Foodie Agenda: Cala Opens in Hayes Valley, Leo's Luxury Oyster Bar + Build Your Own Pasta
23 September 2015
Your guide to the tastiest foodie happenings going down this week. Bon Appetit!
High Mex in Hayes Valley
Mexico City's celeb chef, Gabriela Camara, opens her first U.S. restaurant this week. Like her other eateries, Hayes Valley's Cala has a seafood focus, with bright, fresh dishes including ling cod salpicón with tomatillo and cilantro; halibut ceviche a la Mexicana; and trout tostadas with chipotle, avocado, and fried leeks. Cala opens for previews this week. Look for its official grand opening next month. // Cala, 149 Fell St (Hayes Valley)
Pasta on Your Burger?
Earlier this month, chef Alexander Alioto transformed the Mission's one-year-old Plin into the more casual, neighborhood-friendly Nostra Spaghetteria, and the vibe is definitely more fun. Colorful murals cover the walls, and a build-your-own pasta menu lets you construct the dinner of your dreams. Also of note, the cheeseburger comes topped with ravioli. // Nostra Spaghetteria, 280 Valencia St (Mission) nostrasf.com
All Hail The Luxury Oyster Bar
Where would Don Draper go for oysters? The Big Night Restaurant Group (Marlowe, Park Tavern, The Cavalier), led by power couple Anna Weinberg and James Nicholas, has announced the opening of yet another restaurant by the end of this year. Named for their adorable son, Leo's Luxury Oyster Bar will take over the former Wexler's space in FiDi, with a chic Midcentury Modern look dreamed up by Ken Fulk and Jon de La Cruz. The first in Big Night's restaurant empire to focus on the bar, Leo's will serve an array of craft cocktails alongside seafood-friendly Champagne and wines, with an emphasis on rosé (which Weinberg calls "summer water"). Expect to see your 7x7 editors at the raw bar daily, chowing oysters (both grilled and raw), caviar, chowders, salads, crudos, and, of course, a lobster roll. We can't wait. // Leo's Luxury Oyster Bar, 568 Sacramento St (FiDi)