Brezza Emporio and Pizzeria
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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
Corridor Café
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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
Itani Ramen
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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
Miminashi
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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
Nightbird
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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
The Manufactory
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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
Single Thread Farm and Restaurant
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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
Image credit: Patricia Chang
Also happening in the near future: Che Fico, Brasserie Saint James, LocoL, Bellota, The Morris, Adriano Paganini's Hayes Valley Restaurant
For a full list of coming attractions, check out our constantly updated list of what Bay Area diners should keep on their radar.