The Chatterbox

Okay ramen lovers, you have two new places to fill up with and enjoy a face steaming: now open in the former Ken Ken Ramen space is RAMENWELL from Chicago’s Harold Jurado (Yusho, Chizakaya). You’ll find a variety of broths (a 20-hour pork tonkotsu, chicken, or vegetarian, which…

COW MARLOWE from the Big Night Restaurant Group (Anna Weinberg and James Nicholas) opens tonight for dinner in Cow Hollow (in the former Eastside West). Seems like a good idea to go have Jennifer Puccio’s burger, and soak in the always-fun style from Ken Fulk. Lunch and brunch begin…

Opening Thursday November 1st in the former City Counter space in the Financial District is THE SHOTA, an omakase-only sushi restaurant. Way to take over that long counter, it’s kind of perfect. Chef Ingi “Shota” Son will be offering both traditional Edomae-style sushi, integrating techniques like aging, curing, and…

Last week, I paid a quick visit for the awning-lifting ceremony at BI-RITE CAFE at Civic Center Plaza, which is now open. Congrats to everyone who brought this project to fruition, it was definitely a complicated one (there were a number of entities involved). Owner Sam Mogannam was beaming, and…

Some things to look forward to: Pim Techamuanvivit (Kin Khao, Nahm in Bangkok) will be opening NARI in Japantown’s Hotel Kabuki in spring 2019. Look for a seafood focus (Kin Khao chef de cuisine Meghan Clark will be the lead), a larger space (95 seats), and it will be…

Have you ever had the chicken in brioche at NOMICA? Well, you better order it in advance and hustle over there if you want to cross it off your list, because chef Hiroo Nagahara is departing the Castro restaurant in a couple weeks to focus on opening his own project…

Hope you love your carbs, because you’re going to be surrounded with new options. First up, LE MARAIS BAKERY just opened their 3,000-square-foot commissary and bakery in the Tenderloin (with a 2,000-square-foot basement!). Owner Patrick Ascaso sees it as a pastry incubator and lab, a croissanterie, and…

Wow, Italian stalwart IL FORNAIO has closed its SF location after 30 years at Levi’s Plaza (citing a rent increase, an aging building, and slow business). The other locations in Burlingame, Palo Alto, and San Jose are still open. 1265 Battery St. at Greenwich. [Via Hoodline.] That construction on…

After 10 years of serving the best fried chicken and waffles in West Oakland, Tanya Holland has officially closed her famed and beloved BROWN SUGAR KITCHEN at 2534 Mandela Parkway. It just wasn’t profitable, in spite of its popularity, and the maintenance and upkeep (trash, graffiti) was expensive. [Via…

You know what makes me happy? When one of the first chefs I ever interviewed, oh, like 14 years ago (back in 2004!) gets in touch to let me know about her new project. That would be Brenda Buenviaje of local Brenda’s fame—I met her when she was…