This is Urban Tavern, the Hilton's new Mediterranean gastropub that was started and designed by Donna Scala and finished by Laurent Manrique and Chris Condy. The 240-seater has been a long time coming, and in the week or so since the place opened, preliminary spot inspections have seen decent crowds late into the night. Patrick Kehler (Circolo, Aqua) is the executive chef, and going with Manrique's pedigree, the opening menu is slanted towards a rustic southern France, and last we heard, they're still offering the all-day omelets too. Further reading on Urban Tavern in the Eater Archives, and at Cooking W/ Amy, UrbanDaddy, the Chron, and for you poetry lovers, Daily Candy.
Urban Tavern Gastropubs, Metal Horsies, Laurent Manrique
333 O'Farrell Street, in the Hilton; (415) 923-4400 Open daily until 10:30pm; website
UNION SQUARE—Right on schedule, tonight is opening night for Urban Tavern. The resy lines open tomorrow, but walk-ins should be accepted tonight. Last night was the opening party and a fewrecaps are already floating around on the interwebs, complete with requisite Harry Denton sightings and everything. [EaterWire]
SAN FRANCISCO—Today also marks the commencement of Heirloom Tomato Week. The promotion lasts until the 24th of August, and a full OpenTable list of the participants can be had here. We're still not quite sure how the entire event will shake out on the actual table, so if anyone has a particularly revelatory tomato awakening (or conversely, a poor one), do let us know. [EaterWire]
Union Square: Donna Scala started the project in the Hilton over 18 months and $13 million ago, and this week, Laurent Manrique and Company will finish it: Urban Tavern will open for dinner to the public this Thursday the 14th. Lunch service will start next Monday, and they will formally begin taking reservations on Friday. You'll recall that Patrick Kehler (Aqua, Circolo) will be heading the kitchen, and the concept (originally inspired by Gramercy Tavern) is that of a Mediterranean-tilted gastropub. Above, we've compiled a slideshow of the space's evolution ... for your viewing pleasure.
· Complete Urban Tavern Coverage [~ESF~]
Union Square: The Laurent Manrique/Donna Scala gastropub in the Hilton, perhaps better known as Urban Tavern, is now officially in the polishing stages of its pre-opening days. Furniture has been revealed, seats are lined up at the communal table, light fixtures are in place, and colorful mammalian sculptures are in plain sight. As for an opening date, sources say a debut is definitely imminent within the two weeks, and for what it's worth, the Hilton website has August 15 as the big day. Stay tuned for updates.
· Complete Urban Tavern Mania [~ESF~]
Union Square: We're getting close to the debut of Urban Tavern, which is now firmly in the post-plywood phase of things with Laurent Manrique at the helm. Not only are new signage and awnings up, but a peek inside reveals that the nearly-complete interior is starting to look a lot like the renderings. The long, very snazzy marble bar is almost ready to roll and if you look closely, you'll even see a life-sized horse sculpture thingy grazing in the room. The due date remains August.
· All Urban Tavern Coverage [~ESF~]
UNION SQUARE—In case you wondering about the nature of Laurent Manrique's arrival at Urban Tavern, Donna Scala would like to respond to the Business Times' headline and clarify things a bit:
First of all I am not out of the Tavern. I consult for the Hilton and Blackstone. I design Urban Tavern for them and then it is up to them to hire or lease the space. I still cook at Bistro Don Giovanni. I take care of our gardens and flowers and create the menus I still work on line and love it. That is why I could never lease a restaurant in a Union Hotel. I love what I do and would not change it for anything. I will continue to design and consult for the Hilton and support Laurent in the Tavern. Thank you Donna Scala.
UNION SQUARE—Turns out that those rumors earlier in the week were pretty close to the real deal regarding recent developments at Urban Tavern. Hot off the BizTimes:
Laurent Manrique and Chris Condy of Aqua and Cafe de la Presse fame have signed a lease to take over the restaurant, which is under construction. The restaurant was conceived of and designed by Donna Scala, the Napa restaurateur, who no longer has any involvement with the project.
While a chef has been hired, he has not yet given notice to his current employer, so Michael Dunne, general manager of the Hilton, declined to name the chef and would only say he is currently at a San Francisco restaurant.
All the day's tidbits go in EaterWire. Have something to add? The tipline is ready.
