Circolo Changes Its Format to a Cocktail Lounge (with Bites)

Thanks to a couple tipsters, I learned Ben de Vries of luella has taken on a consulting role at CIRCOLO in the Mission (this is only a side job—he continues to own and lead the helm at luella). He is teaming up with owner Jon Mayeda and H. Joseph Ehrmann of Elixir to transform Circolo into more of a cocktail lounge, featuring Ben’s cuisine and H’s drinks. Menus are still in development, but they’ll revolve around small, tasty bites to pair with the cocktails. The team has hired chef de cuisine Livio Velardo (previously at Canteen) to help bring the food and kitchen together. De Vries also mentions plans to launch Eat Me @ Circolo, a lunch program similar to what he did in North Beach, Eat Me @ The Vin Club. 500 Florida St. at Mariposa, 415-553-8521.