All stories about "Conduit"

THE MISSION—Some people haven't warmed up to the look yet, but the experts have filed their opinion: the SF Chapter of the American Institute of Architects has awarded architect Stanley Saitowitz and his Conduit design the "Excellence in Interior Architecture" award. There's no denying the design has provided the dining scene with a new look; congrats to all involved. [EaterWire]

SAN FRANCISCO—It could be weeks before a ruling on the Healthy SF case is made, but some are already forecasting the outcome, and it doesn't look promising for restaurants: "Sooooooo, judges not being the kind of folks who will ever admit that they are wrong...I think it is safe to assume that the Ninth Circuit will overturn the District Court ruling. The GGRA can then ask for another hearing at the Ninth Circuit with all eleven judges (called an en banc hearing) or appeal the case to the Supreme Court. Look for an appeal to the Supreme Court - I 'spect the GGRA has had about all it can take of the Ninth Circuit." [Sweet Melissa]

With no Chron reviews today, we turn first to Paul Reidinger, the first major reviewer to take a crack at Conduit, the flashy New American in the quickly-developing northern Mission. Not only does Reidinger drop a very, very glowing review, but he compares Conduit (favorably, we might add) to some biggies in the process:

The restaurant, even in its fledgling days, already must be considered one of the premier spots on Valencia's still-burgeoning restaurant row; its peer group consists of Range, Limón, and perhaps Bar Tartine, and if only because of the extraordinary atmospherics of the interior design (the architect was Stanley Saitowitz), its sheen is brighter than theirs.

But let's not forget the appeal of chef Justin Deering's food either. The man and his staff work in an exhibition kitchen that stretches like a stage across the back of the restaurant, and the menu they're turning out is a seasonal California one, yes, like so many others, but with an emphasis on butter and cream that reminded me of Traci Des Jardins's early menus at Jardinière and of Nancy Oakes's at Boulevard.

· Napa Dispatch: Oxbow "Is Ready and It Is Stunning" [CH]
· There Exists a Chick-Fil-A in Fairfield, of All Places? [Yelp]
· Desserts and Design Shine (Literally) at Conduit [CH]
· Proper Time Between Courses: Seven Minutes, No More, No Less [eGullet]
· Has the Opening Buzz Finally Passed Spork By? [Yelp]
· Yelper Claims Baker Street Bistro=Bizarre Food Spot [Yelp]
· Gotta Love the Random Three-Year-Old Thread Resurrection [Tribe]

We don't do our own reviews per se here at Eater, but we hear there are plenty of local blogs that love to share opinions on their recent dining experiences. This week, in particular, saw a veritable explosion of reviews around the 'net.

Let's lead off with a bit of good news/bad news from Local Kitchen and Wine Merchant. Filing in on the positive side is A Few Reservations: "Local Kitchen and Wine Merchant feels like the hipster loft of your imaginary friend who writes for Wallpaper and listens to nothing but Hotchip. Cool in both senses of the word. The food was average, verging on pretty damn good ... I know a lot of folks here in San Francisco like to bitch about our sudden flush of wine bars, but me, I couldn't be happier." [AFR]

Coming in on the other side of the fence with regards to Local, though just barely, is Becks & Posh: "I have nothing bad to say about Local Kitchen and Wine Merchant, the new place from Ola Fendert, but I can't think of anything great to say about it either. The problem starts with their menu which is uninteresting at best." [B&P]

Leading the resurgence of the north Mission corridor is Conduit, the New American restaurant making waves on Valencia and 14th. The Stanley Saitowitz-designed, 110-seat restaurant has received mostly good first impressions, though we suppose the design is forever destined to be a polarizing topic of conversation. The team behind Conduit—Brian Spiers, Brian Gavin and executive chef Justin Deering (Boulevard, Jeanty at Jack's, among others)—has the experience and vision to make it work, particularly as they work out the expected opening kinks. Though the flashy endeavor certainly belies the Mission hipster feel—by no means a bad thing—Conduit has been packed solid since opening (especially on weekends) and appears to be well on its way to riding the opening wave.

· Conduit Impresses, Evokes Full House References [CH]
· Another Frozen Yogurt Sighting, Coming to the Crocker [CH]
· We Could Spend All Day Reading About Kitchen Practical Jokes [eGullet]
· Grumpy People Would Rather You Left in a Timely Manner [Zagat]
· Poof! Restaurants Are Disappearing From Yelp! [Yelp Convo]

And with this, our work is done until the 26th. Very happy holidays to you and yours.

All restaurant and bar openings get served up on a regular basis via The Dish. Notice a new restaurant in your area? Your sightings to the Dish Hotline, please.

