's celebrated food emporium has reinstated the Night Market (1 Ferry Building), an evening farmer's market that runs from 4–8 PM every Thursday through October (www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com).

Greens

This veggie institution has transformed its storeroom into a private dining space seating up to 60 and affording spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge. To reserve it, call 415-771-6222.

Gregoire

Berkeley's wildly popular French-inspired gourmet take-out shop recently opened a second location at 4001B Piedmont Avenue in Oakland (510-547-3444).

Le Colonial

The kitchen has introduced a selection of Vietnamese street foods (banh mi, sugarcane shrimp sticks, a D.I.Y. pho bar, etc.) to the upstairs lounge menu, making it a less pricey alternative to the more formal dining room.

O'Reilly's Holy Grail

In addition to its regular menu, O'Reilly's Holy Grail is offering a special Da Vinci Code menu throughout the month of June. The four-course globe-trotting meal follows the trail of the famed mystery, with stops in Paris (la salade d'artichaut), Rome (ravioli di formaggi con pancetta), London (filet mignon "Wellington") and Scotland (tipsy walnut pudding with scotch whiskey custard), and is available Monday–Thursday only (5:30–10 PM; $25 per person; 415-928-1233).

Ottimista Enoteca-Café

This Cow Hollow enoteca is offering an ongoing series of wine tastings, cooking classes and meet-the-winemaker talks, not to mention an "Italian Lessons & Vino" series, which pairs a one-hour alfresco conversational language class with a 30-minute wine tasting and discussion con antipasti. This month's lineup includes "Italian Lessons & Vino: Weekend in Firenze," which will provide insider tips on where to eat, drink, see and stay in Florence (in Italiano, of course), followed by a tasting of Tuscan wines and small bites (June 17th, 3–4:30 PM; $45 per person). Fashionistas can check out the "Bellini Brunch & Fashion Show" showcasing a three-course brunch, all-you-can-drink Bellinis and summer styles from the Milan runway (June 17th, noon; $45 per person). For more details and to make a reservation, call 415-674-8400, or go to www.ottimistasf.com for a full calendar of events.

Wine Spectator Greystone

The C.I.A.'s Napa outpost has launched a new "street foods of the world" lunch menu to coincide with the opening of the dining terrace for the summer months. Offered in addition to the regular menu, it will feature dishes such as petite Vietnamese pho with shaved beef ($6) and grilled tandoori quail with mango-chutney vinaigrette ($6).

Bendean

ZagatWire: September 2006

BuzzEditor — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:37:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Chez Shea	408 Main St.	Half Moon Bay	650-560-9234
Front Porch, The	65A 29th St.	San Francisco	415-695-7800
Poleng Lounge	1751 Fulton St.	San Francisco	415-441-1751
Tanglewood	334 Santana Row, Suite 1000	San Jose	408-244-0464

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Paréa Wine Bar & Café	795 Valencia St.	San Francisco	415-255-2102
Poleng Lounge	1751 Fulton St.	San Francisco	415-441-1751
Sheba Piano Lounge	1419 Fillmore St.	San Francisco	415-440-7414

Coming Soon

Circa

The apotheosis of Cozmo's Corner Grill, which it replaces, this swanky restaurant and lounge is expected to open this month at 2001 Chestnut St., where it will serve Erik Hopfinger's whimsical American food (think PB&J foie gras and Dungeness crab tater tots).

I Tapas & Wine Bar

John Le, chef-owner of Three Seasons in San Francisco and Palo Alto, is poised to open this International (hence the I in its name) small-plates restaurant and lounge later this month at 445 Emerson St.; while his menu will include some contemporary Vietnamese riffs, he'll also present Latin-, Japanese-, Peruvian- and Italian-inspired tapas, along with a raw oyster bar.

Strawberry Village

In addition to a third branch of Pizza Antica, two new restaurants are slated for fall openings in this newly expanded Mill Valley mall – Boulange de Strawberry, another link in Pascal Rigo's bakery chain, and Harmony Restaurant, a dim sum palace. Both will be located on Redwood Highway Frontage Road.

Weird Fish

The folks behind St. Francis Fountain are planning to open this sustainably friendly Mission chippy and seafooder (2193 Mission St.) sometime in the fall.

Also Coming Soon

The Chez Papa group is replacing La Suite with a new Pan-Asian small-plates restaurant, scheduled to open in September.

Also Coming Soon

Sam Josi, a former Slanted Door sous-chef who now runs the popular Mamacita, plans to open a Vietnamese- and Japanese-influenced Asian street-food restaurant around the corner from Mamacita at 2909 Webster St., where they're gearing for a November opening. The bi-level restaurant/lounge will exude the spirit of an izakaya, a Japanese-style pub, while offering a more traditional dining experience upstairs.

Good Deals and Other News

Annabelle's Bistro

Matthew Lee has left to run a restaurant in his native homeland of New Zealand. New chef Armando Maes, who ran Rose Pistola for nine years, will oversee a Californian menu that will no longer have Down Under influences.

Aqua

Has introduced a new business lunch featuring a two-course prix fixe menu for $29.

Bar Tartine

This Mission wine bar is racking up accolades even if it is churning through chefs – the owners are currently searching for their third toque.

Café de la Presse

There is now a weekend brunch menu with dishes such as quiche du jour, salad niçoises and oeufs any style.

Foothill Café

Napa's barbecue dive has a new chef-owner who cooked at Gordon's and Bistro Don Giovanni. Seasonal American specials will now complement the 'cue and there are plans for Sunday brunch.

Julius' Castle

Has been sold and will be closed indefinitely while the new owners do renovations.

Junnoon

This haute Indian has introduced a new six-course menu ($55) with wines ($25 additional) paired by master sommelier Reggie Narito. A six-course vegetarian tasting menu ($45) is also offered.

