The Chatterbox

Many JOHNNY DOUGHNUTS fans have been waiting (im)patiently for the first SF brick-and-mortar location to open in Hayes Valley, and it’s now softly open as of this past weekend. Take a peek at the main menu to see how truly doughnut-obsessed these folks are—they are not just…

Do you have your ticket for La Cocina’s Street Food Festival on Sunday October 15th? I hope so. Because it’s wonderful to have it back. And there’s even more planned this year to add a more thoughtful layer to the experience besides stuffing your face with delicious…

After former Locanda chef Anthony Strong tried and then bagged his Young Fava delivery concept, I’ve been waiting to see what’s next from this talented chef. He’s currently entering lease negotiations on a space for a brick-and-mortar concept—more on that soon—but in the meantime, he…

You know when Sunday evening rolls around and you’ve got a mad craving for a pinsa from ~MONTESACRO~ and you couldn’t do anything about it because they were closed? Well, no longer! Montesacro is now open on Sundays starting at 4pm. Mangia! There are a couple of new…

There are some fun special dining events and menus coming up, including the current Golden Week limited menu at ~HAKKASAN~, which is fortunately running for more than a week (from now through October 22nd). The menu is a collaboration between Hakkasan Group’s executive chef Tong Chee Hwee and chef…

I have a couple of closures to report around town thanks to reader tips. First, VICOLETTO in North Beach closed two weeks ago. I got in touch with co-owner Francesco Covucci, who said they are reconcepting and will be opening something else in the space—he’s just a little…

The next stage of China Live’s rollout has been completed, so it’s time to head up to the second floor. Although it has been soft open for the past couple of weeks (there are reservations currently available on OpenTable), EIGHT TABLES BY GEORGE CHEN is officially opening on…

SF, are you ready for this beautiful new wine bar that feels as if an Austrian chalet was dropped into North Beach? Your jaw is gonna drop. Owners Jay Esopenko and Melissa Gugni (Union Larder, Little Vine) are hoping to open next Tuesday October 3rd, pending inspections. They are opening…

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT, THANK YOU EVERYONE! Hello 510 friends! Thanks to all of you who have already been buying tickets for my first tablehopper party in the East Bay, next Friday October 6th! It’s going to be a very special event, Apericena (more about what this means…

Some news tidbits for you, starting with the news that Tanya Holland of West Oakland’s BROWN SUGAR KITCHEN is going to be opening a location in San Francisco: in the Ferry Building! She will be taking over the former Il Cane Rosso location and opening BROWN SUGAR KITCHEN COUNTER.…