14 new and notable restaurants are on the horizon.
There's no slowing down the San Francisco restaurant scene, as we've witnessed a slew of new options open in the last month alone. Here are 14 new restaurants planning to debut before the end of the year. It seems that this fall will largely be about casual options, including Mexico City star Gabriela Cámara's first U.S. location (and taco window), a fast casual spot from Saison's Joshua Skenes, a New Orleans-style bar and restaurant from Manresa's David Kinch and multiple ramen spots.
Black Bark
Location: 1325 Fillmore St., Fillmore
Major Players: David Lawrence, Monetta White
The Situation: The city's growing barbecue scene will keep on growing with husband-and-wife team David Lawrence and Monetta White (1300 on Fillmore) opening Black Bark across the street from their flagship restaurant. The plan is "urban barbecue" (with a nice, dark crust, taking a cue from the place's name) with plenty of homemade sauces, sides, local beers and sustainable meats. According to the signage, Black Bark is "bringing barbecue back to the Fillmore," a reference to a time when barbecue ruled the street, many decades ago.
Projected Opening: Late September 2015
[Photo Credit: David Lawrence/Facebook]
The Bywater
Location: 532 North Santa Cruz Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95030
Major Players: David Kinch, Andrew Burnham
The Situation: New Orleans is close to chef David Kinch's heart, given that the crescent city is where he got his start in the kitchen, under chef Paul Prudhomme. Now, after the ongoing success of Michelin-starred Manresa, Kinch is taking a more casual direction with a Big Easy-style bar and restaurant. Expect laid-back New Orleans fare and accompanying cocktails.
Projected Opening: Late Fall 2015
[Photo: Hillary Dixler]
Cadence
Location: 1446 Market St., Mid-Market
Major Players: Joey Elenterio, Kate Bolton, Jay Bordeleau
The Situation: Chef Joey Elenterio (Wayfare Tavern, Chez TJ) will be cooking "progressive American" food at the upcoming Cadence from owner Jay Bordeleau and cocktail guru Kate Bolton, the team behind Maven. As a sit-down spot that accepts reservations, Cadence will be "a little more ambitious" than Maven, and a recent preview dinner featured dishes like meyer lemon rabbit risotto with pickled blackberries. Bolton will contribute a bar program driven by seasonal produce, plus the space is connected to the team's upcoming jazz bar next door, Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio.
Projected Opening: Late October 2015
Cala
Location: 149 Fell St., Hayes Valley
Major Players: Gabriela Cámara
The Situation: Mexico City's Gabriela Cámara is opening her first stateside project in San Francisco, featuring a seafood-focused menu in Hayes Valley. The accomplished chef, known for her D.F. restaurants Contramar and Metrotoro, also plans a back alley taco spot, called Tacos Cala. The tortillas will be formed from corn that is nixtamilized in-house and featuring tacos de guisado, which are stewed meats like tinga or mole.
Projected Opening: Mid September 2015
[Photo: Yvonne Venegas]
Fat Noodle
Location: 3213 Scott St., Marina
Major Players: Joshua Skenes, Adam Fleischman
The Situation: It's Saison chef-owner Joshua Skenes' turn to explore the fast-casual arena, with an upcoming collaboration with Umami Burger's Adam Fleischman. After many delays and extended timelines, Fat Noodle plans to debut their $10-and-under bowls of noodles by the end of the year.
Projected Opening: Late Fall 2015
[Image courtesy of Fat Noodle]
Itani Ramen
Location: 1736 Telegraph Ave., Oakland
Major Players: Kyle Itani
The Situation: Kyle Itani, chef-owner of Oakland's Hopscotch, is bringing his own interpretation of ramen to Uptown Oakland, via a 49-seat noodle bar slated for late fall. Drawing from his own travels in Japan, Itani is planning five different ramen options, ranging from a lighter, Tokyo-style broth to a rotating, seasonal option that will focus on the different styles of individual prefectures. Beer, sake and shochu will be available for pairing.
Projected Opening: Late November 2015
Miminashi
Location: 821 Coombs St., Napa
Major Players: Curtis Di Fede, Tyler Rodde
The Situation: Going in a completely different direction from his former rustic Italian fare at Oenotri, chef Curtis Di Fede's first solo project will be a traditional Japanese izakaya (with a Nor Cal spin, of course) in downtown Napa. Miminashi's menu will focus on ramen, yakitori (skewered, grilled food that is often chicken) and other dishes with a California approach to seasonality, alongside Japanese whiskeys, sakes and shochu, and Napa Valley wines. Beyond past experience at a noodle bar and working under chef Hiro Sone at St. Helena's Terra, Di Fede is touring Japan to gain real-life yakitori experience and bring it on back.
