All stories about "Good News Bad News"

Suffice to say, Kasa Indian Eatery has generated a good amount of buzz in its first two weeks. Maybe it was the PR blitz, maybe it is the location, maybe it is the taqueria gimmick, maybe it's the street food concept itself, but people are talking about Kasa. Take for example the fact that the purple Indian taqueria already has 91 Yelp reviews, or roughly five times more than the struggling Sundance Kabuki Kitchen, open since December. With that, here's what the world wide webs are saying about Kasa:

Good Traffic News: "Tried their lamb and chicken. Yum! I'm predicting hit. Plenty of traffic at noon on a weekday." [Eater Comments]

Bad Traffic News: "I was also dismayed by the speed that we got our order. With things so simple I would have thought it would take less than 20 minutes to go through 10 people. The line felt unnecessarily long. Or have an option to order, then another place to pick it up. We went at a late dinner time, but the line went out the door quickly enough ... This place is fun to go if you are OK with the wait and the selection." [Yelp]

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Nary a month goes by without a Chez Panisse alum opening up his/her own restaurant, and the most recent Alice offshoot is Oakland's Camino. While nearly everyone has praised the design (wood oven, concrete floors, 30 foot tables, etc), Russell Moore's minimalist eatery stumbled out of the block, but open now for almost exactly a month, things seem to be smoothing out a bit, though being compared to Chez Panisse is a tough task for anyone. But enough from us; here's the buzz surrounding Oakland's hot newbie:

Good News: "The food is very similar to Chez Panisse Cafe's. (So is the appetizing smell of the place.) ... just four appetizers and three entrees, so three of us just ordered everything ... Short but interesting wine list. We shared a bottle of marzemino ($28?) and one glass of Banyuls. No significant service glitches. Total bill before tip was $56 each. I really like this place. I hope it's as relaxed and pleasant when it's full." [Chowhound]

Lukewarm News: "Not sure it's worth it yet, we all left hungry. But I'm sure they'll get an onslaught of feedback soon enough..." [Eater Inbox]

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One guess as to which side the new sign falls.

Open now for exactly a month, Joey & Eddie's has definitely been a point of contention among the dining masses. There are those that see the simple, family-style Italian joint as a welcome addition to the static dining 'hood called North Beach. At the same time, some people we've spoken to think that Joseph Manzare has gone off the deep end with the whole East Coast nostalgia theme, and took out an institution in the process. After all, can a population that praises the Delfinas and A16s of the city really be expected to embrace meatballs and fried calamari in the same way? In any event, with mainstream reviews en route over the next few months, here's the buzz from the first 31 days:

Solidly Mediocre News: "Did this meal satisfy my husband’s longing for that East Coast Italian of his childhood? Not really. But we concluded that “you can’t go home again” and he has vowed to stop trying. Joey & Eddie’s is a welcome addition. Given the local, safe menu, and well prepared food, it will do well with tourists. It also fills a void for locals looking for family style standard Italian and a good full bar in North Beach. We would go back with a large group, but won’t rush." [Chowhound]

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Now that the initial frenzy—media and otherwise—surrounding Best-O-Burger has died down a bit, it's time to take a look back on the reactions from the first fortnight of service at the Financial District new gourmet slider joint. Nearly everyone has chimed in, from Yelp nation to the 7x7 gals. Hell, the occasion even prompted SF Weekly's very own Meredith Brody to take the leap to the blogosphere. As with any high-profile debut, the internets are full of diners sharing the good news, and also the bad news.

