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? The tip line awaits. Bonus points and a fabulous sticker if you include photos.
1) Nopa: Seems that a few people got excited about the new signage up at Minibar, and the person who sent in the above snap of the interior revealed gets major points. Leather sofas and stools are in, and once a few more details get polished off, it might be just about time to promote Minibar to post-plywood status. Divisadero at McAllister [PLYWOOD]
According to a tipster, there's a new "Restaurant For Lease" at an establishment we've long wondered about/been scared of: Gabin on Fulton, just off the corner of Masonic. All windows—and doors—are completely tinted black, and Yelp reviews suggest it was (is?) some sort of creepy Mafia karaoke brothel and bar with free peanuts. What's going on over there, Western Addition people? [EaterWire]
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? The tip line awaits. Locally-sourced bonus points if you include photos.
1) Inner Richmond: The signage has been up for a few months now, but now we have an early ETA for Happy Belly, the gourmet deli going in on the corner on Balboa and 3rd. It's from the team behind the uber popular Namu just a few blocks down, will also have take-home meals, and the preliminary opening date is September. [PLYWOOD]
THE MISSION—Inner Richmond fave Sushi Bistro is looking to open a second location, this time in the Mission. The space—a quaint one at 2809 24th Street, in between St. Francis Fountain and Roosevelt Tamale Parlor—has been chosen, but still needs the city's approval for a conditional use permit. Sushi Bistro is scheduled to go before the planning commission this week; the preliminary recommendation is approval with conditions. [EaterWire]
NOPA—In what should be an encouraging move for the lukewarm dessert lounge trend, Campton Place vet Boris Portnoy will take over the kitchen at two-month old Candybar. Via Lady Hopstress: "Portnoy will be launching his new (and tighter) menu tomorrow, on Wednesday. There will be a seasonal dessert tasting menu, a few more savory dishes, and the new menu will organized into two sections, fruit and chocolate, for both savory and sweet." [Tablehopper]
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? The tip line awaits. Bonus points and a 4% surcharge if you include photos.
1) Union Square: Just off the corner of Powell, Sutter Street's Cartwright Hotel is renovating their entire ground-floor lobby area (among other things) and part of the redesign involves the installation of a new wine bar called 1915. Work is expected to be done in two to three weeks, and per standard wine bar protocol, there will be small bites for consumption in addition to the vino. [PLYWOOD]
Given yesterday's big LAT article about the drying of San Francisco old-school bars, the timing might be too good to be true, but it seems that after years of being dormant, the old Fulton Street Bar space at 1785 Fulton is finally seeing some action. From the Eater Inbox: "It's been over 4 years and yet nothing has come of the old Fulton Street Bar (Fulton & Masonic). The building received new windows and a paint job a couple of months ago. The for lease sign was recently removed and someone is fastidiously removing the near-nightly graffiti...but no further signs of action? Is there any word on the street as to what will become of the space?" There's been nothing new on the ABC front, but on-site inspections verify work permits, new windows, clean appearances and the like, so something is definitely astir. If you've got some juice, operators are standing by.
· Last call for many classic S.F. bars [LAT]
With several openings on tap this week, including Uva Enoteca on Thursday, it should be a busy time for The Dish, the place to find all the latest and greatest openings from around the city. If you notice something new in your area, please don't be shy.
1) NoPa: Making its debut over the weekend was On the Corner, the new cafe-by-day/lounge-by-night taking up the corner space on Divis and Oak. The space has been outfitted in brown leather sofas, and high ceilings make for an airy atmosphere (see above). There was even a live jazz duo playing yesterday. The menu is limited for now, as are the hours (closed at six tonight), but extended hours should get rolling in May. 359 Divisadero, at Oak Street; (415) 552-1101 [Eater Staff]
SOMA—Already with a date and menu in hand, a tipster sends along word that Anchor and Hope has recently erected—errr, technically painted—some new signage on its Minna Alley storefront. Also in place is a brand new door (lower right). Opening is currently still on track for next week. [EaterWire]
NOPA—Apparently, there have been quite a few name changes at work at the barbecue joint at 705 Divisadero. Originally known as Brother in Law's BBQ, it briefly became Lily's, and within the last week has swapped once again to Da Pitt BBQ, and rumor has it that ... they deliver. [Chowhound]
Open now for about a week, Candybar prides itself on being San Francisco's first dessert lounge. Though at this point, we're not quite sure if this extension of the NY-LA trend of dessert lounges is a good or bad thing, there's no denying that Candybar has capitalized on a nice niche and created a very substantial buzz for itself in the early going. Preliminary reports still have the crew working out some kinks, but on the whole, everyone seems to be rooting for this one to do well. Be advised that sweets aren't the only offering, with a full wine list and savory menu also available. Between them, the pair of sweet and savory chefs boast experience from Coi, Boulevard and the French Laundry, so this little NoPa joint might be onto something.
Welcome back to the Plywood Report, your regular, all-encompassing chronicle of the next generation of restaurants to grace our fair city. Spot something in your nabe? Let us know. Bonus points and a Mint Plaza orange chair for including photos.
1) The Mission: Directly above, behold the first glimpse into the great Indian cuisine wars of '08 on Valencia and 21st. Now that Firecracker is history, Udupi Palace is moving in, overhauling a good portion of the Valencia space, and hoping to open within a month. It's going to take quite the effort to dethrone the ever-popular Dosa as the king of the hill, but that's why the game is played, yes? [PLYWOOD]
All openings around town are served up on a regular basis via The Dish. Notice a new debut in your neighborhood recently? The tip line awaits your sightings.
1) NoPa: The dessert lounge era is upon us, and leading the charge is Candybar. Debut night was technically over the weekend, but going forward today, the place will be open per normal. By this point, the theme of Candybar is well-known: it's a wine bar with a focus on sweets, though savory food is also served. Local artwork graces the space, which by all accounts has been packed in its various iterations of opening nights. Reservations accepted. 1335 Fulton Street, between Broderick and Divisadero, (415) 673-7078; website [Eater Staff]
2) Hayes Valley: Opening right on schedule tonight is Domo, the tiny sushi joint by Isa's Luke and Kitty Sung and high school bud Kuo Wha that we've tracked since its early stages. As noted elsewhere, tables didn't make the final design cut, so the only seating is about 15 seats at the counter that wraps around the sushi bar and windows along Laguna, but to-go orders (and sushi boxes) will be very much available. 511 Laguna Street, at Linden, (415) 861-8887; website [Eater Staff]
THE MISSION—Inner Richmond fave Sushi Bistro is looking to open a second location, this time in the Mission. The space—a quaint one at 2809 24th Street, in between St. Francis Fountain and Roosevelt Tamale Parlor—has been chosen, but still needs the city's approval for a conditional use permit. Sushi Bistro is scheduled to go before the planning commission this week; the preliminary recommendation is approval with conditions. [EaterWire]
1) NoPa: The dessert lounge era is upon us, and leading the charge is Candybar. Debut night was technically over the weekend, but going forward today, the place will be open per normal. By this point, the theme of Candybar is well-known: it's a wine bar with a focus on sweets, though savory food is also served. Local artwork graces the space, which by all accounts has been packed in its various iterations of opening nights. Reservations accepted. 1335 Fulton Street, between Broderick and Divisadero, (415) 673-7078; 
