All stories about "Ghirardelli Square"

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Ghirardelli Square: Here we have a tour of the dual-use downstairs area at Marche on the Square, the most recent in a flurry of new openings to grace Ghirardelli in the last year or so. The upstairs bistro, Bar Marche, has yet to open mostly due to some red tape involving elevator access, but now open for a few weeks and serving the full menu is the Marche wine bar. The owner and executive chef is Brian Crawford, who was previously at Dean & Deluca (an influence clear when you see the adjacent food shop), and the idea is that Marche will help draw locals (back?) to Ghirardelli. Further reading can be had in the Eater Archives, and Thrillist has the "Un-Deux-Trois" menu. We haven't heard much since its debut, so if you're a local drawn in out of curiosity, do share your thoughts on Marche.

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SOMA—The Hoss Zare era is ready to begin at the Fly Trap. According to a tipster's bounceback message from OpenTable, the restaurant will shutter after tonight's service. The planned remodel will reportedly make the 102-year-old restaurant more lounge-like: communal table in, piano and white tablecloths out. [EaterWire]

GHIRARDELLI SQUARE—The people at Bar Marche and Marche on the Square and the rest of the Marche Ghirardelli festivities wanted to pass along that Bar Marche is officially open. Even though the upstairs dining area is not yet ready (as we mentioned earlier), the entire menu is currently being served at the wine bar. If you're a local and have frequented the pre-Danko Ghirardelli Square and the Marches, let us know your early thoughts. [EaterWire]

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Last night, a private unveiling of the new Fairmont condos shut down most of Ghirardelli Square so VIPs and other fancy schmancies could take a gander at the premises without those pesky tourists. As usual, Gary Danko stole the show; passed caviar and oysters will do that. However, he stayed in the kitchen most of the night, meaning we couldn't get any name possibilities for the Danko Deuce out of him (you know where to find us, Gary). As for his space itself, it remains very raw, with hopeful estimates having it opening at the end of the year. Meanwhile, Marché on the Square is just about ready to debut, possibly as soon as next week if the red tape is sorted. And FYI: the upstairs brasserie at Marché is now an upstairs bistro. There's room for only one brasserie in this here square.
· Ghirardelli Rising: Marché May Hold the Key [~ESF~]
· Eater Exclusive: Inside the Gary Danko Sequel [~ESF~]

Welcome back to the Plywood Report, your regular, all-encompassing chronicle of the next generation of restaurants and bars to grace our fair, overheated city. Spot some fresh ply in your nabe? You know what to do. Bonus points if you include photos.

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1) Noe Valley: While Henry's Hunan has yet to move into Pescheria and the Vietnamese restaurant at Church/25th gets covered up, we should mention that Toast 2.0 unveiled a shiny new facade a while back. It's a far cry from the flat sea foam green of Herb's, but that era, like so many others, has sadly ended. Current ETA: T-minus a month. [PLYWOOD]

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COW HOLLOW—According to a photo newly arrived in the EaterWire Inbox, there's new liquor license activity afoot at 1980 Union Street, better know as the former U Street Lounge above Bar None. The curious part of the photo, though, is that the For Lease signs are still up as well, which combined with the lack of a DBA, makes us wonder if there's a new owner looking for a new tenant as well. Whatever the case may be, something is underway. Anyone with intel is kindly encouraged to share. [EaterWire]

GHIRARDELLI SQUARE—The tourist fave's attempt to transform into a boutique local destination is nothing new. Fancy cupcakes and wine shops have already arrived, with a gourmet market and a Danko on the way. Now, the influx continues anew with the most recent tenant to sign on: Crown and Crumpets. It's a tea salon and slated to open this summer. Plywood to follow. [EaterWire]

SOMA—While the SoMa Grand awaits the incoming Charles Phan project in its bigger restaurant space, the second space—most recently abandoned by Estela's Sandwiches before work began—has seen some action lately. Unfortunately, it's a bit of a false alarm, as the space is being transformed into the new sales center. No word on why the restaurant concept was abandoned (or if it has been ditched for good), but based on the Mission/Seventh Street location (and various other factors), we could toss out a few guesses. [EaterWire]

