Eating Out

Recent Openers

Q&A With Annie Somerville of Greens, Part 1: From Zen Student to Executive Chef

Annie Somerville, executive chef of Greens Restaurant, came to the world of cooking through unexpected means. A Michigan native, her family moved to California when she was very young. She studied liberal arts at Humboldt State University until a small Zen group in her neighborhood caught her intere ... More >>

Ravi Kapur's LihoLiho Yacht Club Pop Up Is Like a Hawaiian Childhood

Chef Ravi Kapur (Prospect, Boulevard) describes the birth of his son this October as the catalyst to taking the next step in his career. Not wanting to miss out on the beginning of his new family's life together, Kapur left his post at Prospect. Away from a professional kitchen, he discovered that ... More >>

Panchita's #3 Under Fire, Francis Ford Coppola Sues, Hakkasan Heads to S.F., and More

The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco food scene. A growing number of S.F. restaurants are having a hard time figuring out the easy fact that they need to pay employees properly. Mission Local has news on the latest restaurant under fire: Panchita #3, wh ... More >>

Passover Menus: Kosher Dishes for the Eating

There are few opportunities for kosher foodies to pig out, but Passover is an exception. The week-long Jewish holiday is here again, and there's an abundance of non-pig options for followers of the faith and dairy-detesting vegans to celebrate. Here's a list of prescribed menus on SFoodie's Pas ... More >>

Fune Ya Japanese's IRS Problems, Why Criolla Kitchen Closed, and La Barca Shutters

The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco food scene. Fune Ya Japanese Restaurant is in hot water in with the IRS -- marking the third Richmond District restaurant in recent months to head to court. SFGate reports cash receipts in boxes marked "seasoned octo ... More >>

HayaHon Begins Izakaya Popup at Former Mercury Lounge, Now Called SPACE 1582

​Mark Hayashida has covered a lot of culinary territory since graduating from college: cooking Classic French-inspired cuisine at the LA Ritz-Carlton, working on the sushi bar at the San Jose branch of Blowfish, cooking at Google, helping open Skool in Potrero Hill. Three weeks ago, he and partner ... More >>

Recent Openers

​Mark Hayashida has covered a lot of culinary territory since graduating from college: cooking Classic French-inspired cuisine at the LA Ritz-Carlton, working on the sushi bar at the San Jose branch of Blowfish, cooking at Google, helping open Skool in Potrero Hill. Three weeks ago, he and partner ... More >>

Red Vic Replacement Plans, Bi-Rite Divisadero Delay, John Campbell's Gets Sued, and More

The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco food scene. Since the Red Vic closed in July, the only thing certain was the Alembic's plan to take over part of the the lobby space. Now Eater SF confirms, via Uppercasing, owners Betsy and Jack Rix's plans for the ... More >>

Recent Openers

The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco food scene. Since the Red Vic closed in July, the only thing certain was the Alembic's plan to take over part of the the lobby space. Now Eater SF confirms, via Uppercasing, owners Betsy and Jack Rix's plans for the ... More >>

Parada 22's Pop-Up Brunch, Evelyn Lee's Love Life, and Original Joe's Is Gone (Again)

The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco food scene. If you're a fan of Boogaloos's brunch -- but not so much of the wait -- then consider heading to Philip Bellber's other restaurant: Parada 22. The team behind the Haight restaurant shares that they'll be ... More >>

Top Chef Ryan Scott Opens Market & Rye in West Portal Next Week

​West Portalians have been counting down the days until former Top Chef contestant Ryan Scott opens the doors to his new, casual restaurant this week. Scott spilled his secrets to SFoodie just before the big opening.  Let's start with the name -- once Please & Thank You, now Market & ... More >>

Local Mission Eatery's 2nd Birthday, Serving an Irish Plate

​What: Local Mission Eatery's 2nd Birthday Irish DinnerWhere: Local: Mission Eatery, 3111 24th Street (at Folsom)When: Saturday, March 17, 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.; walk-ins onlyCost: $12 per plate, $2 per beer-- no guilt required, Mission Eatery is 100 percent local The Rundown: St. Patrick's day has ... More >>