Little Star Pizza

A second branch of this too-cool-for-school Western Addition pizzeria will open in the Mission later this fall at 400 Valencia St.

Mecca

New Orleans–born Randy Lewis, who won acclaim at Indigo as well as at two short-lived Sonoma restaurants, is now in charge of the kitchen at this swank Upper Market spot, where he's introduced a globally inspired seasonal New American menu..

Napa Valley Grille

On Thursdays from 3 PM on, pair a Kobe "slider" with any beer for $5 in the bar and on the patio.

LuLu

All three of the restaurant group's kitchens will soon have new chefs. Shawn Applin (Fog City Diner, Scala's) will head Azie, former Zibibbo chef John Hennigan is taking over the reins at LuLu and a replacement for Hennigan is being sought at Zibibbo.

Roosevelt Tamale Parlor

Consulting chef Karen Taylor has left this tamales parlor just a month after its relaunch. The menu no longer features her signature Slow Food–inspired specials.

Scala's Bistro

Has reopened after a kitchen renovation and menu redo instituted by new chef David Cohen (ex Auberge du Soleil); highlights include Dungeness crab–stuffed squash blossoms and veal Milanese. Cohen has also introduced a tasting menu for children (two courses, $21; three courses, $28) and an olive-oil caddy (six specialty varietals for $17) that's available to the table throughout the meal.

supperclub

This avant-garde nightspot has announced plans to branch out to LA and NY, but in the meantime, its first stateside outpost in SF has ushered in new top toque Jon Stevens, formerly of Aurora in Dallas.

Sneaky Tiki
Three Seasons (Walnut Creek branch only)

ZagatWire: July 2006

BuzzEditor — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:37:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
farmerbrown	25 Mason St.	San Francisco	415-409-3276
Mixt Greens	114 Sansome St. suite 120	San Francisco	415-433-6498
Sparrow	1177 California St.	San Francisco	415-474-2000
Woodhouse Fish Company	2073 Market St.	San Francisco	415-437-2722

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Playbar	101 Sixth St.	San Francisco	415-512-7529

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.

Watergate

ZagatWire: October 2006

BuzzEditor — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:36:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
ad hoc	6476 Washington St.	Yountville	707-944-2487
Barracuda	2251 Market St.	San Francisco	415-558-8567
Bruno's	2389 Mission St.	San Francisco	415-643-5200
Go Fish	641 Main St.	St. Helena	707-963-0700
Ici	2948 College Ave.	Berkeley	510-665-6054
Toast	1748 Church St.	San Francisco	415-282-4328

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Bourbon & Branch	501 Jones St.	San Francisco	415-673-1921
Double Dutch	3192 16th St.	San Francisco	415-503-1670

Coming Soon

Angelina

Neapolitan-style pizza, along with other Southern Italian specialties, will be the focus of this forthcoming Glen Park venue (2842 Diamond St.) from Lime chef Sharon Ardiana, opening this winter.

Essencia

Anne Gingrass (formerly of Desiree Café and Hawthorne Lane) is lending her culinary expertise to this authentic Peruvian restaurant debuting in Hayes Valley (401 Gough St.) later this month. As partner and consulting chef, Gingrass is overseeing everything from the sophisticated menu with hints of Italian and Japanese influences to the equestrian-feeling contemporary-ranch dining room with red acacia tabletops, oak floors and a massive canvas that conjures up the three natural elements of Peru – mountain, ocean and jungle.

Farina Focaccia and Cucina Italiana

This focacciaria and restaurant is set to open next month in the Mission's Gourmet Ghetto (3562 18th St.), in the long-abandoned Anna's Danish Cookies space. Serving everything from breakfast to late-night dinner, it will highlight Ligurian classics such as pesto, ciuppin (a relative of cioppino) and, of course, focaccia aplenty.

Le P'tit Laurent

Former Clémentine chef Laurent Legendre will bring his classic French repertoire to Glen Park (699 Chenery St.) at this très authentique, affordable bistro that's replacing the Red Rock Bar. Owner Ric Lopez, a local merchant, is also debuting a yet-to-be-named, modern sushi joint at 678 Chenery St. Both projects are slated to open this winter.

Oxbow Public Market

This Ferry Market–inspired gourmet market complex, scheduled to open in the fall of 2007 in Downtown Napa, has announced three new tenants. They are RoliRoti, a branch of the popular rotisserie-on-wheels parked outside SF's Market Hall; Fatted Calf, the artisan charcuterie shop; and Oxbow Market Wine Merchant and Wine Bar, run by the folks of the similarly named wine store in SF (including bacar owner Debbie Zachareas). In addition to a stellar wine collection, the shop will offer a limited tapas-style menu and cheese flights.

Piqueos

Loosely translated as "small plates," this forthcoming restaurant showcasing Peruvian tapas from the jungle region will be the second venture for the chef-owner of SoMa's ceviche-centered Mochica. Look for a winter opening in Bernal Heights (830 Cortland Ave.), in the original Moki's Grill space.

Sam's Chowder House

It may have missed lobster roll season, but Cetrella owner Paul Shenkman's sprawling, bluff-side East Coast–style seafood restaurant and oyster bar is finally setting up shop in Half Moon Bay (4210 N. Cabrillo Hwy.) on October 18th.

Also Coming Soon

New York City–based chef Jonathan Waxman (Barbuto) has scooped up the recently shuttered Lucy's restaurant on the Sebastapol town square (6948 Sebastopol Ave.). No word yet on what the former bad boy chef of Californian cuisine will serve when he debuts later this fall, but he's teaming up again with partner Stephen Singer, with whom he owned Napa's short-lived Table 29, which subsequently became Bistro Don Giovanni.