NORTH BEACH—The rumor du jour, as shared by the Scoop, involves Liam Tiernan of Tiernan's taking over the Washbag: "PlumpJack might still be in the picture, but, according to [Tiernan], he and his wife and co-owner, Susan, have the key and are ready to get going as soon as the Washbag emerges from bankruptcy proceedings .. That means the Washbag could be back up and operating by Labor Day." More fodder for the fire: several commenters have chimed in with some thoughts regarding last week's eviction notice. [Chron]
UNION SQUARE—We shared some plywood shots from Urban Tavern earlier today, and as if on cue, Lady Hopstress brings forth some juicy rumormongering from the Hilton front: "Donna Scala was helping to conceptualize and develop the high-end gastropub for the hotel—I heard a rumor that she was not going to be involved with the project once it launched, and it ends up Laurent Manrique is now going to be the chef!" Manrique just relaunched Fifth Floor and the Hilton is mum on the rumors, but this could be a biggie if it fleshes out. [TH]
Union Square: Even though the most recent (and hopeful) estimates have the already-delayed Urban Tavern opening around the beginning of August, the plywood shell is down, allowing a peek inside Donna Scala's $13 million gastropub within the friendly confines of the Hilton. With a theme modeled on NYC's Gramercy Tavern, the room is already starting to resemble the rendered version—except for the horse-deer animal part—and there's a subtle entrance from the hotel lobby as well. Complete visual plywood tour of 333 O'Farrell's newest restaurant above.
UNION SQUARE—Flying under the radar lately is Urban Tavern, Donna Scala's upcoming restaurant within the friendly confines of the Hilton on O'Farrell Street. Background reading on the $13 million, 240-seat gastropub can be had here, and a possible interior rendering (pictured, right) is available on we believe to be the future online home of the restaurant. As of today, Urban Tavern is slated to open in three weeks' time, with the moving target date being May 29th. [EaterWire]
FOOD TELEVISION—More proof that all your dreams can't necessarily be achieved by winning a reality show, as Food Network shan't be continuing at least one more show next season: "Amy Finley--season 3 winner of The Next Food Network Star--has finally come forth and said that there will be no more new episodes of her show, The Gourmet Next Door. 'I will not be back for another season. The producers offered me more shows, but with my family I decided it was time to move on to other projects,' writes Amy." We didn't even know her show had already started. [FNA]
How about some Monday morning plywood to start the week off? The Plywood Report is your regular, all-encompassing chronicle of the next generation of restaurants and bars to grace town. Notice some rumblings in your neighborhood? Do let us know.
1) The Mission: Residing on the rather desolate corner of Harrison and 21st is Snack Bar, the new project by the good folks behind Nopa. As you can see, the building is quite quaint and this particular stretch of Harrison is a far cry from the hustle and bustle of Mission, which should work out perfectly for the Jossel crew. The 40-seat Snack Bar will serve tapas and vino, with summer being the current projection. Odds that Snack Bar might reinvigorate the area, just like the Jossels did Nopa? Solid, wethinks. [PLYWOOD]
2) Financial District: And yet another Subway franchise location will soon be adorning the Market Street corridor. Quoth a (photo-snapping) tipster: "I saw another damn Subway sign on Market, this time between Kearny and Montgomery, right next to the Radio Shack. What's the deal with this sudden super influx of Subways? I mean, it's better than McD but still." [Eater Inbox]
Comments
UNION SQUARE—Right on 
UNION SQUARE—In case you wondering about the nature of Laurent Manrique's arrival at Urban Tavern, Donna Scala would like to respond to the Business Times' 
NORTH BEACH—The rumor du jour, as shared by the 
UNION SQUARE—Flying under the radar lately is Urban Tavern, Donna Scala's upcoming restaurant within the friendly confines of the Hilton on O'Farrell Street. Background reading on the $13 million, 240-seat gastropub can be had 
1) The Mission: Residing on the rather desolate corner of Harrison and 21st is Snack Bar, the new project by the good folks behind Nopa. As you can see, the building is quite quaint and this particular stretch of Harrison is a far cry from the hustle and bustle of Mission, which should work out perfectly for the Jossel crew. The 40-seat Snack Bar will serve tapas and vino, with summer being the current projection. Odds that Snack Bar might reinvigorate the area, just like the Jossels did Nopa? Solid, wethinks. [PLYWOOD]
