The Fillmore: Following up on our plywood special earlier in the week, here are some juicy renderings of Dosa's upcoming offshoot on the corner of Fillmore and Post. As suspected, it will be a two-level affair, and the layout also features a bar running parallel to Post Street, a communal table nearby and of course, the expected dining areas. Bigger versions in the gallery, including a little bird's eye view from the mezzanine, looking down onto the bar.
· Plywood Update: Dosa's Fillmore Outpost [~ESF~]
· Spring Tracking: Dosa II Breaks Ground, Begins Build-Out [~ESF~]
The Fillmore: While the Dosa Wars continue on Valencia, a tipster sends forth an update regarding Dosa's first spinoff on the other side of town. We haven't checked in with the corner of Fillmore and Post since April, so an update is more than in order. The 5800 square-foot, high-ceilinged space is still very raw (it's a full build-out, remember), and that initial late summer/early fall estimate will almost assuredly be pushed back. You can, however, make out the early formations of the layout, including what could be a bar area, a kitchen divide, and maybe even a second level? In other nearby sequel news, Pizzeria Delfina on California is getting close, seeing as how they are now hiring.
· Spring Tracking: Dosa II Breaks Ground, Begins Build-Out [~ESF~]
· Pre-Plywood Report: First Impressions at the New Dosa [~ESF~]
Welcome back to the Plywood Report, your regular, all-encompassing chronicle of the next generation of restaurants and bars to grace our fair city. Spot something new on your block? Operators are standing by. Bonus points if you include photos.
1) Nopa: Over on Divisadero, things have been pretty quiet at the second location of Bar Crudo for the some time, but we finally have some signs of life in the delayed project. A liquor license is up, red tape is being conquered, and early fall is the latest. [PLYWOOD]
2) The Fillmore: Details are still scarce regarding Bruno's and its world-famous chef, but the someone from the restaurant (right across from Yoshi's) himself emailed the tipline this week to say "we should be open in early october is going to be nice place we are very excite thank you." [PLYWOOD]
THE MISSION—Coffee Bar continues to grow up before our eyes, and the latest special dinner, courtesy of Brick's Alex Marsh, is a special tomato dinner. More information: the pricetag is $40, wine pairings are available, there are two seatings (8pm, 5pm), and the date is next Monday the 28th. Contact/resy info on the site. [EaterWire]
WESTERN ADDITION—Today it was announced that the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency will leave the Western Addition and The Fillmore after 40 years. How do the locals feel about the job done with the restaurants, you ask? From the Chron: "In recent years, there have been some successes, like Rasselas Ethiopian restaurant, the Sheba Piano Lounge and the 1300 Fillmore restaurant, but many residents say those do not make up for the past injustices. 'Yoshi's is wonderful, but not worth destroying a community,' [Rev. Arnold] Townsend said." Ouchers. [Curbed/Chron]
Oh, Yoshi's. Sweet little Yoshi's. From Marisa Churchill's exit to Saturday night tumbleweed to desperatepromotions, the file has been steadily growing over on Fillmore, leaving the Committee no choice but to spill the red ink. Since opening in the fall, Sho Kamio—who has talent in the kitchen, make no mistake—has cut the exotic dishes but the prices remain much too steep to survive outside the FiDi. The space is a massive, overprocessed mess of 300+ seats, it's never close to full (let alone a quarter full), and simply put, fancypants sushi in San Francisco—particularly the Fillmore—is generally just not a good idea. We've heard that the restaurant has already lost upwards of two hundred thousand dollars (unconfirmed, obviously), staff has been cut or exiled to Oakland (confirmed), and spot inspections reveal that the restaurant is simply not drawing the type of dining crowds originally expected. Thus, something's gotta give, whether it be an overhaul to a private venue, evolution into a true nightlife spot with pole-dancing geishas, or some other reimagination (submit ideas!).
The Fillmore: Not only is Yoshi'sgiving away tickets, but now it looks like a descent by the world-class jazz club/three-star restaurant into an all-nightlife venue might be closer than originally thought. At 9pm on a Saturday night (red flag #1), Yoshi's will host a party by "the creator of the infamous Butterfly parties and Monte Cristo parties" (red flag #2). Among the other reasons you should pay a $20 cover to go to Yoshi's:
1) Yoshi's is "the new 'hot spot' upscale venue and after-dinner party of the city." 2) Complimentary sake for all guests. 3) Sho Kamio's "whole new mouth-watering menu." 4) Ladies get in free before 10. 5) Two words: Geisha. Girls.
