Looking for somewhere new to eat? Here’s your monthly cheat sheet of five brand-new places that recently opened around town.
Chef Chris Cosentino has just opened his latest project (with Oliver Wharton), and instead of it being in Noe Valley, you’ll find this cheekily named restaurant in the former spot Zuppa in SoMa. You can start your dinner with a cocktail from the bar (there are Negronis on tap, and cocktails that pay tribute to SF), and you’ll see quite the selection of raw oysters (or you can get them baked, with ’nduja and breadcrumbs). The menu is full of San Francisco classic dishes that got a 2014 upgrade, like celery Victor and Green Goddess dressing, plus plenty of meaty dishes you can share. There’s an open kitchen with a wood-fired oven, an upstairs mezzanine, and two bars—it feels spacious and industrial-cool, with some eclectic touches (we’re looking at you, buffalo head). Dinner is served Monday–Saturday 5pm–12am. 564 4th Street (at Brannan).
If you’re game (ha!) for something new, you’ll want to head to this new restaurant in the former and famed Masa’s space downtown (which now has an expanded bar). Sachin Chopra of Michelin-starred All Spice in San Mateo and his wife, Shoshana Wolff, brought on executive chef Zach Freitas (an All Spice alum). The game-focused menu includes cavatelli with wild boar sugo, basted duck with red beans, yogurt, and blackened alliums, an elk burger (only 21 are available per day), and there’s also a chef’s five-course tasting menu. Open for dinner Tuesday–Saturday 5–10pm. 648 Bush (at Powell).
Anyone working or living near this casual new spot in SoMa is pretty lucky, because the ladies behind it have some culinary chops: Leigh Loper (Quince) and Natalia Bushyager (Camino and Chez Panisse). They post their menus every day (this week’s is inspired by French farmhouse cooking, while another week featured Ottolenghi recipes), and you can drop by for lunch or get a packaged dinner to go. Once you see the cozy-vintage aesthetic that is pleasant and welcoming, you may choose to stay. Plus, there’s beer and wine, pour-over coffee, and pastries too. Hours are Monday–Friday 7am–7pm, with lunch available beginning at 11am. 493 3rd Street (at Bryant).
This izakaya from Sylvan Mishima Brackett of Peko Peko (and previously at Chez Panisse) has been garnering quite a bit of buzz in the restaurant community. The 60-seat restaurant opened in the former Chez Spencer which was damaged in a fire, but the courtyard remains! There’s a bar inside, with booths and a private dining room, featuring custom woodwork from Mishima Brackett’s father, who runs a Japanese architecture and design company. The menu ranges from yakitori to uni donburi to lots of vegetables as well, and everything is (naturally) made with gorgeous ingredients. Open for dinner Monday–Thurday: 5:30–11pm and Friday–Saturday 5:30pm–12am. 82 14th Street (at Folsom).
Maybe you want to give your precious body a break from all the evils of the holidays, or maybe you’re already a healthy eater (you're so good), but either way, this new place in the Marina is set up to feed you well. Executive chef Ariel Nadelberg (Al Di La in NYC) has developed a creative menu with owner Mo Clancy that is vegan, gluten-free, cane sugar–free, and GMO-free, but full of flavor. There’s breakfast (gluten-free pastries), lunch includes a “BLT” made with smoky eggplant instead of bacon, and maybe you’d like the beet burger for an early dinner. It’s a small spot, with only 14 seats inside, but there’s takeout! Hours are Monday–Saturday: 7am–8pm, and Sunday: 10am–8pm. 2240 Chestnut (at Avila).
Marcia Gagliardi is the founder of the weekly tablehopper e-column; subscribe and get more food news and gossip at tablehopper.com. Follow her on Twitter: @tablehopper.