Boston Transplant Chews His Way Through Mission Street -- Literally

​Dave MP is new to San Francisco but it hasn't taken him much time to note the stretch of Mission between Cortland and Cesar Chavez is sadly underrated, especially in the food department. As Bernalwood points out today, Dave MP has pledged to chomp his way through the strip, investig-eating the ov ... More >>

Q&A with Cheryl Burr and Chris Beerman, Part 2: On Burgers, Pickles, and 100-Hour Weeks

Chris Beerman and Cheryl Burr are friends and business partners, co-owners of the almost two-year-old, Americana-themed Citizens Band and Pinkie's Bakery. The pair found the space their restaurant and bakery now reside in through a tip from 4505 Meats' Ryan Farr -- though he passed it along with t ... More >>

Town Hall's New Brunch: A Blissful, Quiet Morning -- for Now

​Picture this: It's 12:30 on Sunday afternoon, and you're sitting at a table in one of San Francisco's hottest restaurants. Bossa nova Beatles covers hum from the speakers, easy to follow along with because aside from the table to your left, your group is the only one there. A few staffers stand b ... More >>

Bouche: Young Chef's Menu Intrigues While His Methods Confuse

​Picture this: It's 12:30 on Sunday afternoon, and you're sitting at a table in one of San Francisco's hottest restaurants. Bossa nova Beatles covers hum from the speakers, easy to follow along with because aside from the table to your left, your group is the only one there. A few staffers stand b ... More >>

Recent Openers

​Picture this: It's 12:30 on Sunday afternoon, and you're sitting at a table in one of San Francisco's hottest restaurants. Bossa nova Beatles covers hum from the speakers, easy to follow along with because aside from the table to your left, your group is the only one there. A few staffers stand b ... More >>

Bouche Has All the Skills It Needs, Except Menu Editing

​This week's full-length restaurant review of Bouche, just north of Union Square, presented me with a bit of a quandry. Its chef, Nicolas Borzée, has worked for some of the greats, including Joel Robuchon and Michel Troisgros, and he's cooking a complex menu of small plates out of the tiniest kit ... More >>

Q&A with Cheryl Burr and Chris Beerman, Part 1: "The Food's the Easy Part"

​Chris Beerman and Cheryl Burr are friends and business partners, with a successful first restaurant and bakery -- Citizens Band and Pinkie's Bakery, respectively -- under their belts. The two speak fast and assuredly, and when in conversation together they finish each other's sentences with ease. ... More >>

Yuubi and La Boulange de Yerba Buena Open, Burritt Tavern Update, and a Musical Buzz at Mutiny Radio and Cafe

The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco food scene. Opening: Grub Street reports that Yuubi, a Japanese restaurant, is readying to open in the Richmond tomorrow. And while there is no preview menu, we do know there will be sushi (501 Balboa at Si ... More >>

There's a National Kerfuffle About Restaurant Stars, and Why I Don't Care

​If you hadn't heard, the LA Times, which recently hired Jonathan Gold away from our sister paper the LA Weekly, made the decision last week to drop assigning stars to restaurant reviews. "Star ratings are increasingly difficult to align with the reality of dining in Southern California," food edi ... More >>

No. 45: Lechon from Tastebuds Cuisine

​SFoodie's countdown of our favorite 50 things to eat and drink, 2012 edition ​If you have ever been to a Filipino American wedding in the Bay Area, you've probably eaten lechon from Tastebuds Cuisine. Never mind that the reception was at some other Filipino restaurant -- many bring in the por ... More >>

Chef Change-Ups Continue at Radius

After a tumultuous beginning, it seemed that Radius Restaurant & Cafe on Folsom had finally hit its stride. However, come next week the restaurant will face its fourth chef change in two years. Radius Managing Partner Jon Whitehead gave Executive Chef Chris Geremia a 30-day notice last month after ... More >>

Park Tavern Brunch Strikes It Rich

​It's almost impossible to pass Washington Square Park without taking note of Park Tavern, the nascent brasserie-style restaurant from Marlowe team Anna Weinberg and Jennifer Puccio. Raw wooden tables and metal bistro chairs line the sidewalk, occupied by diners sipping craft cocktails and nibblin ... More >>

