The Chatterbox

Congrats to PALIO, the FiDi restaurant formerly known as Palio d’Asti, which is now sporting a new name, updated look, and menu that has expanded to cover many regions of Italy (instead of just Asti). I walked in to the new dining room (renovated by AnV Architects), and thought…

Back in July, I mentioned Clement Hsu, Katherine Campecino, and James Wong, the trio behind the awesome BREADBELLY pop-up, was opening a café in the former Heartbaker on Clement, and they are now open! Maybe you saw my in-depth post on Table Talk about their Asian-inspired baked goods, like ham-and-cheese…

Cruising through Facebook, I saw this post from ALMANAC BEER CO. that they decided to not renew their SF taproom lease and will be closing after their final service on Saturday January 19th. (They were on 24th Street for two years.) Go get that burger and a fresh beer while…

I received some pretty heartbreaking news just after January 1st that a dear local chef, Colin Dewey, died in a tragic accident over the New Year (he reportedly fell down some stairs, how awful). So shocking. It’s hard to grasp that he is gone. Not only was Colin a…

Now open in Union Square’s Hotel G in the former 398 Brasserie space is AYALA, a seafood-focused restaurant with chef-partner Bill Montagne, executive chef Melissa Perfit (Bar Crudo, Hard Water), GM Essam Kardosh (Del Popolo), wine director Nick Tilly (who will also be working with Essam), and bar director…

Michael Mina’s latest project, TRAILBLAZER TAVERN, in partnership with Hawaiian-born chefs Michelle Karr-Ueoka and Wade Ueoka of Honolulu’s MW Restaurant, is now open in the Salesforce East building. The project is a big one: 7,000 square feet! Designed by Bishop Pass, there’s a mezzanine for up…

Big congrats to Guadalupe Guerrero and her daughters Brenda and Alejandra on getting their brick-and-mortar location of EL PÍPILA open in SoMa! We last got to enjoy their pozole verde and other authentic dishes from Guanajuato when they had a stand in The Hall on Market Street (you may also…

I just love seeing some of the things that sizzle on the ABC liquor license transfer wires, especially when it involves our dear Azalina Eusope opening AZALINA’S in the former Contigo space in Noe Valley! She doesn’t want to talk about details just yet, but is very excited…

Man, some definite bummers in here, starting with the closure of ~FARMERBROWN~ after holding it down at the corner of Mason and Turk in the thick of the Tenderloin for 13 years. It really is so hard to operate a restaurant in SF these days—so much work for not…

I wanted to make sure to pass along some great East Bay news, starting with the opening of TACOS OSCAR’s first brick-and-mortar location—complete with 49 outdoor seats—after chefs-owners Oscar Michel and Jake Weiss have held many, many pop-ups around town. East Bay Express mentions the menu includes…