The biggest food-news items this week are the reopening, at long last, of Outerlands (albeit for lunch only right now), and the transformation of Oakland's Plum into something a bit more casual, and more Japanese, called Ume.
Outerlands (4001 Judah Street) has been closed for renovations since the new year – a couple months longer than planned – as they expanded into the space next door. We learned in March that owners Dave Muller and Lana Porcello decided to part ways with chef Brett Cooper, who actually figures into the story below regarding Ume. Now Outerlands has reopened, with a new bar and 20 new seats. They're gearing up slowly with their new chef (Greg Kuzia-Carmel) and staff, serving only weekday lunch to start from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. As Eater reports, they'll be adding breakfast and brunch (both Saturday and Sunday) in the coming weeks, and ultimately dinner, as well as the long-promised reservation system. But for now, lunch is walk-in only. See the menu here. [Eater]
As for Daniel Patterson's Plum, he's decided to close his first Oakland restaurant after realizing the casual fine dining concept just wasn't working for the neighborhood – where dinner guest are often on their way to shows at the Fox. Despite telling Inside Scoop that chef Kim Alter is "cooking the best food we’ve had since we’ve opened," he feels like the customers haven't materialized at the three-and-a-half-year-old restaurant while Plum Bar next door continues to be popular. So, as of Tuesday, the restaurant will do a quick switchover to become Ume (which means "plum" in Japanese). It's going to be a small-plate driven Japanese spot with California influences, and former Coi sous chef Brett Cooper – who made a name for himself at Outerlands – will be its opening chef, if only for a few weeks. Then, Patterson says, the plan is to help Brett open his own restuarant under the Daniel Patterson Group umbrella, location TBA. Kim Alter, too, will allegedly be getting to open her own spot in San Francisco, but in the meantime will be helping out old friend Charlie Parker at Haven, where she had been the chef until last fall. [Inside Scoop]
In other news, Greenburger's in the Lower Haight is closing its doors by the end of the month. In its place will be something likely to be sushi-driven from Sun Hee Lee, the owner of Nara Sushi on Polk Street. [Hoodline]
In the Castro, the team behind Bisou is opening a new Spanish spot around the corner at 4058 18th Street (downstairs from the Castro Country Club). It's a cozy, 54-seat space, and the menu will lean toward "new Spanish tapas" like potato croquettes with Worcestershire bearnaise, and duck-fat roasted new potatoes served bravas-style, as Eater reports. The name, appropriately enough, is Beso ("bisou" and "beso" both mean "kiss," in French and Spanish, respectively). [Eater]
And the shuttered Tortilla Heights (1750 Divisadero) is becoming something called The San Francisco Athletic Club, from the guys behind The Corner Store. The concept is a great big, rollicking sports bar, with 28 big-screen televisions, some pull-out bleachers for game days, and buckets of beer – that would be a case of beer you can order all at once, served in a big porcelain tub. [Inside Scoop]
