November 18, 2014 - This week's tablehopper: fly girl.

This week's tablehopper: fly girl.                    

The stunning grounds at José Maria de Fonseca, which date back to 1834. Instagram photo © tablehopper.com.

Bom dia! Yours truly is back from an inspiring, action-packed trip to Portugal, learning all about Portuguese wine (with a bunch of somms and wine buyers!), cuisine, history, architecture, and more the past 10 days. I had outstanding seafood practically every day (so glad I finally got to check percebes off my “funky foods to try” list), and just about as many pastéis de nata too! I can’t wait to share the deets on friendly Lisboa. That city is quite special and so very simpatico to San Francisco (they should totally be sister cities). I couldn’t believe how inexpensive wine was, about €3 a glass. (Dangerous, that.) And the cheeses! So glad the little beagle in the airport didn’t find my suitcase treasures on my way home, heh heh.

I want to give a big fat thanks to Blacklane limousine service, who gave me the most stylin’ ride to the airport (in a sleek Mercedes S550, holla). My driver (who was waiting for me 30 minutes early!) helped me with my bag, which is a big deal when you live on the top floor of your rickety Edwardian building, let me tell you. They have drivers in a bunch of cities around the world, so if you want car service in OG style for your next trip, check ‘em out. Obrigada, Blacklane!

The only major bummer of this whole trip is I came home with some nasty food poisoning (whether it was my last meal or the airline’s fault, I’m not sure) but I have been running at half-mast the past four days, ugh. NOT the way to come home. At least any weight I gained on this trip is gone, and then some. #silverlinings

Okay folks, this issue has a bit of food news catch-up for you, and we’re looking forward to Thanksgiving next week too. I’m taking Friday off to catch up on some other deadlines, so I’ll see you next Tuesday. Have a great week, enjoy the rain! I know, RAIN!

Ciao! Marcia Gagliardi

the chatterbox

Gossip & News (the word on the street)

Aaron London Opening His Own Restaurant on Valencia

We have been patiently waiting to release the news for the past month about former Ubuntu chef Aaron London’s upcoming location for his restaurant, and now that the ABC wires have rippled with some transfer information, it’s time to say where: the current location of the South End Grill ‘n’ Bar on Valencia. While London was known for his sophisticated touch with vegetables, this new project will not be a reprise of what he was doing at Ubuntu—there will be some seafood and meat, too, on the mostly vegetable-leaning menu. London does hint that since Ubuntu was such a big part of his life, there will be some reincarnations of favorite dishes on the menu. The targeted opening of the 49-seat restaurant in early 2015; construction is slated to begin at the end of this year. We’ll have more details to share soon. 1499 Valencia St. at 26th St.

James Syhabout Coming West to Open Hawker Fare in the Mission

Oakland chef James Syhabout is coming to San Francisco, Scoop reports. Specifically, he’s opening a second location of HAWKER FARE in the very large former Amber Dhara space on Valencia. The space comes with a full liquor license, as well as an upstairs mezzanine, so it’s possible he’ll end up doing two different things with the two spaces—think a bar/lounge upstairs, with the dining room on the main floor.

He’s also starting to think more about the roots of his food. After a trip to Thailand, when he spent a great deal of time in the northeastern province on Issan, near Laos, he’s shifted his culinary focus a bit. He’ll be exploring more of the regional flavors of Issan—som tum, larb, and sticky rice are some of the region’s more recognizable staples—and Laos. Right now, the opening timeline is still being worked out but early 2015 is the goal. 680 Valencia St. at 18th St.

Izakaya Rintaro Now Open in the Mission

As reported earlier this year, the former home of Chez Spencer (which was damaged in a fire) has been taken over by Sylvan Mishima Brackett of Peko Peko. Mishima Brackett, who also worked at Chez Panisse before moving to Japan to study the cuisine there, is calling the new restaurant RINTARO, which means “woods boy.” The space has been completely renovated, with help from Mishima Brackett’s father, who runs a Japanese architecture and design company called East Wind. The front courtyard many will remember from the Chez Spencer days is still there, and the dining room features a bar on one side with open beams on the ceiling and booth seating in the dining room. The space seats 60 altogether, plus a private dining room that can take additional diners or be rented out for special events.

