Some quick updates for you: Central Kitchen is now CENTRAL KITCHEN WINE BAR, with a more-casual experience and menu from co-chefs Thomas McNaughton and Ryan Pollnow, offering handmade pasta from the Flour+Water Pasta Shop team (previously Salumeria), like sweet potato and ricotta tortelloni with sage brown butter, along with dishes such as arancini, chicken liver mousse, and Aatxe mussels escabeche (menu here—you can enjoy a few plates or an entire meal). Wine director Samuel Bogue will continue rocking a list of natural and low-intervention wines. Enjoy the heated outdoor courtyard (reservations accepted), as well as sidewalk seating along Florida and 20th Streets; there will also be a number of seats each night for walk-in guests. Takeout and delivery available. Open Wed-Sun 12pm-6pm. 3000 20th St. at Florida.
Feeling like an OG SF lunch? How about THE OG SF lunch?! That’s right, SWAN OYSTER DEPOT built a parklet out front, WHUT. (And they now have an Instagram account, but that’s another surprise.) The Sanciminos would love to see you. Open Mon-Sat 8am-2:30pm. 1517 Polk St. at California.
BELLOTA from The Absinthe Group just reopened for takeout and delivery, offering their tapas, bocadillos, a Serrano or Bellota pintxo Box, and paella kits with step-by-step instructions (plus a paella pan). Bottled cocktails, sangria, and porrón kits include a bottle of Txakoli and your own porrón ($42) so you can practice at home. Available Tue-Sat from 12pm-8pm. 888 Brannan St., #110, at 8th St.
SAISON is now serving dinner on their new outdoor patio, and their October books have reservations available. Chef de cuisine Richard Lee has taken the helm since the departure of chef Laurent Gras. 178 Townsend St. at 3rd St.
AUGUST 1 FIVE just opened a new parklet, where you can enjoy their updated dine-in menu of upscale Indian dishes and cocktails (but was so sorry to see vandals quickly stripped its lighting and music setup, which August 1 Five already had to replace, ugh SF, why so hard?). They have also opened indoor dining, for those of you who are making that choice. Open Wed-Mon 5pm-9pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-10pm. 524 Van Ness Ave. at Golden Gate.
Over at MERCHANT ROOTS, chef-owner Ryan Shelton has set up a charming parklet where you can enjoy their nine-course Elements menu, their first time serving meals since March (although they have been making some awesome cultured butter cookies—and will continue to do so). Tickets here, available Wed-Sat. 1365 Fillmore St. at Eddy.
And over at the SAN FRANCISCO PROPER, the Proper Patio will become a permanent restaurant on Market Street with an all-new, Mediterranean menu from chef Jason Fox. He has been reunited with his former team who all worked together at Commonwealth for over a decade: sous chef Yainiel Negron and senior sous chef Collins Anderson. The California-inspired bistro is open for casual dinners, offering a housemade charcuterie plate (and housemade burrata!), dishes like pork Milanese, and cocktails from Bon Vivants Hospitality (menu here). Thu-Sat 5pm-11pm. 1100 Market St. at McAllister.
Central Kitchen courtyard photo by Christopher Michel (photo via Central Kitchen Facebook).
