Yesterday saw the Nine Big Deal Restaurants to Watch. As promised, here are the neighborhood game-changers. Feel free to add the upcoming projects that your 'hood is anticipating.
1) Pacific Heights
Out the Door, 2232 Bush Street (near Fillmore)
The Situation: The third edition of Charles Phan's mini-chain should get quite the reception when it arrives next week. Olle Lundberg has put together another, and this time around, OTD is doing breakfast too. Enjoy, Fillmore Streeters. NB: they're accepting reservations.
Projected Opening: Shooting for next week (Dinner Tue./Opening Wed., 9/30)
Further Reading
2) The Marina
Delarosa, 2174 Chestnut Street (Pierce/Steiner)
The Situation: The Beretta Team's next endeavor will bear much more resemblance to their Mission hit than the Blum/Paganini Castro vehicle, Starbelly. In the Fuzio space, the bulk of Delarosa's seating will be communal, making for quite the neighborhood attraction. Roman-style Pizza and beer will be the main show, but there will also be other menu items, plus a list of specialty cocktails.
Projected Opening: Mid-November
Further Reading
3) Financial District
Barbacco, 230 California Street (Front/Battery)
The Situation: Perbacco's vino-inspired spinoff will open right next door to its big sis on California, making for a fourth eatery in the hefty lineup of Aqua-Tadich-Perbacco. It'll be a casual lunch spot by day and more of a wine bar by night. Originally slated for summer, a peek inside reveals that it's still in the throes of its build-out though.
Projected Opening: Will probably slip beyond fall.
Further Reading
4) Upper Pac Heights
Baker and Banker, 1701 Octavia Street (at Bush)
The Situation: Jeffrey Banker and wife Lori Baker are overhauling the old Quince in favor of a more casual, accessible neighborhood option serving American cuisine and fresh breads/pastries. Michael Brennan is doing the interior, and the first floor will be turned into a bakery.
Projected Opening: November
Further Reading
5) Oakland
Pizzaiolo Sequel, 3306 Grand Avenue
The Situation: Charlie Hallowell's follow-up to Pizzaiolo will be in the old Di Bartolo space, just down the street from the Grand Lake Theater. From the get-go, Hallowell has preached "a neighborhood joint that actually nourishes the neighborhood."
Projected Opening: Oct/Nov
Further Reading
6) The Mission
Pi Bar, 1432 Valencia Street (25th/26th)
The Situation: Another pizza place in the Mission, and this time, with mathematics. It's in the old Suriya space, and is the brainchild of Chenery Park chef/owner Rich Rosen. Beer will play a prominent role too.
Projected Opening: October 1
Further Reading
7) The Marina (Bonus)
The Republic, 2400 Lombard Street (at Scott)
The Situation: While Delarosa (above) hits the pizza crowd, The Republic should make a dent on the sports bar scene, especially in a city lacking in that department. It will be a 5000 square foot "classic American bar & grill meets upscale sports lounge" in the old Jones space from the Bin38 guys.
Projected Opening: Early October
Further Reading
8) Berkeley
Emilia's Pizzeria, 2995 Shattuck Avenue
The Situation: Basically, pizza guru Adam Kuban of Slice discovered (and blew the lid off of) Emilia's a few weeks back, when he declared the Shattuck Avenue newcomer a worthy rival to NYC's best coal-oven pizzas. It's a tiny place, but if it's as good as advertised, the neighborhood will pounce on it.
Projected Opening: Very soon
Further Reading
9) Polk Gulch
Mayes Oyster House, 1233 Polk Street (Bush/Sutter)
The Situation: The menu isn't exactly entirely traditional, but the idea is that the historic Mayes (circa 1860s) is reopening on Polk Street after the failed experiments of Midpoint and O'Reilly's Holy Grail, among others. Will this incarnation break the steak?
Projected Opening: October
Further Reading
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