SONOMA—Last week, it came out that Preston Dishman is on his way out at The General's Daughter, but the Southern cuisine specialist wants to remain in the area: "Dishman says he's hoping to stay local and has a few offers already. He'll be at the General's Daughter through July. His wife, who manages the restaurant's front-of-the-house operations is also leaving. Does anyone smell a possible love match for John Ash, where Chef Madura recently departed?" [BiteClub]
THE FILLMORE—We already had Sunday brunch at 1300 on Fillmore, and as of this weekend past, chef/owner David Lawrence has decided to expand the service to include a Saturday version too. Hangtown fries, now available two days a week. [City Dish]
The Fillmore: A few weeks ago, we wondered about the state of affairs at Yoshi's and its empty rooms. Reactions were mixed, with some trying to rationalize the tumbleweed, but now the latest development on Fillmore might be cause for even more worry. Yoshi's is now giving away tickets, as evidenced by the following email newsletter that made the rounds yesterday afternoon regarding tomorrow's show:
FREE!!! EXCLUSIVELY FOR YOSHI'S EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS
As a thank you for being on our email list, we would like to invite you to check out the Bay Area debut of the Romanian-American Jazz Suite featuring Sam Newsome & Lucian Ban
Join us for another edition of Adventures in Shilling, wherein we celebrate the grossest shills from around the world wide web. As always, you too can help fight shills.
Let's dive into the shameless self- aggrandizing right away. Up first, we have the week-old Halu, which proves that not even endearing, eclectic neighborhood restaurants with Beatles posters are immune to the temptation of shilling on the interwebs, not mention horrible grammar:
This is the new rockers haven in the Richmond.!! Rock posters adorn the walls,rock music is played...and a rock and roll drummer ,Shig ,cooks the amazing food.Mimi,his delightful wife is also behind the counter. Halu is billed as a "Different Japanese Restaurant"..meaning for me,no sushi. instead,great yakorti,deep fried or not....ramen bowls...yummy stuff. Lots of veggie options! It's a small place,between Geary and Clement on 8th avenue and there is a nearby public parking lot. Refreshing spin on the usual Japanese cuisine offered around the city. Casual atmosphere....fresh and innovative!!! Get hip to Halu! Shill Probability: 49%
Aside from the uncontrollable enthusiasm, notable red flags include names and parking situation; still, it could be just an(other) overzealous first review. More blatant instances coming up elsewhere: Much more shilling coming up, well past the 50% mark >>
The end of the week brings a flurry of openings served up by The Dish, your source for the latest and great openings. As always, your sightings are appreciated.
1) Russian Hill: After being shuttered for about eight months, tonight (superstition be damned) is opening night for Cossu, the new incarnation of Pasha. There's a new look and direction, and overhauled menu, now online, bills itself as Moroccan, Asian and California so we'll see how this goes. 1516 Broadway, at Polk; (415) 885-4477; website [EaterWire]
His style is different - he learned macrobiotic cooking in Japan - and he uses his varied background to surprise and seduce diners ... On the other extreme, many combinations are subtle, with the flavors melding into one unified taste. In some cases, it leaves me longing for a little bigger portion ... There's no mistaking the French gestalt, but the Asian touches add surprise and subtlety. In fact, at times the flavors are almost too subdued; when the portions are small, the intensity can be ramped up.
While the review is nowhere near the Meadowood rave last week, Bauer gives it a respectable albeit unexcited three stars, even though he still isn't keen on the bed-and-breakfast atmosphere down there in MV. [Chron] NEXT: a Bad Trip to Yoshi's, a Good Trip to Epic and The Elsewhere >>
THE FILLMORE—More big news from the weekend that was: opening pastry chef, celebrity chef/personality and Top Chef alumna Marisa Churchill is no longer employed at Yoshi's. At this point, the "who left who" is still unclear, and no official reason has been given yet for Churchill's departure, as some other Yoshi's employees were just told the news yesterday. Last we heard, Churchill (who has also worked at Ame and LuLu) was doing some consulting at Pampas, opened last month. Though we're not quite sure what this move says about the current state of the restaurant at Yoshi's—which according to conflicting reports, may or may not be floundering—at the very least, it has lost some of its star power, and possibly that whiskey-donuts dish. [EaterWire]
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THE MISSION—Coffee Bar continues to grow up before our eyes, and the latest special dinner, courtesy of Brick's Alex Marsh, is a special tomato dinner. More information: the pricetag is $40, wine pairings are available, there are two seatings (8pm, 5pm), and the date is next Monday the 28th. Contact/resy info on the 
The Fillmore: Not only is Yoshi's 
SONOMA—Last week, it came out that Preston Dishman is on his way out at The General's Daughter, but the Southern cuisine specialist 
Let's dive into the shameless self- aggrandizing right away. Up first, we have the week-old Halu, which proves that not even endearing, eclectic neighborhood restaurants with Beatles posters are immune to the temptation of shilling on the interwebs, not mention horrible grammar:
THE FILLMORE—More big news from the weekend that was: opening pastry chef, celebrity chef/personality and Top Chef alumna Marisa Churchill is no longer employed at Yoshi's. At this point, the "who left who" is still unclear, and no official reason has been given yet for Churchill's departure, as some other Yoshi's employees were just told the news yesterday. Last we heard, Churchill (who has also worked at Ame and LuLu) was doing some consulting at 
