I’ve been tracking a rumor for the past couple weeks about the upcoming and unfortunate closure of SoMa’s iconic Town Hall restaurant, and the news was just officially released that it’s closing in its current incarnation at the end of October. I spoke with co-owner and chef Mitchell Rosenthal, who said the last service is Tuesday October 31st, just shy of its 20-year anniversary.
But the Town Hall name will live on. In an interesting twist, Tyler Florence is partnering with real estate investment firm DivcoWest—who owns the Town Hall building, as well as the adjacent 199 Fremont office building—and is taking over all restaurant operations and will reintroduce a new concept under the existing Town Hall name in early 2024. I’m happy to see the Town Hall name and legacy live on in that beautiful space; according to the release: “Florence’s approach for the evolution of Town Hall included a refreshed menu, extended hours, and valet parking.”
Mitch shares: “Town Hall has always been a joy for us, a place everyone could call home. While we’re sorry to see this chapter close, we leave with great pride in what we have accomplished. With its subtle New Orleans charm, awesome food, and warm and wonderful staff, Town Hall has been cherished as a San Francisco star and we will treasure the many wonderful memories we have for years to come.” Chef-owners Mitchell and Steven Rosenthal and co-owner Bjorn Kock are grateful to their longtime staff for their hard work and dedication, especially through these rough recent years. This is a tough closure: so many folks have worked at Town Hall (and their many other restaurants) over the years. It’s a big family.
I’ll be sharing my personal thoughts, memories, and more details in my column on Tuesday. For now, I wanted you to have time to book a reservation so you can get some friends together for a Sazerac and their buttermilk biscuits and country ham, stellar fried chicken, and butterscotch and chocolate pot de crème, of course. I know many will be raising a glass (or two, or three) over the next seven days of service. 342 Howard St. at Fremont.