1) Not Great News: Meredith Brody likes the fare just fine, but highlights one shortcoming: "It seemed cruel that Best-O-Burger is located on the prime outdoor eating spot of table-lined Belden Place, where there is no designated Best-O-Burger seating, but we took our baby cheeseburgers, strings, and Ring-Os across the street to the low wall surrounding the office building on the corner of Pine and Kearny, and had a lovely urban picnic." [SFW]

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Already open over a month now, Mint Plaza's Chez Papa is in full swing. Brunch has arrived on the weekends, and mainstream critics are probably starting to frequent Jocelyn Bulow's sequel to the Potrero Hill bistro. Even though the outdoor seating area remains a work in progress, the internet buzz has been largely positive, if a bit lacking, for Minty's Chez Papa:

Good News: "I've been there twice. First time, we went in for drinks and apps before a show, then went back post-show to share the cheese plate and dessert wine. Highly recommended on both counts. The cheese plate is a good size and cheese in peak condition. Lovely ambiance at night. My husband went back with a work crowd for an early business dinner the following week and took over the large communal table. Everyone loved it. I think I prefer it to the original - at night anyway." [Chowhound]

Bad News: "I made online reservations for brunch, 10:30am. The day before, I got a call from the restaurant apologizing that they wouldn’t open until 11 and asking if I'd be okay pushing my slot ... I can safely say this is no place for brunch. The ambience, the staff and the menu are not cut for a morning call. Everything is dazed and confused. Feels like a nightclub with morning hangover." [No Salad]

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Since Dominique Crenn's prior restaurant stop down in Los Angeles officially shuttered over the weekend, we thought it only appropriate to check in with her new project, Luce. Now open for a little over a month in the (also new) InterContinental Hotel in SoMa, Luce has largely flown in under the radar in its pre-review phase (check out sneak peek of the space here). Precious little about it can be had on food boards, local blogs and media outlets, a fact that pessimists may interpret as an ominous lack of buzz and turnover for an already tough location, but we suppose that's something only time will tell. In any event, here's the buzz on Luce so far:

1) Bad News: "Let's just get this out of the way: it's a terrible location ... The hotel is designed to defend itself against the very same kind of homeless people we encountered in the parking lot. You have to enter through the main door; there are security people every 10 feet. So this is not a trip for the faint-hearted, including GoingOutAgain, who was beginning to question our last minute decision to try Luce, despite the lack of reviews" [Chowhound]

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As far as new restaurant concepts in San Francisco go, Orson is, simply put, a unique proposition. Elizabeth Falkner certainly has the cache and talent to pull off a concept as flashy, ambitious and, well, "un-San Franciscan" as Orson. It's a restaurant that could possibly make or break a new trend in the city, and for this reason alone, its progress—and looming reviews—are very noteworthy. Now open for about a month, Orson is nearing the point in the restaurant lifetime when things take a bump for the serious, as the opening kinks should make way for prepping for The Bauer. So, how did Month #1 go down on Fourth Street? To the opinions:

Good News: "I think what Elizabeth is doing at Orson is thoughtful and purposeful innovation that results in good food and a fun dining experience ... Bottom line: Elizabeth is a chef whose creative sensibility extends beyond what she cooks and encompasses all of the tactile, visual, and sensual elements of dining. Orson is a dream come true for her - a forum to express half a lifetime spent learning her trade in the restaurant business. I promise this place will rattle your expectations." [Traci Des Jardins]

Bad News: "We liked the dramatic space and could see how it would be very electric with a full house. On this Tuesday night, it would be only half filled by the time we left (7:30). Our waitress was efficient, but felt at times imposing. She explained multiple times that the concept was 'small plates' and that we would want to order 3-5 items per person. Though the restaurant was practically empty, we felt rushed. She kept returning every few minutes to ask if we made any additional decisions, implying that we may not have ordered enough.....and again, reiterating that our orders would only be about '3 ounces' and that the portions were on the small side." [Chowhound]

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Given the growing popularity of Gialina and the recent opening of Sangha, Glen Park might finally be registering on the city's dining radar. This newfound popularity of Glen Park has been reflected in the sudden, non-sequitur upswing of discussion regarding Le P'tit Laurent. Opened last summer, Laurent Legendre's traditional French bistro sparked Glen Park's commercial transformation in many ways, but now, everyone from the independent weeklies to the Chowhounds are chiming in on the place. Interestingly enough, reviews are all over the map:

