Frances' Melissa Perello Snaps Up Baker & Banker Space

As other local restaurateurs have built empires, Melissa Perello has kept things small, running the show at tiny and highly acclaimed Frances for nearly five years. But it appears that she's finally ready to spread her wings: Tablehopper dug up some online intel that Perello is set to take over the Baker & Banker space in Pacific Heights—intel on which Perello declined to comment. Since Baker & Banker has yet to close (its last day is this Sunday, October 19), Perello is likely remaining mum to give Jeff Banker and Lori Baker time to say their goodbyes.

Details on what Perello's planning for the space are accordingly a mystery, though in an interview with Hoodline last year, she said she was "looking to replicate Frances on a larger scale," and was hoping to open her second spot in her neightborhood, the Lower Haight. But in addition to its crosstown location, Baker & Banker is the exact same size as Frances (48 seats), so Perello may have decided to go in a different direction. In any case, the Michelin-starred chef and Food & Wine Best New Chefs alum is likely to do something awesome. We'll have more details as they're revealed.