The Chatterbox

I know many folks in the Castro have been patiently waiting for a second location of IL CASARO to open, and that day finally arrived. It’s from owners Francesco Covucci and Peter Fazio, who are also behind the original Il Casaro in North Beach, as well as Barbara and…

Some details have emerged about Aaron London’s (AL’s Place) latest project that is opening mid-July, AL’S DELI. As previously mentioned, it’s opening in the former Izakaya Yuzuki space on Guererro. With this fast-casual concept, he’s going to pull influences from Israeli street food and East…

Some quick updates on future projects: Eater reported that the upcoming project from Liholiho Yacht Club’s Ravi Kapur and Jeff Hanak and chef David Golovin (Nopa, Spruce, Rubicon, La Folie) will be called DEAR INGA, an homage to Golovin’s grandmother. As I previously mentioned, there will be Eastern…

There’s a good-looking new restaurant that just opened in the Inner Sunset (in the former The Korean Kitchen space) called UM.MA, serving Korean food from chef Chris Oh (a busy guy in L.A., who’s the founder of Seoul Sausage Co., co-founder of Hanjip, managing partner of…

Looking for a new Saturday lunch spot? The chic VERJUS is now open for Saturday lunch (12pm until late), and you won’t have to battle the Financial District crowd so much for a table. 528 Washington St. at Hotaling. BARVALE has a brand-new happy hour  at the bar, which…

Now open is the Oakland location of 4505 BURGERS & BBQ, taking over the vintage Glenn’s Hot Dogs in the Laurel District (the owners retired). You can’t miss the sign! Founder Ryan Farr is adding whole hog barbecue to the menu, as well as soft-serve ice cream (featuring…

If you were anywhere near Dogpatch over the weekend, you would have seen a loooong line of people hoping to score some wood-fired bagels from the newly opened DAILY DRIVER (from Tamara Hicks and David Jablons, and Hadley and David Kreitz) on 3rd Street. Some folks were luckier than others;…

I’ve been posting updates as each floor of the ONE65 building has opened with a new experience: ONE65 Patisserie & Boutique, ONE65 Bistro & Grill, Elements at ONE65, and now the final and fine dining concept has opened on the fifth and sixth floors: O’ by Claude Le Tohic.…

Last Friday, I swung by the newly opened MAGO on Piedmont Avenue in Oakland to take some pics and was so charmed with its colorful, breezy, welcoming style. Mago is former AQ chef Mark Liberman’s first solo restaurant, and he wants to offer a menu and experience that are…

A year ago, I broke the news that Tartine was opening a location in the former Standard Roofing Co. on 9th Avenue in the Inner Sunset, and a very diligent tablehopper reader has been providing me with updates on the project. Last week, he informed me Tartine got final approval…