Good Deals and Other News

Asian Transformation

The apple has fallen quite far from the tree at the Bernal Heights branch of Jocelyn Bulow's petite French cafe, Chez Maman. Last month, it closed and reopened as Aura, with a new look and a new menu concept by chef Mike Yakura that jettisons its Gallic roots for Asian-Vietnamese fare. The menu suggests the culinary direction of Bulow's forthcoming venture, Opium, a Pan-Asian restaurant opening this month in the former La Suite space at 100 Brannan St. Look for more information on Aura and Opium in the November ZagatWire.

Arcadia

Michael Mina has transformed his San Jose venue into a modern American steakhouse featuring classic cuts, sides that reflect his signature style (duck fat fries, truffled mac 'n' cheese) and some of his hallmark dishes from the original menu, including lobster corn dogs, Maine lobster pot pie, root beer floats and tableside-prepared ahi tuna tartare. Much of the menu will be a breeding ground for Mina's forthcoming Strip Steak, slated to open at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas later this fall.

Frisson

Downtown's hippest hang has introduced two new menus to tantalize tentative diners in its lounge. Offered everyday from 5–7 PM, "5@5" features five bar bites and five drinks priced at $5 each. "10@10," served Thursday–Saturday from 10 PM–closing, presents half portions of favorite menu items for $10, along with a selection of $10 drink options, including a flight of wines.

Hawthorne Lane

David Gingrass plans to morph his long-running Hawthorne Lane at 22 Hawthorne St. into a more casual restaurant – to be named Two – early next year. Two will represent the vision of two chefs, current toque Bridget Batson and Gingrass, who will bring the charcuterie skills he honed at Postrio to the ingredient-focused Mediterranean menu, which will feature pizzas, pastas and rustic meat preparations. The restaurant will close after Christmas and reopen in early January with a quieter, more intimate back dining room and a front room reconfigured to allow more seating at the central bar. In October and November, Gingrass and Batson will begin testing new menu items at a series of "In the Kitchen Test Dinners"; interested parties should contact christiana@hawthornelane.com.

Lark Creek Inn

Assuming the reins of Bradley Ogden's bucolic Traditional American Victorian in Larkspur is new chef Jonathan Wright (formerly of Raffles in Singapore and the hurricane-ravaged Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans).

Levende

Wine drinkers will feel their bill and mood lighten on Tuesday nights, when this Mission nightspot takes 50 percent off all bottles of wine, part of a promotion to fete its two-year anniversary.

Maverick

The kitchen expands its soul-food repertoire on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month with a "Southern Fried Night" menu featuring its popular fried chicken plus dishes such as Coca-Cola–braised short ribs and blackened catfish. (Note: During the month of October, "Southern Fried Night" will be offered on October 17th only.)

Myth

Believe the hype – Myth Cafe, the casual daytime sidekick (490 Pacific Ave.) of this Jackson Square New American, is now serving moderately priced weeknight dinners until 9 PM.

Yoshi's

New executive chef Shotaro "Sho" Kamio (ex Ozumo) has rolled out a revamped menu since coming on board to this legendary Oakland-based Jack London Square jazz club and Japanese restaurant. New items include nontraditional sushi dishes such as Sho's signature sashimi hamachi shabu-shabu. To celebrate the new offerings, the club is hosting a weekday happy hour (Monday–Friday, 4:30–6:30 PM) featuring half-priced drinks and appetizers. Sho will also bring his unique style of contemporary Japanese cuisine to the forthcoming San Francisco location of Yoshi's, which is scheduled to open in the Fillmore Jazz Heritage Center in the summer of 2007.

Chez Maman (803 Cortland Ave. branch only)

ZagatWire: November 2006

BuzzEditor — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:35:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Alembic, The	1725 Haight St.	San Francisco	415-666-0822
Circa	2001 Chestnut St.	San Francisco	415-351-0175
Lark Creek Steak	845 Market St., 4th fl.	San Francisco	415-593-4100
Perbacco	230 California St.	San Francisco	415-955-0663
Pescheria	1708 Church St.	San Francisco	415-647-3200
Roadside Barbecue	3751 Geary Blvd.	San Francisco	415-221-7427
Salt House	545 Mission St.	San Francisco	415-543-8900
Sam's Chowder House	4210 N. Cabrillo Hwy.	Half Moon Bay	650-712-0245
Straits Cafe	845 Market St., 4th fl.	San Francisco	415-668-1783
Sutra	100 Brannan St.	San Francisco	415-593-5900
'wichcraft	868 Mission St., ground fl.	San Francisco	866-942-4272
Zazil Coastal Mexico Cuisine	845 Market St., 4th fl.	San Francisco	415-495-6379

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Slide	430 Mason St.	San Francisco	415-421-1916

Coming Soon

Alley

Next year, Laurent Manrique of Aqua and the shuttered C&L Steakhouse will play with fire (in a good way) when he opens this wood-burning-oven-focused eatery on Downtown's newest alley, Yerba Buena Lane.

Essencia

The opening of this Hayes Valley Peruvian restaurant (401 Gough St.) shepherded by Anne Gingrass has been delayed. It is now slated to debut in mid-December, rather than in October as previously reported in the ZagatWire.

Mercury

Look for a mid-month opening of this latest cocktail lounge straddling the Marina, Cow Hollow and the Van Ness Corridor (1434 Lombard St.). Brandon Clements (bar manager of Mecca), along with former Betelnut chef Dominick Anza (who also cooks at Poleng Lounge), will offer a weekday American-style breakfast to accommodate the neighboring hotels, but the real draw will be Anza's repertoire of Pan-Asian small plates and Far East–influenced specialty cocktails (think lychee- and lavender-spiked elixirs) served in an industrial, loftlike setting outfitted in fiery fabrics. Once dinner service gets off the ground, Clements plans to introduce a "Retox" weekend brunch, offering greasy/boozy morning fare geared at clubbers.

