Anyone who watched Top Chef in the early days will remember Casey Thompson, one of the finalists in season three. Well, according to the Scoop, she is going to be opening a 65-seat restaurant called AVELINE in the La Scene space in Union Square’s Warwick Hotel. The restaurant will be modern Californian, with cocktails in an adjoining bar to be called The European (Adam Wilson of Beretta will be running the show). Look for a spring opening. La Scene is closing on November 17th. 490 Geary St. at Taylor.
Some news in Dogpatch: After an initial blip on Dogpatch Howler a couple of months ago, I have been looking for an update about LONG BRIDGE PIZZA COMPANY, and finally found a contact. Biz partners and good friends Andrew Markoulis and Neal DeNardi have worked for numerous pizzerias and local pizza personalities (including the Pizza Hacker) and are gearing up to open their own place. They said it’s going to be “SF style,” with a sourdough starter, and a bit of a hybrid of New York and Neapolitan pies (they will be cooking in a deck oven, so they’re not out for UPN certification, but it cranks up to 850 degrees)—they will offer both slices and whole pies. The space is the former Oralia’s, which was a deli, so don’t look for a lot of seating—there will be a counter and a few two-tops. The opening is looking like early 2014. As for the name, it’s a nod to the old wooden causeway that used to extend over Mission Bay, from the central waterfront to Bayview, where Third Street is now. 2347 3rd St. at 20th St.
The Castro Biscuit was the first to report on the rumor that the owners of Hi Tops are planning to open a Mexican restaurant across the street in the location of the former Leticia’s, in a new building called The Century. Stand by. 2200 Market St. at 14th St.
Chef Casey Thompson (photo via Facebook).
