The Most Anticipated San Francisco Restaurant Openings, Winter 2016

Location: 659 Merchant St

Key Players: Charlie Parker, Daniel Patterson

The Situation: Recently purchased by Daniel Patterson Group, Alfred's is plotting a grand reopening in February. Now under the direction of chef Charlie Parker (Haven), the restaurant aims to keep the 87-year-old restaurant largely the same, albeit with some renovations and upgrades, and closer look at the skillful veggie preparation that all DPG restaurants maintain.

Projected Opening: February

Location: 51 Tunnel Road, Berkeley

Major Players: Dominique Crenn

The Situation: Dominique Crenn's first foray across the Bay will be a classic brasserie in the newly renovated Claremont Club and Spa. The project, dubbed Antoinette in an homage to the strong women (and a certain queen) of France, is Crenn's vision, though it will be technically operated by the hotel. Expect an elegant and welcoming space where guests can dine on oysters and sip Champagne with an unbeatable look at San Francisco across the water. There'll be lots of classic brasserie fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner; dishes like a cote du boeuf and whole roasted fish will be designed to share.

Projected Opening: February

Location: 900 N. Point Street, Fisherman's Wharf

Major Players: Jonathan Waxman

The Situation: The new project from the Bay Area native will focus on the Italian-influenced style that has made him one of the pioneers of "new California cuisine." It's also a repeat of his concept in Atlanta's Ponce City Market, serving pizza and pasta with a great view of the Bay.

Projected Opening: February

Location: 100 Van Ness St., Hayes Valley

Major Players: Hi Neighbor Restaurant Group (Ryan Cole, Jason Halverson, Tai Ricci, Jason Kirmse, Cyrick Ha)

The Situation: The café, which accompanies a full-scale restaurant that will open later this spring, will be a quick service affair with high-end sandwiches and coffee from L.A.'s Lamill. The sandwiches will be "thoughtful," according to partner Ryan Cole, who says the chef, Jason Halverson, and his team thought through every aspect  for premium lunchtime results. The café will take up residence in the bottom of  a 29-story skyscraper with a 1,000 residents, who Cole envisions as the café's main customers, though the bustling mid-market corridor (see what they did there?) will certainly provide plenty of foot traffic.

Projected Opening: January

Location: 1736 Telegraph Ave., Oakland

Major Players: Kyle Itani

The Situation: Kyle Itani, chef-owner of Oakland's Hopscotch, is bringing his own interpretation of ramen to Uptown Oakland, via a 49-seat noodle bar slated for mid-February. Drawing from his own travels in Japan, Itani is planning five different ramen options, ranging from a lighter, Tokyo-style broth to a rotating, seasonal option that will focus on the different styles of individual prefectures. Beer, sake and shochu will be available for pairing.

Projected Opening: Mid-February

Location: 821 Coombs St., Napa

Major Players: Curtis Di Fede

The Situation: It's a departure from chef/owner Curtis di Fede's Italian background at Oenotri, but it's a natural progression for the Japanese-cuisine loving chef, who has worked under chef Hiro Sone of Terra. As Napa's only Izakaya-style restaurant, the menu will lean heavily on cooking over a binchotan grill, offering dishes like binchotan grilled porterhouse with uni shiso butter, ramen and karage. Beer, wine and cocktails will be available, as well as an accompanying soft-serve window with flavors like red bean.

Projected Opening: Early March

Location: 1552 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA

Major Players: Sung Anh

The Situation: Anh is bringing the spirit of French fine dining to the Fillmore District, along with a distinct mix of Korean, Japanese and Chinese flavors. The chef, who spent time at both The French Laundry and Per Se, counts chef Corey Lee as his mentor— expect a refined, 18-seat affair with a kaiseki-style menu of 12 to 15 courses. The space will boast an anterior with "warm white, dark wood, and bronze gunmetal," in what Anh says is a  mix of "welcoming but modern and sleek."

Location: 330 Gough St., Hayes Valley

Major Players: Kim Alter

The Situation: Chef Kim Alter (Plum) is striking out on her own with the impending Nightbird, her Hayes Valley restaurant currently in the works. According to Alter, Nightbird will be a 40-seat restaurant focused on tasting menus that will change frequently, based on "what is available at the market and classic technique." The 40-seat space will have a little sister in the form of a seven-seat bar called Linden Room, that will "focus on craft cocktails."

Projected Opening: March

Location: 2900 18th St, San Francisco, Mission

Key Players: Chad Robertson, Elizabeth Prueitt

The Situation: This ambitious project from Tartine Bakery founders is now fully under construction, filling in a 5,600-square-foot space adjoining Heath's Mission factory. The spacious digs will take on most of the bakery's production, using an enormous Heuft oven, and include a café and bar, ice cream shop, fermentation bar and pantry. As a bonus, the shifting of bread production to The Manufactory means that Tartine Bakery will get a facelift as well, including expanded seating.

Projected Opening: Late March

Location: 731 Grant Avenue, Chinatown

Major Players: Brandon Jew

The Situation: The long-awaited project from Brandon Jew is now officially on the horizon, after meeting its final fundraising goals. The restaurant, which is located in Chinatown's former Four Seas, will be simple, fresh versions of Chinese food. Expect dishes like smoked tofu with yuba, corn, shiitake mushrooms and greens, and corn egg drop soup.

Projected Opening: March

Location: 131 North Street, Healdsburg, CA

Major Players: Kyle and Katina Connaughton

The Situation: Dubbed by Eater National as the biggest opening of 2016, Single Thread is certainly an ambitious project. Chef Kyle Connaughton has spent time at the Fat Duck Experimental Kitchen, as well as working for renowned French chef Michel Bras in Japan. The project is a combination of restaurant, farm and inn, employing the skills of Connaughton's wife Katina as the farmer. The entire idea is based on omotenashi, a Japanese concept of all-encompassing hospitality, from the garden to dinner to intimate accommodations at the inn.

Projected Opening: Late February/ Early March

Location: 1500 Mount Diablo Boulevard, Walnut Creek

Major Players: Xavi Padrosa

The Situation: The first U.S. outpost of Barcelona's beloved tapas bar is poised for a mid-January opening in Walnut Creek. Owner Xavi Padrosa is intent on bringing the tapas of Northern Spain to Northern California, in a sleek new building in a polished part of Walnut Creek. Tapas will be passed dim sum-style on rolling carts; the cocktail menu, which will be heavy on gin and tonics, is from Dos Ojos Hospitality.

Projected Opening: January 17