SOMA—Even though Elizabeth Falkner stopped by the festivities in South Beach over the weekend (including among others, Paula Deen's Poker Party, of all places), this week will finally see the unveiling of Orson. The ambitious and much-anticipated "Edgy California Cuisine" project by Falkner and Sabrina Riddle will toss a soft opening affair tonight, and will officially debut tomorrow night (Tuesday). Perhaps even more importantly, the reservation lines will open tomorrow as well, so if you're stuck at a desk all day filling out TPS reports, it might a good idea to try to score some seats, if there are even any left. More info on Orson, like the resy hotline number, can be had at the official site. [EaterWire Inbox]

  Comments

All news fit to run goes in EaterWire. Your juice, sightings, etc. to sf@eater.com, please.

SOMA—As noted earlier in the week, last night was opening night for Laurent Manrique's overhauled version of the Fifth Floor. Most of the details regarding the fancy remodel are already out—Gascon theme, Jennie Lorenzo, adjacent cafe et al.—so we won't rehash them all again. But Thrillist does have the new menu, which we highly recommend checking out if you're curious as to the full extent of the Manriquification. [Thrillist]

EMBARCADERO—The departure of pastry chef virtuoso Shuna Lydon from Sens left many confused, and a replacement has already arrived, kind of. Shuna's successor as executive pastry chef at Sens is Kelly Fields, a member of "the tightly knit opening pastry team at Sens." Prior to Sens, Fields had worked for New Orleans-based Spice, Inc., and will incorporate her new dessert menu within two weeks. [EaterWire Inbox]

PACIFIC HEIGHTS—Plywood alumnus Long Bar and Bistro appears to be coming along quite nicely, and an opening date may be set. Emails a passerby, "Was walking by the empty Fillmore Grill space last night and saw that they were having the private soft opening of a new bar/bistro called the Long Bar & Bistro (very original). Got a peak inside looked nice. Door guy said it is opening St. Patrick's day. The neighborhood has needed a new bar for a while." [EaterWire Inbox]

  Comments

THE MISSION—Since the impending arrival of Udupi Palace in the current Firecracker space was announced some weeks back, we've received several reports and inquiries regarding the happenings at 21st and Valencia. Some have wondered if the swap is still happening, since Firecracker has taken down the liquor license notices. It is indeed still taking place, but not until "probably the end of the month." In the meantime, Firecracker wants you to know it is still open, "for the time being," which is really here nor there. [EaterWire Inbox]

  Comments

Christine Kesler, 9/26/07

EMBARCADERO CENTER—Just opened in the fall, Sens, the ambitious restaurant in the cursed top-floor space of the Embarcadero Center, is already cutting costs and has asked star pastry chef and avid blogger Shuna Lydon to step down. The pastry chef is often the first to go when restaurants begin to cut costs, but in many ways, Lydon—a veteran of biggies like Gramercy Tavern, Citizen Cake, Bouchon, the French Laundry, etc—was the main attraction, so we'd say it's safe to begin casting nervous glances toward Sens. As for Lydon, her next move is uncertain, though we imagine she'll opt for the more established route; her desserts will stay on the Sens menu for the next two weeks only. [EaterWire]

  Comments

All the day's news goes in EaterWire. Per normal, your juicy gossip to sf@eater.com.

TENDERNOB—The long-vacant restaurant space at 1237 Polk might have a new tenant in the wings. If it passes the planning commission gauntlet later this week, the former Johnny Wok space will become McTeague's, a bar "that will serve limited food items including sandwiches and soup." While we give McTeague's bonus points for naming a bar after the turn of the century Frank Norris novel set in San Francisco, we have to wonder if it's possible for a new bar to go directly to "dive" status. Anyone? [EaterWire]

NAPA—And yet another Ferry Building tenant is planning on making the trek up to Napa's Oxbow Market: "Hog Island Oyster Co. will open an oyster bar in Napa's new Oxbow Public Market. Similar in size and menu to the company's operation in San Francisco's Ferry Building, the new venture is projected to debut in September." [Inside Scoop, last item]

FISHERMAN'S WHARF—Tim McDonnell, the owner of Tarantino's on Fisherman's Wharf and Sausalito's Spinnaker, has decided to take on a new project all the way up in the vast reaches of Sacramento, where he will remodel Folsom's Cliff House, a restaurant that reportedly has a stunning view of, um, the American River. Given McDonnell's expansions northward, here's hoping that Tarantino's quality doesn't slip like the rest of the Fisherman's Wharf restaurants ... Wait, what? [Folsom]

  Comments

SOMA—This week's Tablehopper reported rumors of a possible February 26th debut for Elizabeth Falkner's Orson, and it now looks like that week will definitely see some degree of action down on Fourth Street, with the 26th slated for a soft opener. In the meantime, the Orson website has been revamped, complete with menu highlights (Paella with squid ink gel; Samosas, raita and chutney sorbet) and the following ominous announcement: "Orson is coming very soon." [EaterWire]

NAPA—We've got a couple reports from the Taylor's Automatic Refresher grand opening in the Oxbow Public Market earlier today. We'll have much more from the Taylor's front early next week, but in the meantime, here's a teaser on today's specials: Pulled Pork Sandwich, Baked Potato Soup, Blueberry Milkshake. [EaterWire Inbox]

TELEVISION—We already know that the new season of Top Chef—debuting on March 12—features a quartet of local chefs, but early previews already have Myth Cafe's rep cast as the villain: "This year's Hung is obviously Ryan, a San Francisco-based chef of such surpassing smugness that we are already rooting against him. (He's handsome, too, the pisher.)" [Cutlets, previously]

  Comments

Behind the pretty little branches lies much filth.

