The latest crop of new debuts comes with one hard-to-pronounce and one rather unfortunate name. Read more in this week's Friday Opening Report.
Pläj. [Photo: Yelp/Francisco G.]
1) Civic Center: Scandinavian restaurant Pläj has begun service at Inn of the Opera. There's a 50-seat dining room, an all-Scandinavian beer list, and native Swede Robert Sundell is at the kitchen's helm. 333 Fulton Street; 415-863-8400. [EaterWire]
2) Lower Haight: Chinese restaurant Wonderland debuted on July 3 in the old Clay Oven space from owner Ningzhe Wen, formerly of Wild Pepper. It's open straight through for lunch and dinner and offers traditional dishes as well as a large selection for vegetarians. 500 Haight Street. [Haighteration]
3) Cow Hollow: Because what this neighborhood needed was cocktails by the pitcher, Lightning Tavern started filling this void on July 2. Libations and lite bar bites from the team who brought you Tonic, Bullitt, Mayhem, and Rebel. 1875 Union Street. [EaterWire]
4) Pacific Heights: Already minorly maligned for its too-evocative name, Kaka Udon Kitchen now has an opportunity to woo diners to the appetizing side with the novelty of making the udon noodles in house. 1535 Franklin Street, 415-577-2380.[EaterWire]