A couple of new downtown projects are on the horizon. First, back in March, Eater noted MACHKA was coming to 584 Washington, next to Taverna Aventine. A recent press release fills in the details: it’s going to be a Turkish restaurant, and Jocelyn Bulow (Chez Papa Bistrot, Chez Maman, Papito) is consulting. The owner is Farshad Owji (with his wife, Sibel)—the two are actually attorneys, but now they’re getting into the restaurant game (Farshad spent 10 years in Turkey and really loves the cuisine).
Machka should be opening on Monday July 16th, serving contemporary Turkish cuisine with Mediterranean influences prepared with seasonal, locally sourced, and (mostly) organic ingredients. Some dishes on the opening menu range from grilled octopus to blue cheese- and chorizo-stuffed dates with pastrami and a frisée salad. Uh, yeah, that’s definitely contemporary. The kitchen will be headed up by chef de cuisine Reynol Martinez (Globe, Papito, Aperto, and Epic Roasthouse). There are 32 seats, with a communal table, hardwood floors, and an exhibition kitchen, plus sidewalk seating, weather permitting. Lunch and dinner will be served Mon-Sat 11am-10pm. 584 Washington St. at Montgomery, 415-391-8228.
Liquor license activity points to the chain ROKA AKOR opening in 500 Jackson, previously Cypress Club, Scott Howard, and Zinnia. The restaurant will be a steak and sushi place (with a robata grill), with locations in Chicago and Scottsdale. Inside Scoop confirms the restaurant’s intention to open an SF location. Stand by for details on timing and more soon. 500 Jackson St. at Montgomery.
Machka sign; photo via Facebook.
