I have been keeping in touch with Edward Sargent and Rodger Howell, the new owners of the former Charanga in the Mission, and they are finally ready to release some details about their plans for the space. The new project is going to be called CARSONS (Rodger’s dog is named Carson), and they are going to be serving British pub-style food with California flair. Matthew Nudelman from Greenburger’s in the Lower Haight is going to be designing the menu. Since they have a full liquor license, they will be also serving cocktails with fresh juices and fruit, plus some dessert cocktails as well.
The gents collaborated on the revamped Murio’s Trophy Room in the Upper Haight and have brought on the same design team, Haleh Cunningham and Bernadette Holmes of Thornbird Styling, to do the interior. Cunningham tells me that since it’s a Spanish Colonial building and the owners are two English guys, the look will reflect nods to both. The front foyer is going to be outfitted into a cozy nook, and once you pass through the old Victorian doorway, the restaurant will have a huge bar, with lots of seats, plus some bench seating and smaller tables for diners (there will be room for 50-60 guests total). The look will be eclectic, with custom and modern lighting, and since Sargent has quite the collection of midcentury chairs, the seating will be groovy, with clean lines. The brick wall and original wood floors will remain. Initial hours will probably be 2pm-2am. I’ll keep you posted on more details as the opening gets closer. 2351 Mission St. at 19th St.
The exterior of the former Charanga. Photo: Dana Massey-Todd. © tablehopper.com.