State Bird Provisions' Stuart Brioza Talks Dim Sum

​​Right before filing this week's review of State Bird Provisions, Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski's new restaurant in the Fillmore, I spoke to Brioza, the restaurant's savory chef (Krasinski is the pastry chef). The couple, both Bay Area natives, worked in Chicago (under David Burke) and nor ... More >>

Goodbye Cafe Fanny, Criolla Kitchen to Become Parish Eleven, and William Werner Has an Address

The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco food scene. Take a load off Fanny: After 28 years, Berkeley's Cafe Fanny will close tomorrow. According to Inside Scoop, the cafe, opened by Alice Waters and her brother-in-law Jim Maser, is closing due to the econom ... More >>

Recent Openers

The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco food scene. Take a load off Fanny: After 28 years, Berkeley's Cafe Fanny will close tomorrow. According to Inside Scoop, the cafe, opened by Alice Waters and her brother-in-law Jim Maser, is closing due to the econom ... More >>

Neighbor Bakery: Greg Mindel Zeros in on Croissants

The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco food scene. Take a load off Fanny: After 28 years, Berkeley's Cafe Fanny will close tomorrow. According to Inside Scoop, the cafe, opened by Alice Waters and her brother-in-law Jim Maser, is closing due to the econom ... More >>

State Bird Provisions: Western Dim Sum Constantly Surprises

The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco food scene. Take a load off Fanny: After 28 years, Berkeley's Cafe Fanny will close tomorrow. According to Inside Scoop, the cafe, opened by Alice Waters and her brother-in-law Jim Maser, is closing due to the econom ... More >>

State Bird Provisions' Plates May Be Tiny, But They're MIghty Exciting

​Considering the shrinking of the entrée that has taken place over the past two decades, the American dim sum that Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski are serving at State Bird Provisions -- the subject of this week's full-length restaurant review in the paper -- seems inevitable. Especially in a ... More >>

The Donatella Project: All We Can Say for Sure after Watching Is That This Awful Show Exists

​Each week we take a quick, cautious look at what's going on with televised cooking. This week: The Donatella Project, a new Dirk Balthazar novel by the Hugo-award winning author of the Sigma Protocol and the Prometheus Deception, on March 10 and 11 on the Cooking Channel. What's the Donatella Pr ... More >>

Where to Eat Foie Gras This Week: Campton Place and Prospect

​Counting down the meals before July 1, when California's foie gras ban takes effect.While Wolfgang Puck is urging restaurants to get used to the forthcoming ban on foie gras, San Francisco chefs are taking this time to honor the foie: At Campton Place Restaurant, Srijith Gopinathan is serving fo ... More >>

i-Skewers: Housemade Dumplings Are Skewers' Superior

​Counting down the meals before July 1, when California's foie gras ban takes effect.While Wolfgang Puck is urging restaurants to get used to the forthcoming ban on foie gras, San Francisco chefs are taking this time to honor the foie: At Campton Place Restaurant, Srijith Gopinathan is serving fo ... More >>

Recent Openers

​Counting down the meals before July 1, when California's foie gras ban takes effect.While Wolfgang Puck is urging restaurants to get used to the forthcoming ban on foie gras, San Francisco chefs are taking this time to honor the foie: At Campton Place Restaurant, Srijith Gopinathan is serving fo ... More >>

i-Skewers Actually Specializes in Dumplings and Grilled Vegetables

​Why would you go to a restaurant named i-Skewers? How can you not check out a restaurant named i-Skewers? I asked myself that not a few times before finally stopping in this new Northern Chinese restaurant in the Sunset. I ended up writing this week's full-length restaurant review about the place ... More >>

Flour Water's Chef Previews New Project At Pub

What: Salumeria pop-up preview Where: Clooney's Pub When: Fri., March 2, 6:30-10 p.m. Cost: $10 condiment plates and other sandwiches. Cash only. The rundown: Flour Water's executive chef Thomas Mcnaughton and Matt Sigler are giving us a taste of what to expect at Salumeria, a traditional Ita ... More >>

Boxing Room Does New Orleans Brunch Due Diligence

​Traditional Sunday brunch in New Orleans is something special, from the white tablecloths and Eggs Sardou to classic cocktails and live jazz. But the Boxing Room, Hayes Valley's lively Cajun/Creole restaurant, isn't trying to imitate any of that with its recently added brunch menu. Turns out, ... More >>

Haven: Big Portions, Bold Flavors Have Mass Appeal

​Traditional Sunday brunch in New Orleans is something special, from the white tablecloths and Eggs Sardou to classic cocktails and live jazz. But the Boxing Room, Hayes Valley's lively Cajun/Creole restaurant, isn't trying to imitate any of that with its recently added brunch menu. Turns out, ... More >>

Name Check: How Does Your Restaurant Fare on Google?

