Batter Bakery and Square Meals Move in on Polk Street

Jen Musty, the woman behind the cookies at the Batter Bakery kiosk, has teamed up with her pal Alison Mountford of meal delivery service Square Meals to take over the old Bombay Masala space you see here on Polk Street. Pretty soon, the whole space is going to be entirely redone with an open prep kitchen, and a clean decor warmed up by displays of colorful prepared foods and baked goods. The idea behind Square Meals/Batter Bakery is to be an all day cafe where you can get your morning Ritual Roasters coffee and fresh-baked pastry, and a healthy, wholesome lunch or dinner later in the day. There will be room for about 20 to eat inside and seats on the sidewalk too.

It's not going to be a sandwich place. (Leave that to Blue Barn, also opening in the coming months on Polk.) On the savory side of things, expect inventive whole grain salads, slow-braised meats, and other seasonal items. Sweet-wise, Musty is amped to do more now with pie, shortbread and even ice cream, down the line. For now, the hope is to be open by November, just in time for the holiday roasted poultry and pie season. Eventually, Musty says they'll offer brunch. And when they get a booze license, they're hoping to become a place on Polk Street where you can hang out at night without being in a bar. "We'll do tapas and desserts with wine pairings," says Musty. "It'll be fun."

· Batter Bakery and Square Meals ink a Polk Street spot [~ ESF ~]