As for the food, Mishima Brackett is sourcing his ingredients impeccably, as one would expect from a Chez Panisse alum. The menu will change regularly, of course, but you can check out the opening menu right here. A significant portion of the menu is devoted to yakitori (individual skewers range from $5-$6), including many different preparations of chicken (gizzard, liver, and skin are on there, offal lovers), or you can opt for the chef’s choice six-skewer set ($15.50). There is also a section of the menu devoted to vegetables and fried items. For main or “final” dishes, check out the uni donburi, with uni from Santa Barbara, fresh wasabi, yuzu, and toasted nori ($8 for one person or $15 for two).

For now, they aren’t taking reservations, but should be soon. There are also plans in the work to open for lunch, but for now hours are Mon-Thu 5:30pm-11pm and Fri-Sat 5:30pm-12am. 82 14th St. at Folsom, 415-589-7022.

The Sprawling Crystal Jade Is Now Open

We already covered quite a few details of the 20,000-square-foot CRYSTAL JADE JIANG NAN at Four Embarcadero Center in a previous piece, but we wanted to follow up since it’s now open. To recap, Ken Fulk designed the space (hello, $14 million renovation), which includes a huge outdoor terrace and multiple private dining rooms, plus the Liu Ling bar and lounge.

The menu features regional dishes from south of the Yangtze River (covering Szechuan, Jiangsu, Hunan, and Zhejiang cuisines) for lunch, cocktails, and dinner. You can look at the main menu here and the dim sum brunch menu too. Hours in the dining room are Mon-Fri 11am-3pm and 5pm-11pm, Sat-Sun brunch 10am-3pm, Sat dinner 5pm-11pm, Sun dinner 5pm-10pm. Bar daily 11am-11pm, and Singapore To-Go hours daily 11am-8pm. Four Embarcadero Center, Drumm St. at Sacramento, 415-399-1200.

Openings: Picnic on Third, L'Emigrante, Tap 415, Coco's Ramen

Way back in August of last year, we reported on PICNIC ON THIRD, and now it’s finally open! It comes from partners Leigh Loper (formerly of Quince) and Natalia Bushyager (previously at Camino and Chez Panisse) and is offering lunch for dine-in or takeout and packaged dinners to go. The space is charming and cute in a vintage eclectic way, with nice wood floors, brass light fixtures, a pressed tin ceiling, and wooden tables made with pipe fittings. The kitchen has a neat storage wall of spices made by screwing Mason jar tops into the wall—it’s all downright pleasant.

The menu is inspired by a different place or theme every day, and three dishes are offered: two meats and one vegetarian. Here is a sample menu that shows the format, though note those dishes are no longer available. Tomorrow’s menu (Wednesday November 19th), for example, is inspired by Yotam Ottolenghi and includes lamb and beef meatballs with barley mujadara and serpent cucumber salad; Ottolenghi’s chicken, roasted acorn squash, and roasted cauliflower; the vegetarian plate is composed of the barley mujadara, cucumber salad, acorn squash, and cauliflower. You can take a look at upcoming and past menus here. In addition to the composed “plates,” you can also order the components in larger quantities à la carte. They’ve got beer and wine too. Pour-over coffee from Chicago’s HalfWit Coffee Roasters and espresso from Contraband is available, along with pastries from Sandbox, Heartbaker, and Little Bee. Hours are Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, with lunch available beginning at 11am. 493 3rd St. at Bryant, 415-590-7121.

As reported on tablehopper last month, Irfan Yalcin of Potrero’s Pera has a new wine bar in the Mission: L’EMIGRANTE. The new project, which is named after the Italian film, is now open! The wine list, which you can check out right here, is very affordable, with bottles ranging from $20 to $50, and 85 percent of them are less than $35. Most of the wines are also available by the glass, or in a 2 1/2-ounce pour for tasting. There are reds, whites, rosés, and sparkling options, plus eight beers on tap.

As for the menu, it’s all about casual snacking to go with that wine. There are bruschette with a variety of toppings to choose from, including kale with burrata and golden raisins. There’s a large selection of salads, or you can go the cheese and charcuterie route. There are also sandwiches and a larger plates section of the menu, where you’ll find the Pera Talas Böregi, smoked chicken and vegetables in curry sauce baked into phyllo dough. Take a look at the whole menu here. Hours are Sun-Thu 12pm-12am and Fri-Sat 12pm-1am. 2199 Mission St. at 18th St., 415-525-2284.

