Now open in the Opera Plaza Center is the previously mentioned 2G JAPANESE BRASSERIE from Jason Tsuji. The executive chef is Hidetoshi Nambu, trained in Japan (he came to America with owner Jason’s grandfather to open a restaurant in San Francisco over 30 years ago), working with executive sushi chef Sasaki Masaki (best name ever).
A look at the dinner menu reveals starters like chawan mushi and hamachi kama (yellowtail collar); along with a variety of sushi and nigiri (plenty of unsustainable fish choices in there, from ankimo to salmon to unagi); and an array of tempura ($2-$5) and yakitori, including some more outré picks, like horumon (beef intestine), sweetbread (“top of beef neck”), and tontoro (pork neck), along with more known skewers like soriresu (chicken oyster), negima (chicken thigh and scallion), and kawa (chicken skin), all $3-$8. As for the brasserie-influenced dishes, there are some picks like lamb chops, short ribs, and other fusion-y dishes ($18-$33) that definitely made me raise an eyebrow. The breakfast menu is also chock full of “I’ve never seen that before” dishes, like eggs Benedict and uni (although I would try matcha French toast). Parking validation is available for up to one hour, anytime after 4pm. Open Mon-Thu 7am-10:30pm, Fri-Sat 7am-12am, Sun 7am-10:30pm. 601 Van Ness Ave. at Golden Gate (Suite F in Opera Plaza), 415-292-9997.
