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One of the most hotly anticipated restaurants of this or any other season, Liholiho Yacht Club (871 Sutter St.), the new project from the Nopa/Nopalito team of Allyson Jossel and Jeff Hanak and former Prospect chef Ravi Kapur, is getting really close—as in, it may open as soon as next week. Tablehopper got the full rundown on the 80-seat Tendernob spot, which will be helmed by Kapur and chef de cuisine Nana Guardia, and feature food inspired by Kapur's Hawaiian heritage, with shades of Chinese and Indian influences and plenty of NorCal produce, of course.
On the drinks side, previously announced bartender Kevin Diedrich has parted ways with the project (a bummer for his many fans), but Nopa's bartender Yanni Kehagiaras has stepped in to create a new menu of original cocktails. Lulu McAllister, who also handles wine at Nopa, has curated a list of 10-12 wines by the glass and around 80 bottle selections, divided into classic and new/unusual offerings. Eight beers on tap, a strong Japanese whisky selection, and a sizable sake list that will be entirely available by the glass.
The space, designed by Brett Terpeluk, is divided into three segments: a no-reservations front bar area that seats 14; the main dining room, with a yellow-tiled open kitchen and lots of built-in booths; and the private dining room and private bar located in the basement. The color palette is bright and island-friendly, with lots of groovy blue and white tile and exposed brick. There's a back garden that will be landscaped, but won't be available for seating; Liholiho also won't adhere to Nopa's late hours, with plans to close around 10-11 pm. We'll have a full photo gallery, official opening date, and more menu details next week.
