The Chatterbox

Nothing like starting the week (and Lunar New Year) with the horrible news (via KRON) that longtime, family-run SAI’S VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT in the Financial District was being pushed out by their landlord, SHVO, after 37 years in the location, with just 30 days of notice. Vile! You can read…

Last Wednesday, I headed over to West Oakland for a preview lunch to check out the latest addition to the Horn Hospitality Group, KOWBIRD. Founder and CEO Matt Horn’s fried chicken joint is a celebration of chicken and an homage to family gatherings, Sundays after church, and backyard meals…

Some SF old-timers and industry folks should recall the much-adored ~BODEGA BISTRO~, a fantastic Vietnamese spot on Larkin Street that closed some years ago, and was known for the kind and talented chef Jimmie Kwok (RIP). But thankfully, some extended family members have been running a Bodega Bistro pop-up out…

Pastrami lovers and my fellow sandwich fanatics: get excited. Coming in early February will be the latest concept to rotate through LITTLE RED WINDOW, the takeout window attached to the Spanish Red Window restaurant in North Beach on the Stockton Street side. Chef Adam Rosenblum has been wanting to do…

There are a bunch of openings happening, so I wanted to make sure these are on your radar—you can go back to my earlier stories (linked) for details. Here’s a quickfire round: I broke the news about the opening of the KEY KLUB back before the holidays, and…

Some really unfortunate closures to report on, starting with FAMILY CAFE in North Beach, who announced they are closing January 29th. Customers have been coming out of the woodwork to say goodbye to this beloved Japanese daytime restaurant, so co-owners Jessica and Tada Furui (along with Ray Lee of Akiko’…

The news of some restaurant closures can feel like such a big thud, and the closure of UNIVERSAL CAFE certainly did that for a number of longtime customers and locals. This cherished and off-the-beaten-path restaurant just served their last brunch on Sunday—my friend Julia let me know that they…

Call it a Christmas miracle: chef Seth Stowaway just opened his first restaurant this past weekend, OSITO, as well as sister cocktail bar Liliana. This 100-percent, live-fire restaurant offers one extensive tasting menu nightly ($295), paying homage to his Texas upbringing (and many years living in the Mission), while highlighting…

I ran out of time at my last deadline to include this news, but the Liholiho crew has a big update: they’re ending the Liholiho Yacht Club pop-up on 18th Street in the Mission on December 31st and opening GOOD GOOD CULTURE CLUB in the space on January 11th,…

It looks like team behind the “California breakfast” pop-up POPPY (maybe you caught them at Fig & Thistle this past spring and summer?) just got the keys to an amazing location! They’re moving into the classic Evergreen Garden location in the Mission—the longtime, neighborhood standby Vietnamese restaurant closed…