EaterWire: Michael Mina's Cocktail Lounge Confirmed, Tribute Restaurant Fizzles and MORE!
UNION SQUARE—Never one to be idle for too long, Michael Mina has announced that he will indeed be opening a cocktail lounge that was originally revealed way back in November: "San Francisco chef Michael Mina and his posse are planning their first-ever cocktail lounge - Clock Bar, in the lobby of the Westin St. Francis hotel, directly across from Mina's four-star restaurant (335 Powell St.). Design and menu plans are moving along and should be complete for a July opening ... Mina says the 2,000-square-foot space will be a mixture of classic San Francisco and modern design. Besides cocktails and wine, Mina plans to serve 'small bites,' including panini, po' boys, salads, mussels and grilled meats." [Scoop, previously]
THE FILLMORE—Along with other tidbits (including some juicy yet nameless teasers about a mystery player in the Myth saga), Lady Hopstress has some new knowledge about Tribute Restaurant, which was en route to go in the old Powell's Place space at 1521 Eddy: " I was asking some folks about ... Tribute Restaurant, and it seems the business partners have split and the plans have disintegrated. No word about what may be going in next." [Tablehopper]
More EaterWire From Ghirardelli Square and the Mother's Day Front >>
The Gatekeepers: Tracy Smith, Foreign Cinema
This is The Gatekeepers, where Eater roams the city to meet the fine men and women standing between you and some of your favorite impossible-to-get tables.
Jennifer Yin, 4/4/08
Proving it has withstood the test of time in more ways that one, Foreign Cinema still pops up on nearly every single list of essential San Francisco restaurant. Brunch and dinner remain prized tickets (and not just for Mission folk), and with springtime about to spring on the Bay Area—well, at least as much as does here—the outdoor dining area at Foreign Cinema will once again become a hotspot for nuclear families and hungover hipsters alike. So who handles the "people puzzle" at the Mission hotspot? Meet Tracy "T-Bone" Smith, the Dining Room Manager at Foreign Cinema.
How many seats do you get to work with at Foreign Cinema? And which are your favorites? 220 seats. Inside the dining room, I like Table Four. Outside, I like the area in the "300's." 8PM on a Saturday night. What's the wait for a table? For a walk-in, 30 to 45 minutes. Sometimes with a cancellation or no-show, the wait can be as little as five minutes, depending on the details of the night.
Richard Gere and Marriage Proposal DVDS, Coming Up >>
EaterWire: Fox Stays at Myth, Oscar Nods for Ratatouille
JACKSON SQUARE—The craziness continues at Myth, where wine honcho Alex Fox—last thought to be joining the Kuleto Brigade at Epic Roasthouse sometime soon—will instead be staying at Myth until the sale is final (thought to be sometime in March), according to tomorrow's Inside Scoop. Unfortunately, chef Sean O'Brien's last day is now set for January 31st, which poses several more questions. [Scoop, Item #4]
TINSELTOWN—The best movie ever featuring a Thomas Keller cameo, Disney/Pixar blockbuster Ratatouille, has been nominated for a whopping five Academy Awards: Best Animated Feature Film of the Year, Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score), Achievement in Sound Editing, Achievement in Sound Mixing and Original Screenplay. [Oscar.com]
Some Special Events on the Horizon >>
Comments
