Boccalone isn't the day's only newcomer with an exotic one-word name. Here then, another edition of The Dish, your source for all the latest and greatest openings around town. Spot something new in your neighborhood? Let us know.
1) The Castro: It's finally debut day for Kasa Indian Eatery, the family-owned "Indian taqueria" on the corner of Noe and 18th. We've already chronicled the rise of Kasa so we'll refer you to the Archives for the background reading on the place, but the short story is that Kasa is hoping to do simple street food—kati rolls—very well. The menu resembles a taqueria in the sense that you pick your meat (or veggie option) for your freshly-made roti/"tortilla." It's open daily for lunch and dinner. 4001 18th Street, at Noe; 415-621-6940; website [EaterWire]
The eclectic menu at Willi's isn't for a reluctant palate. The small-plates menu is far from exotic, but the flavors are bold and wide ranging, divided into four categories: Asian, Locally Grown, Mediterranean and French.
... Every dish, while somewhat familiar, has an ingredient or technique that elevated it from the ordinary and made me want to order it ... Just about every dish at Willi's can become a conversation piece, and the staff knows how to sell it. They like to recommend dishes, and they've learned the art of pacing the arrivals; on my Update visit I never had more than two items on the table at the same time.
The CC Times stops by the Gourmet Ghetto to propose that a place like the Imperial Tea Court could only exist in the Bay Area: "Open since 2006, the North Berkeley teashop represents a perfect convergence of East Bay tastes, an authentically Asian experience with a Slow Food soul. Tucked away at the back of the Epicurious Garden food court — a Gourmet Ghetto location that's proved a tough sell for some businesses — there's a quirky vibe to this teashop and dim sum house that seems right at home in Berkeley ... If you've ever wondered what Beijing-style mom cooking was like, well, this is it." [CCT]
BERKELEY—Last night was the grand opening for Corso Trattoria, the latest feather in Shattuck Avenue's cap. The second restaurant by Wendy Brucker and Roscoe Skipper of Rivoli, the casual, 50-seat Corso specializes in Florentine cuisine. As always, East Bay reports are encouraged. 1786 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, (510) 704-8004 [EaterWire]
PADMA'S UNIVERSE—The Top Chef finale is tonight, and to commemorate the occasion, the LAT pens a fluff piece on Padma, revealing among other things, that The Lakshmi has several projects in the works, including a new show: "Here's how it's loosely described: A group of fun, eclectic people come over to her house for a dinner party; we watch her prep, get ready and cook; guests arrive and eat; maybe someone plays music." [LAT via Eater LA]
The Sentinel isn't the only new kid in town, which means it's time for The Dish, your source for all the latest and greatest openings around town. Spot something new in your neighborhood? Drop it in the tip jar, please.
1) North Beach: Just here to the right, you'll see the scene at Vicoletto on this Sunday night past, sent in by a tipster, meaning that the quick turnaround is complete. As we've noted before, most of the design elements are holdovers from the short-lived Nua era, and as with most newcomers, the southern Italian menu is probably a work in progress, but UrbanDaddy has rabbit ravioli as an early option alongside a "small but thoughtful" wine list. Current hours are 5:30 to 10pm daily, with weekend lunch en route. 550 Green Street, at Jasper; (415) 433-5800 [EaterWire]
Berkeley: A new project is in the works for the Krikorians, owners of five big-name East Bay restaurants, including the uber-successful T-Rex BBQ and Sea Salt. Their next restaurant will be called Falanghina, and will be a Southern Italian trattoria directly next door to Sea Salt in the two vacant storefronts at 2514-2516 San Pablo Avenue. A very thorough description of Falanghina can be had in the proposals on the Berkeley city site, but for your afternoon viewing convenience, we've sifted through the documents. Here, then, are some of the highlights:
FERRY BUILDING—Boccalone, Chris Cosentino's little side project of artisanal salumi and other tasty salted pig parts, continues to grow quickly. From the Inside Scoop: "Boccalone Salumeria, the artisanal salami business from Incanto's Chris Cosentino and Mark Pastore, will get its first retail spot when it opens in San Francisco's Ferry Building Marketplace this summer. Pastore and Cosentino signed the lease Tuesday to take over the corner spot (No. 21) currently occupied by Capay Organic ... The sliced-to-order salumi (including the previously unavailable prosciutto) will be available individually, as part of a platter assortment or in walk-away paper cones." [Scoop]
There's another, less spectacular room tucked behind the main dining room, and sure enough, that's where we're led, past the enormous, brightly lit stainless-steel-and-white bustling open kitchen. Here the ceiling is low and the decor seems an afterthought — a few kitschy realistic fish sculptures swim up a brick wall ...