GHIRARDELLI SQUARE—We mentioned it last month, but this Saturday is the third annual Uncorked Wine Festival, which should be a nice drinking precursor to the Bay to Breakers. Marche on the Square, though not yet open, will be on hand with food. Tickets are $40 beforehand and $45 at the door; more info here. [EaterWire]

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]

GHIRARDELLI SQUARE—The third annual Uncorked Wine Festival will be hosted by COPIA and held at Ghirardelli Square on May 17th. Over 40 wineries will be on hand for the festivities, soon-to-open Marche on the Square will serve "tasty samples from its gourmet, artisan market" and Top Chef vet and current Yoshi's pastry chef Marisa Churchill will be explaining cooking to groups of strangers. Tickets are $40 beforehand and $45 at the door; more info online. [EaterWire Inbox]

COCKTAIL CIRCUIT—Camper English of Alcademics reports that another absinthe, this one 136 proof and the top-selling brand in Europe, is en route to American shores: "La Fee Parisienne Absinthe just got their TTB approval ... Should be available by the end of April." [Alcademics]

SAN FRANCISCO—Food & Wine has released their third annual Go Lists, a directory of the hottest new restaurant cities and destinations around the world, and San Francisco was nowhere to be found on any of the lists. The closest we got: Luke Mangan of Aussie fame (but also SoMa's South) was named one of the ten next chef superstars, as was Gaston Acurio of the upcoming La Mar Cebicheria on Pier 1 1/2. [F&W]

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Now, when it comes to the rejuvenation of Ghirardelli Square, there's no question that Gary Danko's second restaurant—full Plywood Report here—will be the star of the show. After all, the Danko Deuce (or Restaurant Gary Danko, Jr. or whatever you want to call it) has already been christened the best new restaurant of the year in many circles. But when it comes to winning over locals in Ghirardelli, Marché on the Square might be just as important. The two-tiered complex will feature a gourmet grocery-type market on the ground floor, with a wine bar and brasserie above. The key factor for locals here? The market part. If Marché can make itself a destination grocer along the lines of a Dean & DeLuca, the allure of Ghirardelli will start to look brighter from nearby neighborhoods. Current due date: May.
· Eater Exclusive: Inside the Gary Danko Sequel [~ESF~]
· Ghirardelli Rising: Hanging With Tourists at the Danko Deuce and Marché [~ESF~]

Here we have a very special sneak peek at one of the most heavily-anticipated restaurants of 2008: Gary Danko's second restaurant, or as we've affectionately dubbed it in its incipient, pre-name phase, the Danko Deuce. The 150-seat American brasserie and seafood bar is still slated to arrive in the summertime and sits in the ground floor of Ghirardelli Square's Mustard Building, with a patio—currently behind the red plywood walls—spilling into the fountain plaza. But you want to see the impending glory, so click through the photo gallery for the full Danko reveal, complete with a flowing narrative.
· Ghirardelli Rising: Hanging With Tourists at the Danko Deuce [~ESF~]
· Ghirardelli Rising: On Gary Danko's Second Restaurant [~ESF~]

It's been a while since we checked in with the doings at Ghirardelli Square and its concerted effort to win back relevance in the eyes of locals. Today, let's take our first look at the next two restaurants to hit the GS: the Danko Deuce and Marché.


1) Danko Deuce: Assuming all goes to plan, the second restaurant by Gary Danko will arrive sometime in summer '08. Pictured above in its nascent form, the brasserie will be part of the Fairmont Heritage, in the Mustard Building, right next to the chocolate shop and mermaid fountain. Inside, the 7,000-square-foot space will seat 150 but the bigger treat (at least on nice days) might be the 1,500-square-foot outdoor area that will spill out onto the fountain plaza. No word on whether Danko and his eunuch entourage will be overseeing operations from the elevated veranda on the left.