As previously reported on tablehopper, the new restaurant headed to the former Mecca space in the Castro is SHANGHAI, from restaurateur Francis Tsai. They will be opening (softly) August 22nd (that’s tomorrow!).
Tsai has brought on chef Leo Gan, formerly of Shanghai 1930, to run the kitchen. The food will be focused on modern Shanghai cuisine, with locally sourced products and a seasonally changing menu. You can look at the menu here and here. There will be dinner Tue-Sat, and dim sum brunch will be added on Saturdays and Sundays in mid-September. There will also be a late-night dining menu with small plates from 10pm-11:45pm. Finally, my dream of late-night xiao long bao (soup dumplings) is manifesting!
The large space seats 130 diners, including the bar. There are a few different seating areas that can accommodate larger groups, including a lounge area off the bar with comfy tufted seats. The dining room is partitioned into a few different sections, so the large space should still feel intimate and comfortable. In the evenings after 9:30pm, the area behind the bar will feature a grand piano playing live music, for extra meowness. There will also be parking available until 10pm in a lot at 14th Street and Guerrero, with a shuttle van that will take diners to the restaurant. For now, parking in the lot is $10. Dinner Tue-Sat 5pm-10pm, late-night dining 10pm-11:45pm. 2029 Market St. at Dolores, 415-701-8866.
The front dining area. Photo by Dana Massey-Todd. © tablehopper.com.