Olallie

Named for Northern California's local blackberry, this forthcoming neighborhood joint in Noe Valley (1320 Castro) will offer seasonal Californian fare (with slight Spanish influences) from chef-owner Brett Emerson (ex Greens and LuLu) when it opens early next year.

Straits Under the Dome

After the New Year, Chris Yeo will debut this adjunct late-night bar/lounge under the historic Dome, just steps from his new Straits Cafe in the Westfield Shopping Center. The 65-seat, open-air venue will primarily serve his signature Pan-Asian bar snacks, along with a vast raw bar and cocktails, until 2 AM, making it the only post-movie spot in the area. Yeo also hopes to host live jazz ensembles during the day.

Umami

Fueling the Pan-Asian small-plates trend (it feels like the '90s all over again) is this Cow Hollow Vietnamese- and Japanese-inspired izakaya (2909 Webster St.) from Mamacita chef Sam Josi opening later this month. Its name means "savoriness" or "deliciousness" in Japanese.

Good Deals and Other News

Amber India

The 2007 Survey's highest-ranking Indian restaurant, with branches on the Peninsula in Mountain View and San Jose's Santana Row, is slated to open a third location Downtown at 13 Yerba Buena Lane next spring.

Anzu

Founding chef Kazuhito Takahashi has split from this hybrid steak-and-Japanese restaurant in the Hotel Nikko. While the hotel searches for a replacement, the nine-seat sushi bar is closed, with limited sushi and sashimi items on the lunch and dinner menus. In the meantime, the dinner chef continues to prepare several Asian-influenced dishes, including tea-smoked duck and red curry risotto, in addition to the regular American chophouse fare.

Bar Tartine

Jason Fox (ex Scott Howard) has assumed the reins of this Mission wine bar. The third chef to walk into the joint since it opened a year ago, Fox will maintain the kitchen's Cal-Med style.

Cav Wine Bar and Kitchen

Pamela Busch's sophomore wine bar and restaurant recently celebrated its one-year anniversary and has added "Kitchen" to its name as a nod to its fully realized, wine-centric, Mediterranean dinner menu, overseen by chef Christine Mullen and served nightly.

Dosa

For a dose of Indian cuisine the morning after, this popular Mission eatery has launched a Bollywood-inspired weekend brunch (11:30 AM–3:30 PM).

Ella's

Pacific Heights' cult breakfast joint is now open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday, serving a combination of traditional favorites such as chicken pot pie and mac 'n' cheese, along with more contemporary, modern American items from chef Matt Skov (formerly of Campton Place, including shrimp cake with green-tomato sofrito and seared salmon with a Bloody Mary sauce. Reservations are taken for dinner and lunch, but alas, not for breakfast or weekend brunch.

Étoile

This Yountville winery has officially debuted its newly remodeled Wine Lounge at the recently rechristened Étoile restaurant. Now through the end of the year, it will host "Blend," a party replete with professional tango dancers and DJs on Saturday and Monday nights, with $5 sparkling wine cocktails and appetizer specials prepared by restaurant chef Chris Manning (Saturdays, 9 PM–closing; Mondays, 8 PM–midnight; no cover charge; 800-736-2892).

Jardinière

Traci des Jardins' #2 guy, Robbie Lewis, has left her acclaimed Hayes Valley supper club to spend more time with his family and eventually open his own place. Craig Patzer, who has worked with Lewis for several years, has been promoted to executive chef. Since the seasonally driven Cal-French menu changes regularly, Patzer will begin to institute some new dishes over the next few months, though no major stylistic changes are expected.

La Provence

Two young French-trained chefs have been hired to revamp this Provençal bistro in the Mission; Mikael Audry and Lionel Balbastre have already introduced several traditional new menu items, including pissaladière and lapin au miel de lavande (roasted rabbit with rosemary, lavender and honey jus). In addition to the regular evening menu, they are preparing a special monthly "Menu Decouverte" – a $59 five-course dinner paired with wines from Southern France (for an additional $15), generally held on the last Wednesday of each month. The dinners are invitation only; interested parties should call the restaurant at 415-643-4333.

Little Star Pizza

A satellite branch of this Western Addition pizzeria opened last month at 400 Valencia Street (415-551-7827), where it features the same deep-dish pies, dark decor and indie-music-programmed jukebox.

PlumpJack Cafe

Chef James Syhabout, who worked at Coi and Manresa, is the new executive chef of this Cow Hollow Cal-Med.

Zuni Café

Management changes are afoot at Judy Roger's Hayes Valley institution. Her longtime partner, Vince Calcagno, has sold his share to former Chez Panisse staffer Gilbert Pilgram, who for 20 years worked both in the kitchen and as GM of Alice Waters' mother ship. Pilgram will officially come on board at the end of November. Roger assures us that "it isn't like he's going to blow up the grill on December 1st. Gilbert has dined at Zuni more times than I have." His charge is merely to "infuse [Zuni] with more energy." Which means no major changes to Roger's traditional French and Italian repertoire are expected.

Enrico's Sidewalk Cafe
Kingfish (San Francisco branch only)

ZagatWire: February 2007

BuzzEditor — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:34:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
La Terrasse	215 Lincoln Blvd.	San Francisco	415-922-3463
TWO	22 Hawthorne St.	San Francisco	415-777-9779
Umami	2909 Webster St.	San Francisco	415-346-3431

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Amelie	754 Polk St.	San Francisco	415-292-6916
Gestalt Haus	3159 16th St.	San Francisco	415-560-0137
Presidio Social Club	563 Ruger St.	San Francisco	415-885-1888

Coming Soon

Bite

Late-night eats will round out the offerings of live DJ beats, private Jacuzzis and rooftop lounging at the Downtown club Crash (34 Mason St.), which hopes to present Southern-style grub – served till the wee hours – beginning in the next few months.