Now open in the Westfield Centre (near M.Y. China) is TAP 415, the new project we mentioned was coming from Chad Bourdon and Matthew Dolan of Twenty Five Lusk. This modern beer garden (designed by Cass Calder Smith) features 18 beers on tap and two on-tap cocktails, plus adult milk shakes, like the Smoke in the Morning, with smoked Scotch, coffee ice cream, whipped cream, and hazelnut brittle. The American menu features 12 bar bites, so the next time you’re shopping and you need a snack, the Reuben tater tots should do the trick. There are also salads, burgers, housemade links, and sandwiches (like wild mushroom with smoked burrata and nettle pesto), plus some heartier dishes, like steak frites. There is also a kids menu. Hours for now are Mon-Fri 11:30am-9pm. 845 Market St., 4th floor, 415-266-7900.

Another week, another ramen shop. This time, it’s in Bernal and is called Coco’s Ramen. We called to find out who this Coco might be, but were unable to get any details. However, the menu looks good, with broth choices including tonkotsu, miso, shoyu, curry, and vegetarian. Chashu and pork belly can both be added as well. There is a small selection of appetizers, including grilled shishito peppers served with garlic sauce and chicken wings. Hours are Sun-Mon, Wed-Thu 11:30am-2:30pm and 5:30pm-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-2:30pm and 5:30pm-10:30pm. 3319 Mission St. at 29th St., 415-648-7722.

Open This Weekend: Mr. Holmes Bakehouse!

Throwing open its doors at 7am this Saturday November 22nd will be MR. HOLMES BAKEHOUSE, offering fans of Aussie Ry Stephen’s awesome baked goods a place to enjoy the full range (you have probably tried some of his baked treats at Saint Frank, Beacon, and other cafés around the city). He has been baking in this Larkin Street location since July, but now the retail portion of the biz is ready to be unveiled.

You will be able to try a variety of goods—Stephen has been working on all kinds of goodies, like twice-baked almond croissants (that take three days to make!), doughnuts, tarts, cookies. There will be some Danishes too, either savory (like ham and cheese with mustard and béchamel, or mushroom and caramelized onion with sumac, za’atar, and fontina) or sweet (like sour cherry with custard). Yeah, it all sounds great. There will also be brewed coffee available. Oh, and for Thanksgiving, they are delivering pies on Thanksgiving morning. You can order them through the website ($44 for delivery and $34 for pickup).

Hours to start will be 7am-2:30pm; they’d like to eventually stay open until 6pm, but will need to see how it goes. 1042 Larkin St. at Sutter.

Chef Changes: Casey Thompson Departs Aveline, Max Snyder in at Le Marais

Eater caught the news that chef Casey Thompson has left AVELINE in the Warwick Hotel in Union Square. According to a follow-up with Scoop, the split is actually between Thompson and the hotel—she’ll take the name Aveline with her, though perhaps not the concept. It sounds like the split was mutual, since she says, “We decided to go separate ways…It just wasn’t the right fit. For them, for me.” She may decide to open Aveline somewhere else—and we hope that’s the case, because those crab macarons are gonna be missed something fierce, damn it. Of course we’ll keep you updated on her next move and whatever moves in to the Warwick. 490 Geary St. at Taylor, 415-345-2303.

In the Marina, LE MARAIS BISTRO AND BAKERY has a new chef, Max Snyder, after the departure of Nicolette Manescalchi. Snyder has previously worked at Quince, Saison, and Coi in San Francisco, as well as Eleven Madison Park and Marea in New York and Qui in Austin. His bistro menu is a bit more classic, with a cheeseburger, black cod en papillote, and Caesar salad appearing alongside more contemporary dishes like beets with pomegranate, black olive, and burrata, or a chicken dish with smoked confit, chickpea, radicchio, and citrus. 2066 Chestnut St. at Steiner, 415-359-9801.

Closures and Changes: Local's Corner, Chenery Park, Emmy's Spaghetti Shack on the Move, Pasíon Now Fresca

We were sorry to receive a note from LOCAL’S CORNER that they will be closing at the end of the month. After more than two years in business, the seafood-focused restaurant apparently struggled to stay busy, despite good reviews. The restaurant also became a bit of a lightning rod for concerns about gentrification recently, and clashed with an organization called the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment. Ensuing protests and vandalism certainly didn’t help, though the note cites those issues as taking more of an emotional toll than a financial one. Some key staff members are moving on, including chef de cuisine Timothy Malloy, who is headed to Seattle, and the combination of financial difficulties and staffing made it seem like the end of the line. The last dinner service will be Saturday November 29th. As for what’s next for the space, they hope to find a new operator to take over and will offer the space for pop-ups and special events in the meantime.