After a bit of merriment dealing with the state's red tape, Conduit has finally received its liquor license and will officially open tomorrow evening. The 110-seater in the north Mission will also be open on Sunday night, then closed for the Christmas days, and come the 26th, it will be normal business going forward. Justin Deering, once of Boulevard, is in the kitchen, doing his "contemporary American" thing (menu here), and the growing 125-bottle wine list is reputed to be a good one. But of course, the talk of the place is and will be the Saitowitz design, pictured above in its pre-opening incarnation, so if you happen to stop by this weekend, do share your thoughts on the conduitage. 280 Valencia St, between 14th & Duboce, the Mission; (415) 552-5200
· Conduit Unveils Signage, Menu and a Possible Debut [~ESF~]
· Saitowitz Design at Conduit Begins to Connect [~ESF~]
· Fall Tracking Report: Conduit [~ESF~]

'Tis the season for big openings, and this week's splash might very well be at 280 Valencia, where things are coming together quite quickly for Conduit. The eye-catching Stanley Saitowitz interior is looking strikingly similar to its renderings, and as a commenter across the way notes, it's something to be seen in person to fully appreciate. The latest on Conduit's opening is that a Wednesday debut may be a possibility, but as always, the Sacramento red tape makes it moving target. To tide you over in the meantime, we have a sample menu from Chef Justin Deering:

Like a cherry atop a sundae, the entryway fireplace at Conduit has been installed, capping off a very impressive—and nearly complete—Stanley Saitowitz design down on 280 Valencia. If all goes accordingly (i.e., inspections), the Conduit guys will undergo some test runs and soft openings early next week, and are hoping the grand debut will follow soon thereafter. As for the restaurant details, you'll recall that Justin Deering (Boulevard, Jeanty at Jacks) will be in kitchen, doing the contemporary/organic American bit, with ~110 seats scattered between the dining room and bar/counter areas.
· Saitowitz Design at Conduit Begins to Connect [~ESF~]
· Fall Tracking Report: Conduit [~ESF~]

Surprise, surprise: more copper pipes—a.k.a. conduits—continue to be erected at the upcoming Conduit, including some nifty ones composing the bar. You'll recall the interior is being designed by none other than modernist architect extraordinaire Stanley Saitowitz, and from some great comments during our initial look at the place about a month ago, it seems that the dramatic interior (while still evolving, obviously) is already proving to be quite the conversation/contention point. The guys on Upper Valencia are already at least a week behind schedule from their initial prognostications for trendy New American restaurant, which isn't incredibly surprising given the scope of the project (peep the rendering). Mid to late December seems to be the word.
· Fall Tracking Report: Conduit [~ESF~]

Your thoughts on Conduit are more than welcome in the comments field. Is the Saitowitz design hot or not?

Fall is a time for restaurant openings, but when said restaurants actually opens is anyone's guess. Fall Tracking Report is your source for the latest news on upcoming restaurants and when you should start trying to score that resy.

Conduit, 280 Valencia Street, The Mission

Initial Debut Projection: Late November 2007
Current Debut Projection: Late November 2007
Odds, On Time Arrival: 3 to 1
Eater Projected Opening Date: 12/01/07

Here we have Conduit, which is settling in nicely into the evolving north Mission area. Chef Justin Deering (Jeanty at Jack's) will roll out an appetizer-heavy, contemporary American menu, and given the offhand construction conversations, look for an impressive and unique wine list of 200+. But the thing that will turn heads towards Conduit, at least initially, is the decor. Well-known modernist Stanley Saitowitz is designing the interior, and from the looks of our little inspection, it's going to be a space unlike any other in the city. Existing conduits of all sizes are everywhere, and yes, they are real. The dining room will seat 80-90 diners, and there will also be a pair of separate bar/counters. A private dining room and unisex (read: trendy) bathrooms are in the back. To warm up the mechanical feel, a fireplace will be put in near the Valencia entrance.

Notice a conduit or two? [Rendering: Stanley Saitowitz]

THE MISSION—Our favorite Tablehopper briefly touched on this earlier in the week, but more details are leaking out about Conduit, the restaurant opening in late November near Valencia and 14th in the northern Mission, or as it will probably be dubbed in a month: NoMi. According to the fact sheet, Conduit will seat 110 between the dining room and kitchen counter, and a wine list of 200 bottles will be offered. Taking up executive chef duties will onetime Michael Chiarello sous chef and Jeanty at Jack's vet Justin Deering, who is really just endearing (sorry). Produce will be sourced from farmer friends and subsequently transformed into cuisine described as "Contemporary American with French and Italian influences." For renderings of the mod interior, do check out architect Stanley Saitowitz's site. Going forward, look for Conduit cameos in the Plywood Report, obv. [EaterWire Inbox]

WINE COUNTRY—Just in time for November, Zagat Top Newcomer Go Fish has completed its notable outdoor dining and bar area expansion. The outdoor bar/patio at Cindy Pawlcyn's St. Helena fish house now seats 100, will be open year-round, and will offer the full dinner menu, cementing Go Fish as one of the better post-winery destinations in the hood. Also sprinkled throughout the outdoor area: an "eye-catching array" of pots and planters rife with herbs and vegetables, including the omnipresent cherry tomato. [Earthtimes]