Enrico's

This recently shuttered beatnik hangout at 504 Broadway will once again ply North Beach patrons with jazz and sidewalk supping when it reopens this March under new management. Partners from Bambuddha Lounge (who also own Nob Hill Cafe and Venticello) are collaborating with chef Seamus Cronin (currently of Venticello) and hiring designers to freshen up the interior while retaining its vintage vibe.

Laïola

Although they haven't yet signed the final lease, restaurateurs Andrew McCormack (Frisson) and Joe Hargrave (formerly of LuLu) aim to open this casual, no-reservations, 55-seat contemporary tavern (pronounced lie-la) at 2031 Chestnut Street in the Marina later this summer. Chef Mark Denham (executive chef of the now defunct 42 Degrees) will oversee the moderately priced, ingredient-driven Spanish menu, which will include the likes of honey lamb and chickpea fries with romescu sauce. The restaurant and bar, whose name is the ancient French word for church or gathering place, is the first of what they hope will be a collection of ethnically inspired neighborhood taverns.

Good Deals and Other News

ad hoc

Thomas Keller's temporary, prix fixe–only Yountville restaurant (it offers a single, nightly changing, four-course American comfort-food menu) has become such a hit that he's decided to it keep it open ad infinitum. The restaurant now accepts reservations and hopes to expand its hours to Tuesday and Wednesday evenings sometime later this spring. Meanwhile, plans to debut Burgers and Half Bottles – Keller's Napa Valley–style interpretation of In-N-Out originally scheduled to replace Ad Hoc – are on hold until a new location is found.

Ame

Diners in search of chef Hiro Sone's cuisine will have to wait till nightfall now that he's discontinued lunch service. Hotel guests and Downtown diners can still enjoy lunch (and breakfast) at the St. Regis' other dining room, Vitrine (415-284-4000).

Andalu

Contrary to an earlier report, chef-owner Calvin Schneiter will not be selling his five-year-old small-plates destination. Schneiter reports it's business as usual at his Mission spot, where he will continue to modify the menu seasonally.

Canteen

Dennis Leary's Lilliputian haute diner in the Commodore Hotel has stopped serving weekday breakfast. Fans can still drop in for lunch Wednesday through Friday from 11:30 AM–2 PM and weekend brunch from 8 AM–2 PM, plus dinner Tuesday through Saturday.

Emile's

Swiss-born Emile Mooser is hanging up his toque after 30-odd years, selling his eponymous San Jose fine-dining venue to new owners who plan to continue dinner service without interruption. However, don't bother logging on to the restaurant's old Web site – in addition to selling the restaurant and its name, Mooser has sold its Web address, www.emiles.com, to a marketing company that doles out frequent-flier miles (think e-miles). For restaurant reservations and additional information, guests should call the restaurant's main phone number at 408-289-1960.

Emporio Rulli

Patisserie maestro Gary Rulli has tapped Angelo Auriana – executive chef of Santa Monica's famed Valentino – to work in his Marina branch on Tuesdays. Auriana will consult on the menu and showcase special seasonal offerings, such as the recent white truffle prix fixe.

L'Amour Dans le Four

This petite wood-fired-oven eatery closed its doors in December, after its building was sold. However, the owners are actively looking for a new location.

Lark Creek Restaurant Group

As part of its 18th Annual Crab Festival, this restaurant group is offering crustacean-inspired à la carte menu specials at all its restaurants, including One Market, The Lark Creek Inn, Lark Creek Walnut Creek , Yankee Pier in Larkspur, SFO and Santana Row, and its newest, Lark Creek Steak at the Westfield Centre.

L'Auberge Carmel

Changes are afoot down in the tiny hamlet of Carmel now that Walter Mankze has resigned as executive chef of both this Cal charmer and nearby Bouchée. Owner David Fink assures a smooth transition at the venues, where the current chefs de cuisine have been promoted, including Tim Mosblech at L'Auberge, who has worked alongside Mankze both there and at Patina, as well as with Laurent Gras at the Fifth Floor. Fink also intends to remodel Bouchée later this spring, in honor of its fifth anniversary. Eddie Moran, who worked at Jardinière as well as NYC's Daniel, now oversees Bouchée.

Manka's

Inverness's eccentric, rustic restaurant has temporarily closed due to a fire that swept through the main lodge and dining room on December 27th, though nine or so cabins and rooms were unaffected and are still available for rental. Chef-owners Margaret Grade and Daniel DeLong are considering reestablishing dinner service in an alternative off-site location for Valentine's Day while they begin the slow process of rebuilding the Arts and Crafts hunting lodge.

Plumed Horse

Slated to close on February 17th, the once Continental kitchen of this Saratoga thoroughbred will reopen around the first of May with a modern Californian, seafood-heavy menu by Peter Armellino (chef de cuisine of Aqua) 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.

Rose Pistola

Former wine director Justin Hall has returned to this North Beach eatery having spent the last few years working at Charlie Trotter's in Chicago. The third-level sommelier, who will be taking his fourth and final Master Sommelier exam this spring, will slowly restructure Rose Pistola's wine list and hopes to host wine dinners in the future.

Aura

ZagatWire: January 2007

BuzzEditor — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:34:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Eureka Restaurant & Lounge	4063 18th St.	San Francisco	415-431-6000
Pres a Vi	1 Letterman Dr.	San Francisco	415-409-3000

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

Andalu

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.

Bar Tartine

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.

Fork

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.

Jack Falstaff

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.

La Toque

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.

NoPa

This Divisadero Street hot spot now accepts reservations a month in advance instead of its previous policy of accepting same-day reservations only.

Plumed Horse

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.

Tablespoon

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.