A tipster wrote in before we went dark to let us know that Glen Park’s CHENERY PARK has closed after 14 years in the neighborhood, and Scoop confirms the news. A sign in the front window offers little in terms of explanation. We’ll be keeping an eye on the space. 683 Chenery St. at Diamond.

As reported in September, there are some changes coming to Bernal: EMMY’S SPAGHETTI SHACK has moved to the former El Zocalo space. The previous location is now closed, but you can still get your spaghetti and meatballs in the larger space just down the street. As for the original location, they’re still deciding how to utilize it, so stay tuned. 3230 Mission St. at Valencia, 415-206-2086.

A reader tweeted us about this last week, and the Scoop caught some additional details: PASÍON in the Inner Sunset has closed, but not for long. Owner José Calvo-Perez will reopen it as the fourth location of his mini-chain, FRESCA. The menu will be the same as the other three locations, with home-style Peruvian food, and there will be a full bar. They are currently closed for cosmetic updates and plan to reopen the first week of December. 737 Irving St. at 9th Ave., 415-742-5727.

Cawfee Tawk: La Capra Coffee and Hearth Coffee Roasters Now Open, New Equator in Mill Valley

A few months ago we broke the news about the new coffee and café project from Mitchell and Steven Rosenthal (Town Hall, Anchor & Hope, Salt House), LA CAPRA COFFEE. To recap, they partnered with Hanna Suleiman of Caffè Greco to create their own Italian-inspired roast. Well, the coffee has been finalized, and the café is now open in the Financial District (designed by Sagan Piechota Architecture), which has a little bit of seating.

You’ll also find a variety of baked goods and pastries from Starter Bakery and Neighbor, including kouign-amann, croissants, coffee cake, and chocolate-almond twists, and there are also freshly made salads (like smoked duck with fennel, baby kale, and a citrus-mustard vinaigrette) and sandwiches (including egg salad with pickled jalapeño, cucumber, radishes, and frisée). You can check out the entire menu here. Hours are Mon-Fri 6am-6pm; lunch begins at 10:30am. 50 Fremont St. at Mission.

Another new café has soft-opened, this time in the Castro: HEARTH COFFEE ROASTERS (previously mentioned here). The owners are Ariana Akbar and James Kafader, previously of Brown Owl Coffee. They are roasting their own coffee (special, single-origin beans on their Probat L12) and making their own baked goods as well (the head baker is Megan Bovis, previously at Fournée). One hundred percent organic pastries include a classic French butter croissant, plus baba au bourbon with coffee (bourbon-infused brioche with coffee-infused crème) and a chocolate-caramel mousse with a crispy brown butter cookie.

Instead of classic tea service, you’ll find coffee service, with items like a caramelized banana-hazelnut scone and a prosciutto, Brie, pickled fig, and arugula sandwich on a country loaf. There are also coffee flights (a sampling of single-origin coffees side by side) and coffee pairings (single-origin coffees paired with treats, snacks, or meals). Beer and wine and small plates start this Thursday November 20th, and since Ariana is a certified sommelier and James is an accomplished home brewer, expect good things. Hours (starting Sunday): Mon-Tue 7am-2pm, Wed-Thu 7am-9pm, Fri-Sat 7am-10pm, Sun 7am-9pm. 3985 17th St. at Market.

If you’re up in the North Bay, EQUATOR COFFEES & TEAS has opened a flagship café in downtown Mill Valley. There will be espresso-based drinks, batch-brewed drip coffee, and single-origin pour-overs, as well as some unexpected soju cocktails, including an Irish Coffee and Bloody Mary. Chocolate egg creams for the kiddies, check, and shakerato for mom, also covered (theirs includes almond butter and coconut milk, wow!). The food menu includes savory and sweet waffles, salads, and more. Boor Bridges Architecture designed the modern rustic space. 2 Miller Ave., Mill Valley, 415-485-2213.