The room had become increasingly, painfully noisy during the meal. As we left, we discovered the true appeal of the main dining room, besides its glamorous deep booths and striking aquariums: You could actually conduct a conversation here. True luxury! We realized we were in a noisy Siberia only at the very end of the evening.
As for the food itself, Brody isn't enamored by any means, describing the ceviche as "alarmingly minuscule" and summing up the entire experience pretty well in saying, "This is good food, but not dazzling enough for our expectations" (read: wallets). And a memo to Kuleto: you might want to do something about that back room. [SFW] More Reviews: Reidinger at Lolo, Ness at Maritime East and the Elsewhere >>
When Sea Salt opened in 2005, it had just 85 seats. Now there are nearly 200, the interior has been spiffed up with fresh flowers and a full-service bar, and the menu has grown ... The service, like the food, has an eclectic friendly quality. It supports the neighborhood vibe, but not at the expense of professionalism. Rarely does a restaurant that gets larger actually improve the food, but with Paone watching the line, that's exactly what's happened.
Last month saw the arrival of the area's first dessert lounge proper in NoPa's Candybar, and whether you want it or not, (at least) a pair of followers are currently ramping up in its footsteps. Your sightings are encouraged. See what you started, Candybar? [Photo: Jennifer Yin, 3/31/08]
1) The Richmond: Details are still a bit murky on this one, but down on Clement and 26th Avenue, 100% Dessert Cafe will be moving into space occupied by Mario's Steak and Chops (2512 Clement). Going strictly off the name—and its liquor license application as a "beer and wine eating place"—it looks like a dessert place, but no word yet on whether it will veer more towards a casual cafe or like Candybar, towards a lounge. [EaterWire]
It's Friday afternoon, and that means it's time to look back on the week that was at our sister site and friendly neighborhood blog, Curbed SF.
1) Though the restaurant within may not be finalized just yet, but The Hayes is now open for business, and Curbed has the attractive photo tour to prove it. 2) About that new InterContinental Hotel, it ... it looks like it has a great personality. 3) The Contemporary Jewish Museumrevealed: "Fabulous! Deconstructivism is the new black!" You did get the memo, right? 4) Would you enjoy a pitch black skyline? Aaron Peskin would. 5)The New York Times visits Berkeley, depicts it thusly: "packed with more hipsters with BlackBerrys than hippies with beards."
1) The Castro: It's finally debut day for Kasa Indian Eatery, the family-owned "Indian taqueria" on the corner of Noe and 18th. We've already chronicled the rise of Kasa so we'll refer you to the Archives for the background reading on the place, but the short story is that Kasa is hoping to do simple street food—kati rolls—very well. The menu resembles a taqueria in the sense that you pick your meat (or veggie option) for your freshly-made roti/"tortilla." It's open daily for lunch and dinner. 4001 18th Street, at Noe; 415-621-6940; website [EaterWire]
BERKELEY—Last night was the grand opening for Corso Trattoria, the latest feather in Shattuck Avenue's cap. The second restaurant by Wendy Brucker and Roscoe Skipper of Rivoli, the casual, 50-seat Corso specializes in Florentine cuisine. As always, East Bay reports are encouraged. 1786 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, (510) 704-8004 [EaterWire]
1) North Beach: Just here to the right, you'll see the scene at Vicoletto on this Sunday night past, sent in by a tipster, meaning that the 
FERRY BUILDING—Boccalone, Chris Cosentino's little side project of artisanal salumi and other tasty salted pig parts, continues to grow quickly. From the 