Hawthorne Lane

ZagatWire: December 2006

BuzzEditor — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:34:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
FARM	4048 Sonoma Hwy.	Napa	707-299-4882
Weird Fish	2193 Mission St.	San Francisco	415-863-4744

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Alembic, The	1725 Haight St.	San Francisco	415-666-0822
Dio Deka	210 E. Main St.	Los Gatos	408-354-7700
Icon Ultra Lounge	1192 Folsom St.	San Francisco	415-626-4800
Salt House	545 Mission St.	San Francisco	415-543-8900
Yield Wine Bar	2490 Third St.	San Francisco	415-401-8984

Coming Soon

La Terrace

In the next few weeks, Chez Spencer 's Laurent Katgely will open this French bistro in the Presidio (215 Lincoln Ave.) featuring a wood-burning oven and a dining room, bar and patio designed by Michael Brannan (Cortez), all with views of the bay. The all-day spot will serve upscale French breakfast items like quail eggs, a casual lunch that includes Katgely's signature smoked salmon pizza and dinner along the same lines as Chez Spencer 's – think wild game from the wood-burning oven.

Milk and Honey

Weird Fish proprietor Timothy Holt hasn't wasted any time expanding his stake on Mission Street. Although he just opened his sustainable fish joint in November, come January, he plans to transform the corner space two doors down (2199 Mission St.) into this casual cafe focused on flatbread munchies paired with live music and art. While the grub won't cost an arm and a leg, the furniture – all of which will be for sale, from the chandeliers to the chairs – might inspire customers to break out the credit card.

West County Grill

Barbuto chef Jonathan Waxman, along with former partner Steven Singer, is returning westward to open this sprawling, two-story restaurant (with two patios) in Sebastopol (6948 Sebastopol Ave.). Opening in January, the moderately priced grill will emphasize local Sonoma larder and wines, and feature a pizza oven and a raw bar.

Also Coming Soon

A new, as-yet-unnamed Cal-Mediterranean will replace Grasshopper, Oakland's recently closed Asian-tapas hot spot (6317 College Ave.); scheduled to open in a few months, it will be run by the former owners of San Francisco's Frascati.

Good Deals and Other News

Anzu

The Hotel Nikko has snagged Barney Brown, former culinary director of the Straits Group and chef at Spanish Fly, as executive sous-chef to craft a new Japanese-Euro menu.

Bar Tartine

Owner Elisabeth Prueitt, who just debuted her new pastry cookbook, Tartine, says that new chef Jason Fox has expanded the bistro menu to reflect his passion for foods of the other parts of the Mediterranean – including Spain, Morocco and Egypt, where he has spent a lot of time traveling.

Bi-Rite Creamery & Bakeshop

This long anticipated creamery and bakery is finally open – and ready for conscientious San Franciscans with its organic ice creams and all-natural sprinkles (Sunday–Tuesday and Thursday, 11 AM–9 PM; Friday and Saturday, 11 AM–10 PM; closed Wednesdays; 3692 18th St.; 415-626-5600).

Elite Cafe

Co-owner and chef Joanna Karlinsky, who helped revamp this New Orleans–inspired Pacific Heights cafe in 2006, has left to open a bakery called Meetinghouse Biscuits (877-777-3170; www.meetinghousebiscuits.com), which will hawk her infamously addictive buns nationally. Owner Peter Snyderman has promoted Jerry Mendoza, who worked with Karlinsky for 10 years, to executive chef. Fear not, the cafe will continue to sell her famed biscuits fresh and as frozen dough.

Eos

After more than 10 years, Arnold Eric Wong will sell his business to the owner of Yabbies Coastal Kitchen. However, the new owner intends to keep the restaurant's name and staff intact. Wong will stay on through md-January to help with the transition, after which his chef de cuisine of five years, Danny Guerrini, will assume the title of chef.

Fifth Floor

Executive chef Melissa Perello will prepare her final supper on New Year's Eve, after which she'll leave the restaurant and take a short break before her next culinary venture. No replacement has been named yet.

Frjtz Fries

This Belgian bastion of fries and crêpes just closed its Ghirardelli Square branch but plans to open an even larger outpost in the Mission (590 Valencia St.) in January. In addition to offering its signature frites, the Valencia haunt will expand its kitchen repertoire with Belgium waffles for brunch and moules dishes served into the wee hours of the night.

Julia's Kitchen

Copia's copious kitchen staff has been downsized, resulting in the departure of executive chef Victor Scargle, who is now in charge down the road at Go Fish. His chef de cuisine, Jeff Mosher, assumes the museum's culinary responsibilities.

The Mandarin

Founded in 1968 by Chinese food doyenne Cecelia Chang, this Ghirardelli Square stalwart closed its doors last month for good, as the building in which it resided for almost 40 years is being converted into a private residence.

Myth Cafe

This casual offshoot of Myth restaurant has ended its short-lived dinner service. The kitchen now only serves breakfast and lunch (Monday–Friday, 8 AM–4 PM).

Osha Thai

Noodle lovers will be able to count a fifth branch of this popular hipster Thai spot when the rapidly expanding chain opens in Cow Hollow in early 2007 at 2033 Union Street (which once housed Amici's East Coast Pizzeria).

Out the Door

Charles Phan's second outpost of his Vietnamese to-go shop has opened at the Westfield Centre, where it also features a full-service restaurant offering wine and beer (Monday–Saturday, 11 AM–9 PM; Sunday, 11 AM–8 PM; 845 Market St.; 415-541-9913). Look for more information on Out the Door in the January ZagatWire.

Pescheria

Joseph Manzare has hooked Jerry McGinnis (formerly of supperclub) to run the kitchen of his Noe Valley fish restaurant. The menu at the Italian-oriented seafooder is expected to stay on the same course.

Plumed Horse

This 54-year-old Saratoga veteran has been sold to new owners, including a former manager, who have big plans. While it will retain the same name and remain open through the end of the year, it will close for a major renovation in early 2007 and reopen with a new, yet-to-be-determined chef.

Postrio

Chef Mitch Rosenthal gave notice last month so he can focus his attention on his other two properties, Town Hall and Salt House; Jordan Grosser (formerly of Campton Place) will replace him as chef de cuisine.