New Service: Brunch at Souvla, Tosca Open Mondays

SOUVLA has kicked off its weekend brunch service on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am-2pm. Their Greek-influenced options include a breakfast sandwich on their pita, with lamb, scrambled eggs, radish, tomato, onion, avgolemono, garlic yogurt, and feta cheese, or “Greek” toast, a spin on French toast made with pita, sour cherry syrup, and frozen Greek yogurt. You’ll also find coffee, pitchers of Greek brunch punch, and carafes of Greek rosé. Take a look at all the offerings here.

Looking for a good Monday night supper? TOSCA CAFE is now open Monday evenings from 5pm-2am. Their menu is the same, and remember they take reservations now too. To recap, hours are now seven nights a week, 5pm-2am, with the kitchen open until 1am.

Tosca Cafe            - 242 Columbus Ave. San Francisco - 415-986-9651

Events! Some Special Seafood Events, Plus a Chocolate Bonus

Dungeness crab season is open, and that’s a wonderful thing. There are a couple of ways to celebrate around town, starting with an all-you-can-eat crab feast at THE HALL on Sunday November 23rd and 30th from 1pm to 5pm. The deal is pretty sweet: tickets are $70 per person, which includes all the crab you can handle, bottomless mimosas, micheladas, and shandies, along with garlic noodles, salad, and sourdough. 1028 Market St. at Golden Gate.

Don’t want to cook the day before Thanksgiving? Head to Oakland’s HOMESTEAD for a prix-fixe family-style crab feed. The menu includes grilled crab (one half per person), along with salad, Brussels sprouts, roasted potatoes, and housemade sourdough. There will also be lots of sauces and, for dessert, pomegranate sorbet. Reservations are available from 3pm-9pm, and the dinner will likely cost $45 per person (though it could fluctuate depending on market price), not including tax and tip. 4029 Piedmont Ave. at 40th St., Oakland, 510-420-6962.

As of November 9th, JACK’S OYSTER BAR & FISH HOUSE is offering a special Sunday seafood supper every Sunday evening. The prix-fixe three-course menu will change every week and includes choices of appetizer and entrée. Previous options have included Dungeness crab Louie, shrimp bucket with cocktail sauce, and sautéed sand dabs. The suppers are $34 per person, not including tax and tip. The special menu is available every Sunday evening beginning at 5pm, in addition to the regular dinner menu. 336 Water St. at Franklin, Oakland, 510-271-7952.

The only thing better than a crab boil is a boozy crab boil. And luckily, Aviation Gin, Imbibe Magazine, and ABV are hosting exactly that on Sunday December 14th, from 12pm-2pm. The brunch event includes a menu highlighting crab, as well as cocktails from Aviation Gin, including a Tuxedo (Aviation Gin, sherry, orange bitters) and the Red Snapper (Aviation Gin, tomato juice, lemon, spices). Tickets are $65 and include food, drink, and a copy of Imbibe’s new book, Cocktails for the Holidays: Festive Drinks to Celebrate the Season. 3174 16th St. at Guerrero, 415-400-4748.

And now let’s switch gears to chocolate lovers, who don’t want to miss the Fifth Annual Fall Chocolate Salon on Saturday November 22nd from 10am-5pm at Fort Mason. The annual event includes tons of producers and makers of chocolate confections to get you in the mood for the holiday season. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Fort Mason, Building A, 1 Fort Mason Blvd. at Laguna.

510 News: Farm Burger

Georgia-based chain FARM BURGER has opened their first West Coast location in Berkeley. As previously reported, the chain currently has three locations in Georgia, as well as one in North Carolina.

They serve relatively inexpensive burgers (starting at $7.50) using quality meats and salads and sides using local produce. For their first foray into California, they’ve partnered with chef Jamie Lloyd, who previously worked at Golden Gate Meats, and will be offering meat from BN Ranch. If you’re not feeling the beef burger, they also have a quinoa and bean patty, a chicken patty, and a pork patty instead. There are also fries, salads, lots of fun toppings, and milk shakes (the Doughnut Dolly Foster, made with ingredients from the neighboring shop, sounds like a must-try). (Our intrepid copyeditor reports it’s also kid-friendly, with a little tyke play area!) Check out the menu here; hours are Sun-Thu 11:30am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm. 1313 9th St. at Gilman, Berkeley, 510-705-1485.

