Welcome back to the Plywood Report, your regular, all-encompassing chronicle of the next generation of restaurants to grace our fair city. Spot something new on your block? The tip line awaits. Bonus points and a poached pear if you include photos.
1) North Beach: First, we take a look at 507 Columbus, the site of the denied wine bar Vino Divino. New signage is now up, proclaiming something called Alimento. It means "I feed" in Italian, so it could be something restaurant/food-oriented, but the reason Vino Divino was shot down was because the City refused to dole out any more liquor licenses/changes of use. Anyone know anything? [PLYWOOD]
2) Financial District: Starting off on a practical foot, we have Toaster Oven going big time for office workers. The popular Second Street sandwich shop has two additional locations on tap, one at 201 Spear Street and the other in Three Embarcadero Center (above). Word is that the Spear location will open first, followed by an anticipated summer opening (obv.) for the third one. [PLYWOOD]
3) Bonus Financial District: Toaster Oven isn't the only newcomer to Three EC, because almost directly across way is the first Bay Area location of Yogen Fruz, the Canadian frozen yogurt chain with over 1,100 stores in over 20 countries. May is the ETA, and according to the Canadian froyo gods, it's going to be the first of 35 Bay Area locations. [PLYWOOD]
4) Ghirardelli Square: Coming along in the Ghirardelli "restoration" project is Marche on the Square. If our peek inside is any indication, the place is still at least a month or two away. More on the two-tiered space—brasserie upstairs, gourmet market downstairs—here. [PLYWOOD]
5) Ghirardelli Square: And just because it's Gary Danko, we should mention that the rear facade (the side on North Point Street) of the Danko Deuce is now scaffold-free, revealing a very pretty brick wall. For a look inside Danko's second restaurant ("an American brasserie"), check our sneak peek visit. [PLYWOOD]
6) The Richmond: It's nice that the foggy Richmond get some love, and Hard Knox has now announced itself to the neighborhood, and we've gotten several updates from Richmonders on the place in the last couple weeks, including the above shot. Among the spotted amenities: flat-screens, similar industrial decor as the other location and red chairs. Early May is the aim. [PLYWOOD]
7) Tenderloin: A tipster sends in the brand new exterior of the Bourbon & Branch expansion next door. The former barbershop has been completely transformed into looking exactly like the Bourbon & Branch entrance. [PLYWOOD]
8) Kearny Corridor: More changes along Kearny in the FiDi/Union Square/North Beach no man's land: Cafe Verde, formerly of North Beach, is moving into 260 Kearny. North Beach failures may not find greener pastures in the FiDi, unless they can capitalize on the lunch rush. Godspeed. [PLYWOOD]
