Big news from SF’s charcuterie HQ, FATTED CALF—they’re going to be closing their Hayes Valley shop at 320 Fell Street at the end of October “for a variety of logistical reasons,” according to a recent email. (Founders Taylor Boetticher and Toponia Miller opened the shop in 2010!)
But yay, there’s good news: they will be reopening in the Ferry Building Marketplace (in “Lucky No. 13”), which feels like a sort of homecoming for them, since they had a place at the Saturday Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in their early days. They aim to have their doors open in early November: “We plan to start small and grow into this new space over time but we will be ready with all of your favorites in time for the holidays.” (That’s great, because I’ll need my New Year’s cotechino!) I know they’ll be missed by their Hayes Valley neighbors, but I’m happy this special business will continue on in SF.
According to a post on Instagram from @sfchinatown.today, longstanding Financial District dim sum restaurant CITY VIEW RESTAURANT is officially moving from their Commercial Street address to a new location: the sign on their window says they’re moving in late 2022 just a block up to 33 Walter U. Lum Place, bordering the west side of Portsmouth Square, between Clay and Washington. It will be on the ground floor of the same building that Empress by Boon is in, but will use the Walter U. Lum entrance (instead of Grant). I’ll update you with more details about the new location soon.
Big news at ~ZUNI CAFÉ~: executive chef Nate Norris has departed the restaurant after 14 years of truly leading the helm and culture there. You can read more in this farewell post from Zuni and this piece from SFGATE, which announced the new executive chef is Anne Alvero, and Phillipe Flores Francisco is the new chef de cuisine. Norris is moving to Maine with fiancée and former pastry chef Annie Callan, who departed Zuni earlier this year (she was there since 2009). Best wishes to them—their powerful SF voices and culinary contributions as keepers of Judy Rodgers’ flame will be greatly missed.
Also in the Financial District: THE BARREL ROOM is reopening for dinner on Tuesday October 18th. Co-founder and wine director Sarah Trubnick (CSW, CSWS, DipWSET) shuttered the wine bar and restaurant during the worst of the pandemic, but now it’s back with executive chef and owner-operator Manuel Hewitt. They’re ready to host your after-work get-togethers and holiday gatherings (there’s a 60-seat dining room, 25-seat wine room, and 16-seat cellar and bank vault/speakeasy bar).
Dinner is Tue-Fri 5pm-10pm, with a wine list and food menu that will rotate each quarter and will focus on a different region (there are over 1,000 bottles on the list, with 50 served by the glass). There’s also a full bar. The debut menus will highlight the best of the U.S. wine regions, highlighting familiar as well as more-unusual grape varieties. There are blind flights, too. Look for wine education, special wine club-style webinars and tastings (both in-person or at-home), seminars, and more coming in 2023. There will be an open-to-all launch party on Friday October 21st, when every table will be offered a complimentary glass of bubbles. 415 Sansome St. at Commercial.
After being forced to close due to damage from a water leak in their building, because the pandemic just wasn’t horrible enough, ugh, MAISON DANEL is back open for lunch, brunch, and afternoon tea. Their current hours are Mon and Thu 8am-3pm, and Fri-Sun 8am-4pm. 1030 Polk St. at Post.
The newly open HAZIE’S in Hayes Valley (with Bay Area chef and TV personality Joey Altman at the helm) just launched brunch, with an eclectic menu of dishes (it will expand in coming weeks) like latkes, a breakfast fundido, and a beef brisket sandwich (inspired by a Chicago beef), with Sicilian pepperoncini “salsa,” melty provolone cheese, and grain mustard aioli (perhaps watching The Bear made you crave one?). There’s also a lineup of brunch cocktails, including a Boujee Bellini (Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne, guava, mango, peach purée) and a Wake and Bake (bourbon, Mr. Black Coffee Liquor). It’s great to see that corner busy again. Sat-Sun 10am-3pm. 501 Hayes St. at Octavia.
The Fatted Calf shop in Hayes Valley. Photo courtesy of Fatted Calf.