650 Updates: ManresaBread, Rasa

Manresa’s chef-owner David Kinch, head baker Avery Ruzicka, and partner Andrew Burnham have found a brick-and-mortar location for their MANRESABREAD. The bread project, which has appeared at the Palo Alto and Campbell farmers’ markets as well as weekly pop-ups, will be opening in December in Los Gatos. When they open, look for bread loaves including levain, polenta sourdough, and cinnamon raisin loaf, as well as both sweet and savory pastries. In addition to the storefront, they will also be operating out of a nearby commissary kitchen, which clocks in at more than 3,000 square feet. With all that space and a new TMB Tag gas deck oven from Italy that can bake more than 100 loaves at a time, you can expect to see some additional locations crop up after this first one is open. You can still catch them at the markets; follow along on Twitter for updates. 276 North Santa Cruz Ave. at Bachman, Los Gatos.

RASA has opened its doors in downtown Burlingame. The new restaurant, from Ajay Walia of San Carlos’ Saffron Indian Bistro, is focused on the food of Southern India. On the menu, look for dosas, of course, as well as seafood, uttapam, and myriad vegetarian options. There is also a selection of small plates, including their interpretation of idli chaat with steamed then fried rice cakes, whipped homemade yogurt, pomegranate arils, mint, and tamarind. Hours are lunch Wed-Sun 11:30am-2:30pm; dinner Sun-Thu 5pm-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-10pm. 209 Park Rd. at Howard, Burlingame, 650-340-7272.

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This Round Is On Me... (hey, thanks!)

(Sponsored): Flavor! Napa Valley® Celebration of Food, Wine, and Fun

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Flavor! Napa Valley is running from November 19th-23rd, and tablehopper has scored an exclusive just for you! Take 20 percent off the following events:

• Culinary Demonstration with Dean Fearing
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The event is hosted by founding sponsors Silverado Resort and Spa and Dolce Hotels in partnership with Visit Napa Valley, The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, and Napa Valley Vintners, and is produced by Karlitz & Company.

the lush

Bar News & Reviews (put it on my tab)

Bar Updates: Nite Cap Reopens, The Trocadero Now Rx

As mentioned on tablehopper last year, Tenderloin dive bar NITE CAP was purchased by a team of new partners including Dave Esler of Hog & Rocks. After a remodel, it has reopened, though Esler swears it hasn’t changed too much. According to Scoop, the new Nite Cap is focused on shot-and-a-beer combos and is not all about mixology or fancy cocktails. The inside has been gutted and redone, though, and there’s been a lot of work done to the exterior as well. The sign now lights up completely, but otherwise is unchanged. 699 O’Farrell St. at Hyde, 415-931-9508.

The Trocadero has done a quick switcheroo to RX, Eater reports. The bar is from owners Dennis Leary and Eric Passetti, and it is focused on the, ahem, medicinal qualities of alcohol. The menu is based on the Prohibition-era prescriptions people could get for booze and includes drinks made using tinctures and digestifs. They’ve changed the decor a bit, too, making the space a bit warmer and darker, but not changing the layout significantly. 701 Geary St. at Leavenworth, 415-952-0481.

Old Devil Moon Bringing Beer Geekery to Bernal

Three self-identified “beer geeks” are getting ready to open a bar in Bernal, called OLD DEVIL MOON. The project comes from Chris Cohen, cicerone and board member of the San Francisco Homebrewers Guild, Andrew Kelley, also a cicerone and former manager of Los Angeles beer spot Little Bear, and Will Marshall, an accountant with a love of beer. The partners are opening their bar in the former La Terraza space on Mission Street and are planning to offer an excellent list of beers on tap and in bottles. The bar will have a Southern bent, so it should be comfortable and welcoming, and they’ve also got a full liquor license, so there will be cocktails. You’ll also find a menu designed to pair well with beer, including burgers, of course. They’re still at least several months away from opening while the space is under construction (interiors are from Kelly Malone). 3472 Mission St. at Cortland.

Beaujolais for Days at Arlequin This Thursday

What a wonderful time of year this is! Commercial crab season just opened, white truffle season continues, and now the Beaujolais is arriving from France! This Thursday November 20th, catch the seventh annual Beaujolais Bash at ARLEQUIN WINE MERCHANT from 6pm-8pm. In addition to the Beaujolais Nouveau, they’ll also be pouring a selection of Cru Beaujolais from various vintages. Tickets are $35 per person at the door and include plenty of tastes. All wines will be available for purchase, at a special 10 percent discount for the event.

