By Dana Eastland. 3RD COUSIN, the brick-and-mortar restaurant from chef Greg Lutes in the former Kinfolk space in Bernal, is now open. According to Facebook, they opened on November 19th, with a menu informed by Lutes’ pop-up, Kinfolk. The dishes are hearty California style, and a chef’s tasting menu is available for $89 per person as well. 919 Cortland Ave. at Gates, 415-814-3709.
Just in time for Thanksgiving shopping, GUS’S COMMUNITY MARKET is now open in the Mission. The new grocery store comes from the family behind Noriega Produce and Haight Street Market, and we wrote all about it last month. To recap, the full-service grocery store offers a large produce section, butcher and fish counter, cheese section, bulk items, and more—plus a coffee shop and café with Wi-Fi. 2111 Harrison St. at 17th St., 415-431-9300.
The former Horner’s Corner in Noe Valley is now HAMLET, and Eater reports that it’s open. The owner is John Dampeer of nearby Caskhouse, and he’s brought on chef Pei Mew and bar manager Rafael Jimenez Rivera (both from Urchin). Food is all-American with a seasonal, California bent, so think classics like a burger, roasted half chicken, and braised octopus—served not with the ubiquitous white beans but lentils, pork belly, and chard. Peek at the menu here. As for drinks, the full liquor license allows for cocktails that are also focused on classics, like their take on the Aviation (gin, Dolin Génépy des Alpes, crème de violette, and lemon) and the gimlet (Bols genever, lime, and lavender). 1199 Church St. at 24th St., 415-829-3286.
Downtown workers have a new place for lunch by the pound. According to Yelpers, the newest addition to the lunchtime game is LIGHTENING FOODS, which used to have two locations in the Financial District that are now closed. The newest location is on Pine Street, and initial reports cite good salads, fish, meat, and Mediterranean-style dishes. Oh, and dog trays for the buffet. Apparently, that’s a thing. 201 Pine St. at Battery.
Yelpers also caught the opening of MOM’S BUN MI in the Tenderloin. The latest Vietnamese sandwich shop offers a classic lineup including a combo, as well as pork belly, tofu, and shaking beef, all for $5 or less (always of importance to purists, it seems). There are also spring rolls, and beef stew or curry dip on weekends. 520 Leavenworth St. at O’Farrell, 415-829-8138.
Earlier this month, we reported that Emin Tekin, a member of the family behind Kobani Mediterranean Grill in the Marina and the now-closed Hayes & Kebab, seemed to have taken over the former Gajalee space on Valencia Street in the Mission. Well, turns out they have opened a Mission offshoot in the location, called VALENCIA & KEBAB, not Kobani Grill, like we’d anticipated. Yelp reports are positive, and call out fresh ingredients, good wraps, and abundant platters. 525 Valencia St. at 16th St.
Those fabulous Chowhounds caught the news of a new Szechuan restaurant in the Outer Mission called MAPLE RESTAURANT. Though the restaurant offers lots of takeout staples like lemon chicken and egg foo young, the “house specialty” section of the menu apparently offers Szechuan specialties from the chef, who hails from Tianjin. And don’t be fooled by the sign, which is from the space’s former occupant, Daily Restaurant. 5820 Mission St. at Lawrence, 415-333-7869.
We’ve been tracking the progress of SUKA since their liquor license hit the wires, and according to Yelp they are now open in the former Sushi Bistro location. The food is American and Indonesian, with breakfast on weekends, and reviews mention gado gado salad and chicken satay, as well as a burger and bacon, eggs, and pancakes for breakfast. 445 Balboa St. at 6th Ave., 415-702-6860.
The Richmond Blog reports that a new Asian small plates restaurant in the Outer Richmond called HAWKER EATS opened earlier this month. They have a small, handwritten menu focused on street food and small plates, including yakitori, ramen, and a rack of lamb appetizer. 1650 Balboa St. at 18th Ave., 415-221-6288.
The team behind the DNA Lounge has opened a second location of DNA PIZZA, as well as another dance club, called CODEWORD on Folsom. It’s a bit smaller than the DNA Lounge, so it will function as an incubator for parties that may then graduate to the larger space. And the second pizza location will also be open 24 hours a day. 917 Folsom St. at 5th St., 415-626-1409.
The burger at Hamlet. Photo from Facebook.
