Chaparral, Open Late in the Lower Haight

Chaparral
471 Haight Street at Fillmore
Phone: (415) 793-9016
Web: chaparralsf.com
Status: Opening tonight

Chaparral, the new project from former Mission Beach Cafe executive chef Thomas Martinez, is set to debut tonight. If you'll recall, the new spot will be the sultry nighttime alter ego to Lower Haight brunch standby Kate's Kitchen, which is sharing its space with Martinez's restaurant on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

The new weekend restaurant will feature elevated fare, with entrees like grilled bavette with fresh beans and confit tongue, wild salmon with cucumber and chanterelles, and gnocchi with harrisa-flageolet puree and porcini. Small plates on the sample menu include everything from lamb tartare to pork belly to fried chicken and rabbit, and desserts will include dishes such as grilled stone fruit with fromage ice cream and chocolate and peanut semifreddo. (See the full sample menu here.)

For now, the restaurant is BYOB, but beer and wine should be on the way once Martinez secures a license. His vision for Chaparral is for a much-needed late-night dining option in the neighborhood that will serve as a gathering place for locals and industry types alike. A possible rotating schedule of guest chefs may also be in the works. Hours for the new spot are 6pm to 11pm on Thursdays, and 6pm to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

· Chaparral to Debut Thursday [Haighteration]
· Chaparral to Debut Dinner Out of Kate's Kitchen [~ ESF ~]