Arlequin Wine Merchant            - 384 Hayes St. San Francisco - 415-863-1104

the socialite

Shindigs, Feasts, & Festivals (let's party)

Give Delicious Thanks This Turkey Day

Event Info

Thursday Nov 27, 2014

Thanksgiving is next week, on Thursday November 27th, and it’s time to start planning your day. For those looking to eat out, we’ve rounded up a few of the cozier, more intimate choices that would be particularly nice for visiting family, but don’t forget to check out the huge list of places accepting reservations on OpenTable.

Right on the water, in a perfect setting for out-of-towners, check out the abundant menu at BUTTERFLY. It’s three courses, with choices of appetizer and dessert, and a serious spread for the entrée, including salt-baked turkey breast, confit leg, and all the sides you need. It’s $55 per person, not including tax and tip. Pier 33, The Embarcadero, 415-864-8999.

BURRITT ROOM & TAVERN is offering a three-course prix-fixe on Thanksgiving from 5pm-9pm. The menu offers choices including turkey, of course, or a braised short rib with smoked potato gnocchi, persimmon, pomegranate, and veal consommé. The dinner is $58 per person; call for reservations. 417 Stockton St. at Bush, 415-400-0561.

British-inspired THE CAVALIER is offering a prix-fixe menu all day long (11:30am-7:30pm) for $75 per person, with wine pairings for an additional $50. 360 Jessie St. at 5th St., 415-321-6000.

Also offering a prix-fixe all day long is the neighborhood-friendly COCOTTE in Russian Hill, where you can get beef Wellington, braised turkey, yam casserole, and pumpkin tart. The dinner is three courses with choices for $69 per person, served from 12pm-9pm. 1521 Hyde St. at Jackson, 415-292-4415.

Check out ELITE CAFE for a Southern-inspired feast. It’s available from 2pm-8:30pm and is $65 per person or $30 per child under 10. 2049 Fillmore St. at California, 415-673-5483.

For a cool location near the Embarcadero, ONE MARKET is offering a four-course Thanksgiving meal for $67 per person, or $29 for children under 10, not including tax and tip.

If you’re doing Thanksgiving at home, or as a guest at someone else’s house, you’ll be a star with LE DIX-SEPT PÂTISSERIE’s baked goods. As usual, they’ve brought their A game for the season: the pumpkin tart this year has milk chocolate and toasted pumpkin seeds and is a total looker. They’ve also got a chocolate tart, a savory tart with mushrooms and onion confit, and cheese gift boxes. Check out all the options here and make sure to order for delivery soon (they stop taking orders at midnight tonight).

Are you responsible for The Bird this year? 7x7.com has put together a handy guide of where to buy your turkey, including delivery, pickup, ordering, and pricing information. Check it out right here.

As we all remember to pause in this busy season and give thanks for all of our bounty, it’s also so so important to remember those in our own community who go without. This is a very busy time of year for the SF-Marin Food Bank, as many families struggle to make ends meet. Until Thanksgiving, PG&E will be matching all donations to the food bank, so your donation doubles its impact. Please consider donating whatever you can to this wonderful cause.

the starlet

Star Sightings in Restaurants (no photos please)

The Queen at Poesia

A friend texted to let us know that the amazing Oprah Winfrey was in the Castro, dining at Poesia. Eater confirms it, and fills in that she was at The Castro Theatre screening her new film Selma, and apparently was greeted by standing ovations everywhere she went! Love it.

Not Just Another Bearded Hipster

No, that wasn’t just any old lumbersexual you saw at Salumeria, it was Oscar-winning actor Jared Leto. We don’t know what he ate, but he posed for photos with a fan and definitely fit right in.

How I Met Your Taco

Wonderfully goofy funnyman Jason Segel was spotted at Tacolicious Valencia last Saturday. No word on what he ate, but we’re hoping his vampire puppet was in tow and enjoyed himself too.

The Taco Redemption

It was a busy weekend at Tacolicious Valencia, where Tim Robbins also had lunch on Saturday. That’s fine with us, because inserting “taco” into movie titles is actually pretty funny. Anyway, he reportedly enjoyed the 10-taco platter (he’s a man with an appetite, awesome), Brussels sprouts, and a spicy beer.