The Chatterbox

As soon as you walk into DEAR INGA, you’re greeted with the light smell of smoky goodness, giving you a hint of what’s on chef David Golovin’s Eastern European-inspired menu (bring on the smoked fish and New York strip). I stuck my head in just as they…

In a surprise turnaround, Mourad Lahlou is going to reopen his beloved ~AZIZA~ in the Outer Richmond, after closing it back in 2016 for a remodel. Aziza originally opened in 2001, an homage to Lahlou’s mother, and was the first Moroccan restaurant in the U.S. to be awarded…

Big Night Restaurant Group has finished their transformation of Cow Marlowe into THE GREENWICH, now offering a “Hamptons-in-the-Marina” style and a lighter menu from chef Jennifer Puccio as well (check it out here). Open for happy hour 4:30pm-6pm and 10pm to close; dinner Wed-Sun 5:30pm-close; brunch coming October…

Just in case you were excited to check out the upcoming TSUTA, the first U.S. location of the Michelin-starred ramen shop, they are actually softly open right now in advance of their October 20th grand opening. According to this post) on Yelp, they are serving 300 bowls of ramen…

It was a shocker to learn that after 15 years on Valencia, ~DOSA ON VALENCIA~ was closing (the last day of service was September 30th). Co-owner Anjan Mitra attributes the closure to the oft-cited issues of rising rent, labor costs, SF employer mandates, and food delivery services, basically all the…

After announcing the upcoming opening of BRENDA’S in Temescal one year ago, look who’s now open! Brenda Buenviaje and Libby Truesdell have opened Brenda’s Oakland in a new building, the Maya, at Broadway and 41st. It’s fast-casual/counter service, offering the best of their signature items,…

In the last issue of tablehopper, I reported on the changeover of Belga to WILDSEED on Union, and it’s now open! Zip zip, that was fast. Check out chef Blair Warsham’s savory, eclectic menu of seasonal, healthy, flavorful, satisfying dishes with some global influences, like a Vietnamese rice…

Some changes are happening in Bill Higgins and Bill Upson’s Real Restaurants group, which is behind Bar Bocce, Bix, Bungalow 44, Buckeye Roadhouse, Fog City, Panorama, Picco, and Pizzeria Picco. That list used to include Zero Zero in SoMa, but now chef Bruce Hill has bought them out and…

Are you a fan of Sababa’s Mediterranean sandwiches? Yeah, me too. A lot. Which is why I’m excited to try chef Guy Eshel’s latest venture with the Sababa team, FLYBIRD. It’s another quick-service spot downtown, serving a variety of internationally inspired fried chicken sandwiches and salads.…

After 26 years of service and their popular happy hour, PALOMINO will be closing after service on Wednesday (they will be hosting their last private event on Thursday). I spoke with a representative for the restaurant, who said it’s due to a lease renewal situation. I used to work…