The Chatterbox

Big news from the 12-year-old ~HEIRLOOM CAFÉ~: a few weeks ago, owner Matt Straus passed the reins to new co-owners and managing partners Amy Siemers and Stephen Hallenbeck, who have been longtime associates at the restaurant. In his farewell/announcement letter, Straus says, “There have been a few projects simmering…

Last week, I tried to swing by ARINELL PIZZA for a slice around 8:45pm, and was frustrated to find it closed. (I was off to my other slice standby: Marcello’s in the Castro.) The next day, a tablehopper reader wrote in to tell me there was a sign…

Fellow pizza fanatics, start your engines: owner Eric Ehler (Fort Point, Mister Jiu’s, Lazy Susan) and his biz partner Peter Dorrance and team are soft-opening the OUTTA SIGHT PIZZA slice shop on Larkin Street in Civic Center/Tenderloin any day now! Follow their Instagram account for the latest updates…

I have posted some of these breaking news bits in my Instagram Stories the past couple weeks (do you follow @tablehopper?), here are some big headlines: Great News Was happy to see a post on Instagram from Pim Techamuanvivit that ~KIN KHAO~ is reopening in September in its original downtown…

Wanted to get a couple events on your radar. On September 9th-10th, Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) and MoAD’s chef-in-residence Bryant Terry are presenting the Black Food Summit. This will be a unique and expansive gathering of leading Black chefs, writers, scholars, activists, artists, and other creatives for…

Newly opened in the former The Grove Hayes Valley is RAD RADISH from the Back of the House team (a Mano, Beretta, Super Duper Burger, The Tailor’s Son, Wildseed). This vegan, fast-casual, global concept features hearty salads, bowls, flatbreads, and sandwiches, and is designed to be affordable, flavorful, fresh…

On Sunday evening, I attended a preview dinner of the new SOUVLA DOGPATCH, an expanded Souvla concept in the former Smokestack at Magnolia Brewing. The previously open kitchen has been enclosed, all the walls in the high-ceilinged room are now painted white (with white subway tiles), and you’ll note…

There’s a new sushi spot in the Diamond Heights Shopping Center, AU SUSHI, and according to Cherylynn N. on Yelp, the owner and sushi chef is a woman (not something you see every day, sadly—let’s change that!). You can opt for the omakase selection of eight pieces…

Great news, my fellow pâté en croûte lovers: MAISON NICO is reopening tomorrow, Wednesday August 17th! They have been closed for four months to transition the former restaurant into an épicerie, with some new equipment and an expanded kitchen and pastry production space. Michelin-starred chef-owner Nicolas Delaroque and Andrea Delaroque…

Pete Mrabe of Chubby Noodle and Don Pistos launched brunch at BARRIO CHINO, his Chino-Latino spot known for classic Asian dishes influenced by the flavors of Mexico. (It was previously Don Pistos Tequila Bar.) The new brunch menu is creative and right up my alley—it includes a shrimp and…