The Most Anticipated San Francisco Restaurant Openings, Spring 2016

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

Major Players: Jonathan Waxman

The Situation: Chef Jonathan Waxman's Bay Area homecoming is almost here, as his Ghirardelli Square restaurant nears completion. The concept is actually two spaces: The Restaurant and The Café, and includes outdoor seating. The menu is Italian with California influences, of course. Stay tuned for an imminent opening, as the team puts the finishing touches on the space (formerly known as Brezza Emporio and Pizzeria). 

Projected Opening: Mid-March

Image credit: Waxman's/Instagram

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: Mid-March

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: Corridor, the full-service restaurant from Hi Neighbor Restaurant Group and chef, Jason Halverson, will soon join it's fast casual sibling (Corridor Café) in a 29-story skyscraper with a 1,000 residents. No details on the menu yet, but expect something a little more "composed" than what diners might expect at the group's other restaurant Stones Throw; the restaurant will cater to the pre- and post- theater crowd, as well as the buildings upscale residents.

Projected Opening: April

Location: 2501 Mariposa St, Mission

Major Players: Paul Einbund, Gavin Schmidt

The Situation: Though Slow Club will be missed, its replacement promises to maintain a position as a better-than-average neighborhood spot, serving California Mediterranean fare. There'll also be a serious burger, and an interesting wine list from owner/sommelier Paul Einbund (Frances, Octavia) and chef Gavin Schmidt (Campton Place, COI).

Projected Opening: Early April

Location: 731 Grant Avenue, Chinatown

Major Players: Brandon Jew, Melissa Chou

The Situation: Chef Brandon Jew is bringing fresh, contemporary Chinese to Chinatown, taking over the former Four Seas Restaurant. The chef hopes to create a new style of community gathering place, where traditions like red egg parties can continue alongside diners who appreciate organic and locally sourced ingredients. He's assembling an all-star team, including Mourad's former pastry star Melissa Chou and Huxley's Sara Hauman. 

Projected Opening: Mid-April

Image credit: Stefanie Tuder

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. 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-April

Image credit: Itani Ramen

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: April

Location: 206 Valencia St., Mission

Major Players: Joseph Magidow, Azhar Hashem, The Bon Vivants

The Situation: The restaurant is the first from owner Azhar Hashem, a native of Jordan, who plans to showcase the homey food of the Mediterranean, with influences from Greece, Turkey, the Levant (Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel and Jordan) and Iran. Chef Joseph Magidow (Delfina) is planning a menu filled with mezzes like muhammara, and large dishes for sharing like leg of lamb. There'll also be a drink menu from the Bon Vivants.

Projected Opening: Mid-April

Location: SFMOMA

Major Players: Corey Lee

The Situation: Benu chef Corey Lee is bringing his precise, three Michelin-starred cooking style to the SF Museum of Modern Art this spring. Except this time, he'll feature famous dishes from top chefs around the world, like Daniel Boulud, Wylie Dufresne, Thomas Keller and more. The idea is to provide diners with "a cross section of what's going on around the world both geographically and stylistically," according to Lee.

Projected Opening: June

Location: 2216 Broadway, Oakland

Major Players: Daniel Patterson, Roy Choi

The Situation: The fast food restaurant that will save the world is coming to Oakland this spring, following its debut in L.A.'s Watts neighborhood. The Bay Area's first location will set up shop in the space adjoining Daniel Patterson's Plum Bar in Uptown Oakland, offering a menu of healthy, affordable food from Patterson and co-founder chef Roy Choi.

Projected Opening: Late Spring