Salt House

Doug Washington and the Rosenthal brothers have snapped up Harveen Khera, the former chef-owner of the now shuttered Tallula, to run the bar at their new tavern.ine, overseeing the day-to-day operations at his eponymous restaurant in the Westin St. Francis.

Avenue G
Grasshopper
The Mandarin
Socca Oven
Zagora

ZagatWire: March 2007

BuzzEditor — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:33:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Bushi-tei	1638 Post St.	San Francisco	415-440-4959
Drake’s Beach Café	1 DrakeÕs Beach Rd.	Inverness	415-669-1297
Gialina	2832 Diamond St.	San Francisco	415-329-8500
Presidio Social Club	563 Ruger St., Bldg. 563	San Francisco	415-885-1888
Wood Tavern	6317 college Ave.	Oakland	510-653-6603

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Ambassador, The	673 Geary St.	San Francisco	415-563-8192
Mint Lounge	414 Jessie St.	San Francisco	415-625-8880
Swinging Door	106 E. 25th Ave.	San Mateo	650-522-9800

Coming Soon

Argent Hotel

Word has it that when this Downtown hotel (50 Third St.) reopens in the spring as the Westin San Francisco Market Street, it'll feature a to-be-named Northern Italian restaurant and cafe.

Bar Bamboo

Opening later this month, this new Mission wine bar and cafe (2931 16th St.) will specialize in Pan-Italian vintages and seasonal, complementary cuisine. In addition to pastas and entrees, chef Lizzie Binder (formerly of Jardinre) will offer sophisticated sandwiches (think crostini, panini, bruschetta) fashioned from custom-made Della Fattoria bread, and artisanal cured meats and cheeses. The rustic-yet-modern late-night setting will also feature a backyard patio for supping and sipping on vino and specialty roasted coffees.

Baz

Fans of chef David Bazirgan, who made his mark at Baraka, are looking forward to his forthcoming 75-seat gastro bistro in an undisclosed spot in the Mission/Western SoMa (the area home to Chez Spencer and Nihon), slated to open in about six months. Expect three-star food without the formality, in this case, seasonal French- and Med-inspired dishes, served in an industrial-yet-inviting space.

Burger Bar

Thomas Keller may be planning an upscale burger joint in Yountville, but it looks like Fleur de Lys chef-owner Hubert Keller, who's bringing his red-hot Las Vegas–based Burger Bar to San Francisco and points elsewhere, will beat him to the punch. Though the next Burger Bar outpost will debut in St. Louis (the supposed birthplace of the burger) in November, Bay Area residents will have to wait till early 2008 for an opening in Downtown or Union Square (the lease has yet to be signed). Though the SF branch will feature a larger wine list, much of the menu will mirror that of the original's, including the signature $65 Rossini Burger featuring Kobe beef, sliced foie gras and shaved Perigord truffles..

Butterfly Bistro Vietnamese Kitchen and Bar

Robert Lam, the chef-owner of butterfly embarcadero, is poised to open this casual eatery specializing in affordable Vietnamese street food at the recently refurbished Shops at Tanforan mall in San Bruno (1150 El Camino Real, ste. 210). Slated to open sometime in March, it will take advantage of the South Bay's warm clime with additional patio seating.

Camino

Russell Moore, Chez Panisse Café chef and produce buyer for more than a decade, plans to cast out on his own later this year (or in early 2008) with this unique, rustic restaurant at 3917 Grand Avenue in Oakland. The focal point of the simple, brick-walled building will be an eight-ft.-wide fireplace ("camino" means fireplace in Italian) in which much of the evening's menu will be prepared; there will be an additional wood-fired oven in the kitchen. Moore will continue to source local ingredients for his Med-inspired country cuisine (think lamb à la ficelle hung over the fireplace, spit-roasted meats, grilled whole fish, beans baked in the coals, rabbit cooked in cazuelas), and hopes to purchase whole animals, then serve different parts on different nights.

Clown Alley, The Sequel

Myth's Tom Duffy has purchased this venerable late-night burger joint at 42 Columbus Avenue in the Financial District. In the short term, Duffy will operate the 45-year-old diner as usual but plans to close it in early May for about two weeks to "bring it into the 21st century." Rest assured, the spot will continue to serve unpretentious, affordable burgers until the wee hours, along with Chicago-style hot dogs and frozen custard drinks made with mix-ins like nonpareils.

Nua

Lined in exotic woods, this hip yet casual Med eatery is poised to open in North Beach (550 Green St.), where it will offer seasonal cuisine and an extensive wine selection.

Piqueos

The folks behind Mochica are expected to open this tapas-style Peruvian in Bernal Heights (830 Cortland Ave.) by the end of March or early April.

Roe

The Restaurant Collection at the Mint Plaza: Three new anchor restaurants will front the Mint Plaza project, a still-under-construction pedestrian-friendly work/live community that will extend Jessie Street between Mint and Fifth streets in SoMA. Rumors are swirling about certain potential suitors, so watch this space for more updates.

Roe

This SoMa supperclub (651 Howard St.) is closing in mid-April and will reopen on May 1st with a new concept. Although it'll retain the same name, new chef Thai Tran (ex Ame and Boulevard) will completely revamp the menu in a Southeast Asian high-end style imbued with Japanese influences. In addition, the dining room and adjoining two-floor lounge will be redesigned by the LA design firm O'Brien & Associates (of Republic and Minx).

Spruce

Spork: KFC's loss is the Mission's gain. Next month, chef Bruce Binn (formerly of Citizen Cake and Slow Club) will open this casual New American diner marrying the kitsch of the eponymous utensil with a Californian sensibility in the Colonel's old space at 1058 Valencia Street.

