Popping the Restaurant Industry Bubble, and More A.M. Intel

Is the golden age of American dining over?

Over the weekend, chefs all over the nation took to social media to share an article published by Thrillist on Friday, a feature titled There’s a Massive Restaurant Industry Bubble, and It’s About to Burst. The piece managed to break some SF news along the way, using the impending closure of SoMa’s AQ as a case study for why restaurants around the country are failing. A saturated market, rising minimum wage and healthcare costs, staffing shortages, and other woes are cited throughout the article, which is the third in a series on the state of American restaurants. There’s plenty to digest, and many more quotes and references to SF restaurateurs.

Dungeness crabber strike continues

There’s just no respite for the troubled Dungeness crab industry in California. Crab fishers, from Northern California all the way to Canada, have been on strike since December 28 over the per pound purchase price of the crustacean. It began after a Humboldt County seafood purveyor offered a price of $2.75 per pound, $.25 less than the previously agreed upon price of crabbers whose seasons were already active; this year the season opened in phases, as there were continued elevated levels of domoic acid.

Cafe Flore has found new LBGT owners

After the iconic Castro watering hole went up for sale over the summer, fans were concerned that it was the end of an era. Luckily, it has found new owners who say they’ll keep things pretty much the same.

Riptide continues to host its freezing “Plunge” into the Pacific

Started by a regular at the Outer Sunset bar Riptide six years ago, patrons of the popular spot dive into the freezing waters of the Pacific Ocean each New Year’s Day at noon. Unsurprisingly, the frigid dip is followed by multiple rounds of bloody marys back at the bar, which also has a fireplace. Check out the photos here.

Coin-Op, SoMa’s new arcade bar, is now open

The hotly anticipated game room, bar, and restaurant is now “softly open,” from 4 p.m.- 2 a.m. every day. The kitchen is open til 1 a.m. daily, while the second floor is only open Friday and Saturday for now. Stay tuned for a grand opening party, and the opening of the Tron-themed bar sometime in January.

Get yourself a #Baconslut sandwich at Oakland’s new breakfast sandwich haven

The Gastropig is now open in Uptown Oakland, offering a rotating selection of breakfast sandwiches, avocado toast, coffees, and to-go sandwiches. To celebrate today’s grand opening, they’ll be giving away a cup of coffee with the purchase of any sandwich.