UPPER HAIGHT— It's been a long time coming, but the Alembic's kitchen finally reopened this week after 10 months of renovations. Although the second, larger dining room at the nearly 10-year-old institution still isn't ready for diners yet, visitors to the bar can still enjoy executive chef Ted Fleury's expanded menu and new head bartender Larry Piakowsky's rotating cast of cocktails. Zagat's Virginia Miller got a tour of some of highlights, which include fancy bar bites like tempura delicata squash (think more balanced onion rings), jerk-spiced chicken hearts, and beef tendon chips tossed with Vietnamese spices so they come out tasting like someone distilled a bowl of Pho into a bag of chicharrones. Kitchen hours are 4pm-midnight on weeknights and noon-midnight on weekends, while the bar keeps pouring until 2am. [Zagat]
HAYES VALLEY— Celebrated new Mediterranean grill and neighborhood lunch spot Souvla is finally expanding their menu beyond the four sandwiches they've been focusing on until now. Their first departure features whole, rotisserie-roasted chickens brined in feta for a cool $20 apiece out-the-door. Starting on Saturday November 15th, the shop will also start doing brunch on weekends. [EaterWire]
BERKELEY— In the East Bay, BUILD Pizzeria Roma on Shattuck Ave is rolling out lunch under the name BUILD Express. There's a deal that'll run you a mere $7.95 for any personal pizza with unlimited toppings, which should be a hit with the UC crowd. Also: there's beer. [EaterWire]