COW HOLLOW—When it comes to restaurant inspection scores for restaurants outside of Chinatown, usually any score below 80 generally qualifies as rare and well, bad. That's why it's so entertaining when popular restaurants get popped. Case in point: Perry's on Union Street just received the hideous score of 52 from a random inspection last week. Here's an appetizing sampler of the (many) violations: "Rodents/Roaches/Flies/Other Animals, Food in poor condition/unsafe/adulterated, Food Contact surfaces not clean/sanitized." That's the bad news. The good news? They're open tonight and have a fabulous Valentine's Day menu. [EaterWire, EveryBlock]

  Comments

1) The latest from the third branch of Taylor's Automatic Refresher is that it will open tomorrow morning for lunch service. Located in the growing Oxbow Public Market, Taylor's 3.0 will scatter 150 seats among indoor booths, barstool seating and outdoor picnic tables. The menu, for the most part, will closely mirror the St. Helena and Ferry Building locations. Bonus unconfirmed rumor: word on the tree-lined Napa streets is that Taylor's might—might!—be testing out the kitchen today and giving out free samples. 644 First Street, at McKinstry Street, Napa; Open daily: 10:30 am-8:30 pm, (707) 224-690; website [EaterWire]

2) Elsewhere in Oxbow, Daily Candy has it that Pica Pica Maize Kitchen has officially opened, and has carved itself a nice little niche: "The corn-centric fast food joint is the only place in Northern California where you'll find authentic Venezuelan grub." All of Northern California? 610 First Street, between McKinstry and Juarez, Napa; (707) 251-3757; website [Daily Candy]

3) And finally, if that wasn't enough Oxbow news for your afternoon enjoyment, the grand opening ceremony for the whole shebang is set for next weekend, February 23-24. Among the festivities: Cindy Pawlcyn, Nancy Silverton, giveaways, book signings, etc etc, plus all current and future vendors will be on hand and in celebration mode. Further reading on the Oxbow website. [Official Site]

[Photo courtesy]

  Comments

It's a turbulent time for the restaurant industry, what with new laws popping up on a weekly basis and all. Today, let's turn our attention to a pair of hot topics with recent developments in various political arena: the health care mandate and the looming trans fat ban. As always, your thoughts are very encouraged, either in the comments or straight to the IndustryWire Hotline.

1) Just when you thought the health care fiasco met a caesura in the courts, the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, the biggest opponents of the infamous health care ordinance, has officially asked the Supreme Court to temporarily block the new mandate and put the (eventually overruled) Dec. 26 federal judge's ruling back into effect immediately: "The application (07A654) was filed in Golden Gate Restaurant Association v. City and County of San Francisco, et al.; it was filed with Justice Anthony M. Kennedy as Circuit Justice for the Ninth Circuit. Justice Kennedy has the option of acting on the plea alone, or of referring it to his colleagues for action." [SCOTUSBlog]

  Comments

In the Bay Area, Google is pretty much considered one of the best places to work, what with the countless—ok, 17?—cafeterias providing free, sustainable food around the clock and the company's ongoing attempt at world domination. But apparently, it might not be the best place for chefs to be employed, as a Google chef was discovered to be living in a homeless shelter in a showy investigation by the Guardian:

I spend the evening down in the laundry area, discussing Mayor Gavin Newsom's administration with a chef for Google who's staying here for a few days ... Everyone has a hustle – his is laying low in a $200/week hotel while he searches for a real place to live. He had the day off and gave it a look, but a Craigslist search for "studio, $500-1000" in San Francisco turned up nothing.

  Comments

JACKSON SQUARE—Everyone's still ultramum on the happenings/ non-happenings at Myth, so it's likely any deal has yet to be finalized. Nonetheless, it's pretty safe to assume that the sale to Carl Pascarella's "Pacific Avenue Restaurants Investors" hasn't fallen through yet, as just this week, the group added a request for a caterer's permit to its still-pending liquor license. Last we heard from the BauerBlog, former Myth owner Tom Duffy said escrow could close by "early February," so things should be coming to a head soon enough. [EaterWire, previously]

THE INTERWEBS—If ever there a new service made for the responsible-eating masses of the Bay Area, it's a new service that allows anyone to check the endangered status of a certain fish: "You can text Blue Ocean's Fishphone at 30644 with the message FISH and the name of the fish in question. Immediately you'll get a text back with an assessment and, when appropriate, a more environmentally sound alternative." [Bitten]

  Comments