Projected Opening: November 2015
Nightbird
Location: 330 Gough St., Hayes Valley
Major Players: Kim Alter
The Situation: Chef Kim Alter (Plum) is striking out on her own with the impending Nightbird, her Hayes Valley restaurant currently in the works. According to Alter, Nightbird will be a 40-seat restaurant focused on tasting menus that will change frequently, based on "what is available at the market and classic technique." The 40-seat space will have a little sister in the form of a seven-seat bar called Linden Room, that will "focus on craft cocktails."
Projected Opening: December 2015
[Photo: Patricia Chang]
ninebark
Location: Napa
Major Players: Matthew Lightner
The Situation: New York City heavyweight, chef Matthew Lightner of critically-acclaimed Atera, is headed West to lead the rehaul of downtown Napa's The Thomas and Fagiani's Bar and taking on the role of West coast culinary operations lead for hospitality group AvroKO. The menu will include lots of smoking, grilling and marinating and an emphasis on seafood dishes like savory porridge with smoked fish, heirloom rice and sourdough; AvroKO's cocktail whiz Eben Freeman will head up the bar program.
Projected Opening: Mid-to-late September 2015
[Photo: Nick Solares]
Oro
Location: 8 Mint Plaza, Mid-Market
Major Players: Jason Fox, Timothy Felkner, Travis Day
The Situation: Chef Jason Fox (Commonwealth) is adding another restaurant to his portfolio. Located in Mint Plaza, Oro will be a casual restaurant serving "eclectic California fare," via shared plates and larger format dishes. There'll also be a prix fixe "blind tasting menu," which will essentially be a "chef's choice" affair offering family-style dishes not found on the menu. Chef de cuisine Travis Day (Central Kitchen) will lend his charcuterie skills and whole butchery skills to the menu as well.
Projected Opening: September 2015
[Photo: Colliers]
The Perennial
Location: 59 9th St., Mid-Market
Major Players: Anthony Myint, Karen Leibowitz, Chris Kiyuna
The Situation: The project from Anthony Myint and Karen Leibowitz (Mission Chinese Food, Mission Street Food) and former MCF chef de cuisine Chris Kiyuna will be more than a gorgeously designed restaurant with expertly prepared dishes (though it will be that, too). The project will also be a super sustainable restaurant and bar that "champions progressive farming." That means cultivating an aquaponic greenhouse, a "living pantry," partnering closely with farmers on sustainability, and exploring alternative crops like Kenza, a perennial wheat grass (Tartine Bakery's Chad Robertson is working on a special bread using the grain).
Projected Opening: Late September 2015
[Photo: Julie Ann Fineman]
Spaghetti Bros
Location: 3213 Scott St., Marina
Major Players: Erik Lowe, Aaron Toensing
The Situation: Erik Lowe and Aaron Toensing (Bix, Fog City) have joined forces to bring regional American favorites — we're talking green chili mac & cheese and St. Louis-style toasted ravioli — to the transplant-heavy San Francisco scene, but with twists like housemade pasta and gelato. Spaghetti Bros (a fitting name for the Marina) is going for a casual vibe in the 4,000-square-feet, 120-seat space, which includes a bar dedicated to the Negroni and serving "approachable" wine.
Projected Opening: Early October 2015
[Photo: Google maps]
Trestle Van Ness Project
Location: 100 Van Ness St., Hayes Valley
Major Players: Ryan Cole, Jason Halverson, Tai Ricci, Jason Kirmse, Cyrick Ha
The Situation: Details are still under wraps for the food concept, but partner Ryan Cole did say that this new outpost from the Hi Neighbor Restaurant Group would cater to "on-the-go" customers in the busy Mid-Market section of San Francisco. There was also talk of utilizing the roof deck atop one of the last skyscrapers to squeeze through zoning changes in Hayes Valley.
Projected Opening: Late Fall 2015
[Photo: 100 Van Ness]
UNNAMED Jonathan Waxman Spot
Location: 900 N. Point Street, Fisherman's Wharf
Major Players: Jonathan Waxman
The Situation: The new project from the Bay Area native will focus on the Italian-influenced style that has made him one of the pioneers of "new California cuisine." The menu will be "earthy, rustic and authentic," with plenty of fresh pasta, grilled and roasted meats and pizzas. Located in the Mustard Building at Ghirardelli Square, it will certainly be a draw for tourists, and likely locals as well.
Projected Opening: November/December 2015
[Photo: TripAdvisor]
Other Notable Fall Openings: Hashiri, Single Thread Farms, True Cup, The Treasury, Grand Fare Market, Mensho Tokyo, Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio
Early 2016 Openings: Bellota, Chow Oakland, Mr. Jiu's, Le Marais in Ghirardelli Square, Saison/Jiro Lin Sushi Spot, Locol