Spruce

The owners of The Village Pub will finally open their highly anticipated New American in Presidio Heights (3640 Sacramento St.) – billed as "a two-star restaurant dressed down in jeans and a t-shirt" – the first week of June. The Village Pub's chef, Mark Sullivan, will oversee the robust menu emphasizing house-cured meats.

Also Coming Soon

The owners of Bogie's, the 25-year-old French vet located in Downtown San Mateo (60 East Third Ave.), are in the process of morphing it into an upscale steakhouse with a large new bar and back patio, as well as a menu specializing in Wagyu beef. The transformation is expected to be completed in a few months.

Good Deals and Other News

bacar

Wine director Debbie Zachareas and executive chef Arnold Eric Wong have left this vino-inspired South of Market restaurant, which they co-founded, citing irreconcilable disagreements with their other partners. In the meantime, chef de cuisine Adam Timney will steer the kitchen while sommelier Ehren Jennings takes on the wine program. Zachareas can now be found at the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant (1 Ferry Building), which she co-owns. Wong, who recently sold his other restaurant, Eos, will continue to run his bakery business.

Bistro 1689

Eric Kuhne is taking over for opening chef Scott Drozd, who recently resigned from this Noe Valley nabe spot; the menu is not expected to substantially change.

Bushi-tei

This Japantown restaurant has introduced Sunday brunch and a new late-night, small-plates menu.

Cafe La Haye

Norman Owens (formerly of Canlis in Seattle as well as Michael Mina) has taken over the stoves from founding chef John McReynolds at this Liluputian Sonoma spot, where he continues to follow McReynolds' culinary vision. Saul Gropman, the other founding partner, is still running the front of the house.

Cool Café

Diners at the Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford University can now kick back with specialty martinis, in addition to organic beers and local wines. Though the cocktails are available during the cafe's regular daytime hours, things really heat up on Thursday nights from 5 to 8 PM, when dinner is served.

Cortez

Has closed temporarily so that emergency renovations could be done to the building. Management anticipates that it will reopen by the end of this month, but watch this space for details.

Drake's Beach Café

This funky seaside coffee shop overlooking Drake's Bay in Inverness (1 Drakes Beach Rd.) is expanding its special evening dinners to Saturday nights beginning March 17th. Currently, it serves a reservations-only Friday night prix fixe dinner from 6–8 PM. For more details and reservations, call 415-669-1297.

Farallon

Billed as offering the largest selection of fresh oysters in the Bay Area, the new oyster bar at this elaborately designed Downtown seafooder features "sea urchin" barstools and several Chesapeake Bay varieties that are exclusive to the restaurant.

Frjtz Fries

Munching Missionites will soon be frjking out over those addictive Belgian fries – a new location at 590 Valencia Street will open by early April.

Koi Palace

A scaled-down branch of this venerated Chinese seafood restaurant has opened at Thunder Valley Casino (1200 Athens Ave., Lincoln). Folks in the East Bay bedroom community of Dublin are also getting lucky – a third outpost, to be named Koi Garden, is set to debut in the yet-to-be-completed Ulferts Center (4288 Dublin Blvd.) later this summer, where it will be accompanied by a casual noodle and Chinese barbecue joint to be named Just Koi.

Kuleto's

Downtown's Villa Florence Hotel has been sold though it will continue to operate this trattoria and wine bar, now under the tutelage of original chef Bob Helstrom. However, the new management intends to give the restaurant a major face-lift in coming months. Stay tuned for more details.

La Toque

Ken Frank's Rutherford restaurant is the first West Coast venue to serve cult-status Akaushi beef, noted not only for its high quality but also for its higher concentrations of monounsaturated fat.

Left Bank

The Left Bank brasseries throughout the Bay Area (with outposts in Larkspur, Menlo Park, Pleasant Hill, San Mateo and San Jose) are featuring a culinary promotion that spotlights France's different regional cuisines throughout the year. When guests order the current month's "plat and fromage de le region," available à la carte or together as part of a $26 prix fixe, they'll receive a stamp for that region in a passport. After accumulating six different regional stamps from six different months, diners become eligible to enter a drawing for a chance to win prizes like private wine dinners and trips for two to Paris. During the month of March, the highlighted region is Normandie. Complete promotion rules and future featured regions are available online at www.leftbank.com.

Levende

Next month, the pioneer of the "Sunday Boogie Brunch" will open a second locale in a historic brick building in old Oakland (827 Washington St.), where it will serve both lunch and dinner.

Medicine Eatstation

Downtown's austere Japanese Shojin-style restaurant temporarily closed last month and will reopen on March 12th as a smaller, more casual weekday-lunch-only spot serving some signature items but also noodle and rice dishes that cater to the grab-and-go lunch clientele. In the fall, the main dining room will reopen as Medicine-Ryori, a fine-dining spot that will feature sit-down "high-level Japanese cuisine in an artistic setting."

Michael Mina

This month, Chris L'Hommedieu (formerly the executive sous-chef of NYC's Per Se and, prior to that, the sous-chef at Aqua) takes over as Michael Mina's chef de cuisine, overseeing the day-to-day operations at his eponymous restaurant in the Westin St. Francis.

Mixt Greens

Worker bees will have another outpost for fast yet healthy dining when this innovative lunch joint opens a second locale at 475 Sansome Street in May.

Ozumo

Baseball-player-turned-restaurateur Jeremy Umland plans to cross the Bay Bridge to open another outpost of his high-end Japanese sushi and robata restaurant in the tony Broadway Grand, a new luxury condo complex to be built at the corner of Broadway and Grand Avenue in the Lake Merritt District sometime in the spring of 2008.

Sparrow

Mike Yakura, last cooking at Sutra and the now shuttered Aura, has taken over the kitchen at this out-of-the-way Nob Hill spot, replacing opening chef Terry Lynch. His new menu reflects his signature Cal-Asian cooking style.

Foothill Cafe
Pisces