The Chatterbox

The city shed some tears with the closure of ~HUXLEY~ last November, but now we know who’s moving in: PAPI’S, a Mexican restaurant and rotisserie from David Alexander, Craig Lipton, and Miriam Lipton, the team behind Papito Hayes, Matador, and Tender Wine Bar (which is just next door…

The chef behind the two locations of Iza Ramen and Blowfish Sushi (Ritsuo Tsuchida) has opened TAWARA SAKE DINING in the former Urban Fish in the Mission. The izakaya-inspired menu is meant to be a cozy space where Tsuchida can get a bit freestyle, re-creating dishes from his childhood. You…

Lower Haight’s ~WING WINGS~ has been up for sale for some time, and owner Christian Ciscle just announced he has sold the business, but here’s the good part: the folks taking over don’t just want the lease, they want to keep Wing Wings going. Sweet. The new…

This is such a bummer: after a successful crowdfunding campaign, MAKER’S COMMON is closing on Sunday March 4th. Owners Sarah Dvorak, Oliver Dameron, and Eric Miller opened this expanded offshoot of their SF cheese shop, Mission Cheese, just seven months ago, but after numerous tweaks and adjustments and a…

Last week, I got to attend the fifth birthday party of SF pastry and viennoiserie favorite B. PATISSERIE, and business partners Belinda Leong and Michel Suas had so much news to announce, it made me wonder when they sleep. First up, they are expanding to Seoul, Korea, and opening in…

Now open in Fruitvale is NYUM BAI, a soulful Cambodian restaurant from Nite Yun, a La Cocina incubator program graduate. Perhaps you have had her wonderful soups and more at her various pop-ups and stand at the Emeryville Public Market? Well, now she has her own brick and mortar (in…

Now you can hang out at the vibey KAYA in Mid-Market for brunch on the weekend. Chef Nigel Jones and his crew are ready to feed you salt fish, ackee, fried dumplings, and bammy (I don’t know what that is but I want it); cinnamon French toast with coconut-battered…

A tablehopper reader tipped me off to SPICE OF AMERICA now open in the former Shido (previously Buck Tavern). The menu features Indian and Nepali dishes from chef-partners Krishna Timsina and Ram Ghale. They definitely seem to be pushing the plating into a more modern presentation; there’s a lunchtime…

The Marina will soon be able to get their lamb salad and frozen Greek yogurt on with the upcoming opening of the fourth location of ~SOUVLA~ in the former David’s Tea space on Chestnut Street. They are targeting mid-2018 for the opening, and it will mimic the Hayes Valley…

Your caffeination options just got so extra. First, NATIVE TWINS COFFEE is now open on Divisadero in the former Repose Coffee. Twins Jen and Ashley Rubin will be serving Temple Coffee, along with their gluten-free granola, avocado toast, and pastries from Cibo Sausalito, for those who like their carbs. There’…