Good News, Atmosphere: "One of the drawbacks of the French bistro in America is that America isn't France, and our street scenes don't look French. Glen Park would never be mistaken for the Marais, even at night, but one evening, amid early darkness and the descending scent of winter, I thought I caught a whiff of the 11th arrondissement: blurred streetlamps, a metro station at the corner, pedestrians hurrying home from work up quiet side streets, though not carrying baguettes under their arms." [SFBG]

Good News, Atmosphere: "It was warm, cheerful, and almost comfortable at the bar ... Still, it was much better than nothing, and my Francophile heart was warmed by the setting, which could have been transported whole from Paris." [SF Weekly]

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Welcome back to Good News/Bad News, where we share early opinions of recently-opened restaurants. Your impressions are, of course, very much welcomed as well, either in the comments or straight to Eater Inbox.

Those that complain that the industrial interior of Conduit is too cold for comfort would do well to check out the ultra-minimalist interior of Sangha, Glen Park's new Asian-Latino restaurant. Opened at the end of December, Sangha was a long time (years) in the making, but nervous glances might already be heading towards Ric Lopez's fusion endeavor and that jalapeno corn tempura. Anyway, to the buzz:

Nervous News: "I worry about Sangha. Not because it's not good per se, but since the city isn't often kind to trendy fusion. And few will argue that Glen Park is traditionally better characterized as 'neighborhoody' than 'trendy' ..." [Eater Inbox]

Bad News: "i'm sad to say we won't be back. the very clean, spare look they're going for in design actually came off as very bland, and depressing (other might disagree). they don't even place napkins or silverware on the tables until food arrives, all in the name of that cleanness. but the effect didn't work for us at all ... i think that this place will have a hard time surviving in the newly bustling glen park restaurant scene. the french place, gialina, and chenery park are all far superior, and moki, deep sushi et al, are a five minute drive away." [Chowhound]

Since opening about three weeks ago, Bar Jules has already played host to an Iron Chef or two en route to quickly becoming one of the more sought-out destinations in town for the foodie crowd. The tiny, daily-changing menu showcases the best produce of the day, making Bar Jules the latest in the long line of California cuisine specialists. So, how has the first month shaped up down in Hayes Valley? Glad you asked.

1) Bad News: "On a Friday evening, at 9:10 PM ...they had run out of ... food! Seriously ... 9:10 PM ... no main courses available (that's right ... no Fish ... no Meat!!!)" [Yelp]

Good News/Bad News is a feature where early opinions on recently-opened restaurants are shared. Let's take a meandering stroll down to Bin 38, the newest wine bar in the Marina. Shall we?

1) Good News: "Daily Candy tipped me off to their impressive beer list. I even tasted a beer from New Zealand! We arrived after 11 p.m. on Friday night and were able to get a table by the front window. The place is larger than it looks and even has a garden. Sweet!" [Yelp]

2) Bad News: "The staff on the first night looked stressed and I suspect will settle in, but I don't envy them. The layout is such that quite a few people seemed to ignore the obvious walkway between the bar and kitchen and one woman with her arms resting over the back of a bar chair was completely oblivious to those trying to pass. Several of the local Marina crowd tried to ignore the staff trying to get to the kitchen with fully loaded trays of hand blown crystal wine glasses, without success." [Eater Inbox]

3) Good News: The one thing that does seem to shine ... is the menu. It's delightfully simple...something that's rare these days is leaving well enough...alone. Grilled Ham and Cheese Panini, Oysters on the half shell, a cheese plate, a sliced meat cold plate, and Steak Tartar, it all sounds wonderful." [Eater Inbox]

4) Good News: "MUST GET THE CHOCOLATE PUDDING. They were right...it will be 'soon to be famous'." [Yelp]
· The Dish: Olea Today, Bin 38 Tomorrow [~ESF~]