​Newspapers and blogs aren't the only businesses that need to think about search engine optimization. The East Bay Express has taken it upon itself to demand that restaurants pick SEO-friendly names as well. Not long after the paper called out certain bands for being un-Googleable (have you ever t ... More >>

Weird Fish and the Corner Set to Change, and Cassava Bakery Cafe Slate to Open

The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco food scene. Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes: Weird Fish and the shuttered the Corner are undergoing transfer to new ownership, according to Inside Scoop. With this will come new monikers: Dante's Weird Fish and the Perch. Expect ... More >>

Haven: New California Cuisine Gets Super-Sized

​I've been a restaurant critic for more than a decade now, and I can't say I've ever had the chance to review the same chef twice in one year -- at two different restaurants. In fact, I probably would have avoided it if the chef hadn't been Kim Alter, whose food I enjoyed so much when she was cook ... More >>

James Beard Awards Announce Semifinalists: Bay Area's Well Represented, Obviously

​The day has come for the James Beard Foundation to announce the semifinalists for the 2012 Restaurant Awards. As SFoodie has written before, the finals can resemble the Oscars in that they're often career awards rather than a measure of how the nominees are performing at this very moment. Tha ... More >>

Q&A With Slanted Door's Chucky Dugo, part 1: From Paris-Brest to Taipei and Back

Chucky Dugo, pastry chef for Charles Phan's restaurants -- including Slanted Door, Out the Door, and the Moss Room -- grew up in a small town in the Central Valley with a big Italian family. Meals, especially at holidays, were a multi-dozen-person affair, with grandmothers bearing homemade breads an ... More >>

The Richest Spots for Fat Tuesday, No Mask Required

Planning ahead for Valentine's Day often means people forget to prep for Mardi Gras. Your pocket may be exhausted from the small-plate, three-course, $125 prix fixe Valentine's meal, but luckily the Southern tradition promises a full plate of food on Fat Tuesday (Feb. 21) for a quick buck.Boxing Roo ... More >>

Radish Brunch Makes Friends in the Neighborhood

​Radish opened up in the Mission less than a year ago, pitching itself as a "neighborhood standby" committed to serving seasonal, locally sourced ingredients with a Southern twist. The tiny kitchen may have a few kinks to work out, but their tasty eats and fun, funky personality show they're on th ... More >>

Who's Serving Foie Gras? Palio d'Asti, Le Charm, and BayWolf

​Counting down the meals before July 1, when California's foie gras ban takes effect. At Palio d'Asti, which weathered its first anti-foie protest on Valentine's Day, chef Daniel Scherotter serves an appetizer of hazelnut-encrusted seared Sonoma foie gras with balsamic glazed cippolini onions an ... More >>

Charles Phan's New Project, the Penthouse Club & Steakhouse, and Medjool Changes

The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco food scene. While physicaly not far from his Ferry Building restaurant the Slanted Door, Charles Phan's pending restaurant on Pier 3 will be world's away when it comes to cuisine and décor. SFGate reports that the f ... More >>

Shark Fin, Yadda Yadda: Obama Could Have Eaten Better Dim Sum

​President Obama, in town for a fundraiser, has made local headlines by stopping at Great Eastern for takeout dim sum. The San Francisco Chronicle has decided the stopover is a scandal. I agree, but not for the same reasons. Chronicle reporter Carla Marinucci pointed out that Obama, who signed t ... More >>

Sous Beurre Kitchen: Pop-Up's Promising Venture in Permanence

​President Obama, in town for a fundraiser, has made local headlines by stopping at Great Eastern for takeout dim sum. The San Francisco Chronicle has decided the stopover is a scandal. I agree, but not for the same reasons. Chronicle reporter Carla Marinucci pointed out that Obama, who signed t ... More >>