Diners enjoy dinner at South in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, May 23rd, 2013. Photo: John Storey/The Chronicle
After a brief hiatus, South at the SFJazz Center reopens today — as a Mexican restaurant.
Charles Phan of Slanted Door fame is still involved, and this is first foray into Mexican cuisine. He opened South in March 2013. That spring, he opened two New Orleans-inspired restaurants, almost simultaneously, but for some reason, they both went opposite directions. Hard Water on Pier 3 garnered national press and much buzz, while South fizzled, especially on a critical level.
Now, Phan is hoping for a rejuvenation in the chic space’s second act. He’s taking another southern route here with a theme of Mexican small plates; see the opening food menu below.
As should be expected from the Phan restaurant group’s history, cocktails are also a focus — and it’s here that South 2.0 has a neighborhood market cornered. Tequila and mezcal play starring roles on the new cocktail menu (click here to view), and while there are a few other Mexican spots in Hayes Valley and a wonderful tiki bar in Smuggler’s Cove, there is no dedicated Mexican cocktail spot.
The menus:
Dinner
Papas fritta with guajillo y arbol chiles 6
Spicy peanuts with chipotle and lime 5
Flor de calabas relleno with sheep ricotta and salsa de aguacate 11
Molotes with black beans, queso cotija, salsa de semillas y veinas 6
Tostada with tinga de conejo, cabbage and Canario beans 11
Clam ceviche with sour orange, habanero, yellow beets, onion and oregano 13
Albondigas de Abuela Nieves, guajillo chiles, and zucchini 9.5
Pickled pasilla relleno with sardines and potatoes 8.5
Beef tongue with potato, canela, tomato, and ancho chiles 9
Shrimp, chipotle, and citrus sopes with toasted garlic and crema 13
Fideus seco, with moronga, mint, and fava beans 12
Watermelon salad with cucumbers, pequin chiles, and pickled onions 9
Butter lettuce salad with avocado, lime, spicy pine nuts and radishes 9.5
Rabbit en mole amarillo y chocoyotes with chard, and carrots 19
Puerco en salsa verde with turnips, Piquinto beans and purslane 17
Rock cod escabeche with wild mushrooms and green beans 17.5
Dessert – 8
Pastel de tres leches and arroz mousse with summer berries
Nieves de dios with alegria
Crepas de harina maiz with goat cheese, cajeta and candied pecans
Mexican chocolate budin with almond-cocoa nib brittle
South at SFJazz: 201 Franklin St. (at Fell Street), San Francisco (415) 539-3905. southatsfjazz.com Dinner 5:30-10 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations accepted.