The Marina Is Getting The Mac and Cheese Restaurant It Needs

June 29

MARINA— A fast-casual, build-your-own mac and cheese restaurant is in the works for the Marina, coming to life with the help of an IndieGoGo campaign. The space for Mac’d is 3347 Fillmore, and the masterminds behind it are two Bay Area natives, Chen-Chen Huo and Jason Brown, who have been operating as pop-up Mix & Mac. They’d like to open in July. [IndieGoGo]

OAKLAND— Jennifer Colliau is coming to the East Bay, setting up a cocktail den across from the Fox Theater next door to Itani Ramen. She’s currently beverage director for The Interval in San Francisco. So far, she’s just got the space, with a small kitchen, and the name, Here’s How. [EaterWire]

POLK GULCH— A grocery store and Asian night market-inspired set of food stalls are in the works for the former Big Apple Grocery store space at 1650 Polk. That was originally to be an offshoot of the Twitter building venture The Market, but now The Bazaar, from a different developer, is plotting the project. [EaterWire]

June 8

BERKELEY— Made-to-order udon and tempura chain Marugame is headed to Berkeley at 48 Shattuck Square. The Japanese chain has 120 restaurants worldwide including two in Honolulu, Hawaii, and one bound for West LA. Marugame Berkeley hopes to open by the end of the year. [Berkeleyside]

UPTOWN OAKLAND— Existing Oakland restaurants Brown Sugar Kitchen and Bocanova are getting in on the Uptown action, moving to a Broadway complex that’s been left empty by the closures of Ozumo Oakland and now Picán. Brown Sugar Kitchen chef Tanya Holland will treat the new location as her flagship while maintaining her West Oakland presence. Bocanova, meanwhile, will leave its current Jack London Square location. [EaterWire]

BERKELEY— Timeless Coffee, the Piedmont Avenue café known for vegan baked goods, chocolates, and soft serve, is bound for Berkeley. It’s likely to open in the next few months in the 2965 College Ave space that was formerly home to La PanotiQ Bakery Café. [Berkeleyside]

May 31

OAKLAND, MISSION BAY, FIDI— La Boulangerie is expanding with three new locations: one at 5500 College Avenue in Oakland, one at 558 Mission Bay in SF, and another at 655 Montgomery. After a split with Starbucks, who purchased the café chain’s previous incarnation, owner Pascal Rigo is firmly in expansion mode. [Inside Scoop]

SFO— Also spawning is Gott’s Roadside, announcing three new locations of their burger restaurants, one in Walnut Creek, one in Greenbrae, and one at SFO. [Inside Scoop]

Berkeley — Chef Donato Scotti (Donato Enoteca, Desco, and others) has designs to open a restaurant in the 2635 Ashby Avenue space formerly home to The Advocate. No name yet for this project, but we can reasonably expect another Italian concept from the restaurateur. [Berkeleyside]

OAKLAND— Tartine Coffee Manufactory, the headquarters for the bakery’s new coffee company, will be located in Jack London Square, conveniently near the Port of Oakland for shipments. The roasting facility plans to have a pop-up coffee bar by the fall with select Tartine baked goods. [EaterWire]

May 24

CASTRO— A new restaurant tenant plans to take over the still-open Little Hollywood Launderette space at 1906 Market, pending the blessing of a Change of Use permit. That’s Kantine, from chef Nichole Accettola and husband Joachim Majholm: They were previously selling their Danish toasts, or smørrebrød, at the Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market. [Hoodline]

MISSION BAY— Casey Crynes has a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the works for his roaming Neapolitan pizza operation Casey’s Pizza. He’ll keep the truck going, but expand with a 28-seat table service restaurant and bar at 1170 4th Street, two blocks down from the ballpark. Expect that to open in late June or July. [TableHopper]

ALBANY— Oaktown Spice Shop is expanding to Albany, CA, to offer its freshly ground spices to a new market. Grab their herbs at 1224 Solano Avenue this fall. [Berkeleyside]

SOMA— “Deco sushi,” which is to say sushi of the colorful, decorative variety, is in the works at Sue’s Kitchen, a SoMa lunch spot with plans to open this summer. Matcha desserts are also on the menu for the forthcoming eatery at 303 2nd Street. [Hoodline]

May 17

MISSION— Planning Commissioners gave tenant Amado’s at the former Viracocha space (Valencia and 20th) the go ahead to add a restaurant component. Not much on what that will be, but it’s already caused a bit of a stir among the Valencia Corridor Merchants Association. In a compromise, a portion of the downstairs space will remain retail. [Mission Local]

RUSSIAN HILL— North African-inspired Berber is planning for a fall opening in the former Killer Shrimp space at 1516 Broadway. The “supper club” project comes from Borhen Hammami, whose partner on it is Tony Garnicky. Hammami knows the space well: He worked there when it was Pasha — way before the short-lived Killer Shrimp days. [Hoodline]

MISSION— Bar Tartine chefs Nick Balla and Cortney Burns are switching over to a new, Central European restaurant concept at their experimental Valencia Street space, replacing Motze with Duna. They’ll close briefly at the end of the month to revamp and open for chopped salads, potato flatbreads, and paprika farmers cheese on June 1. [EaterWire]

May 10

POTRERO HILL — Marianne Despres has found a permanent home for her roaming empanada operation El Sur. A San Francisco native with Argentine roots and a fine dining pedigree from the Cordon Bleu and the French Laundry, Despres has so far spread her love of empanadas by food truck — a beautiful 1970s Citroen, to be precise. Now she hopes her brick-and-mortar shop at 300 DeHaro Street will be open by early June with an expanded menu of Argentinian fare. [EaterWire]

OAKLAND— Temescal coffee shop Subrosa has a new Longfellow outpost planned, though there’s plenty of work to be done to open the space yet. The Subrosa folks are self-described minimalists who get their coffee from Four Barrel and their decor from community artists. [Hoodline]

BERNAL HEIGHTS— Two new Japanese restaurants are headed to two sub-neighborhoods in Bernal. One, at 3282 Mission Street, is RakiRaki Ramen, whose two San Diego locations serve up ramen and tsukemen plus other Japanese specialties. The other, near Precita Park at 433 Precita, is as-yet unnamed and announces itself only as “modern Japanese.” [Bernalwood]

April 26

MISSION — A laundromat called Laundré hopes to make one of life’s unpleasant chores a bit more bearable with a swanky wash and drier shop that doubles as a cafe serving Sightglass coffee, baked goods, and salads. [Hoodline]

MARIN — Bay Area chef and Michael Mina alum Ron Siegel is dreaming up his own culinary venture at 198 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Details are scarce regarding the spot’s upcoming menu, but Siegel hopes to have the restaurant, called Madcap, open by the summer. [EaterWire]

EMBARCADERO — Portola’s tribute to southern cooking, Queen’s Louisiana Po’ Boy Cafe, is headed to the Embarcadero with the opening of its second location. The diner will serve up its signature Louisiana-inspired specialities like seafood gumbo, oyster po’boys, and Andouille sausage from its outpost at Pier 33 1/2. [SFGate]

LAFAYETTE — Peruvian Chef Carlos Altamirano has plans to open his seventh restaurant this year at 3596 Mount Diablo Blvd. Called Barranco, the casual fine dining restaurant will serve popular dishes from Lima like ceviches, grilled meat skewers, rotisserie chicken, and a cocktail menu that features Pisco sours. [SFGate]

FISHERMAN’S WHARF — San Francisco Brewing Co. is plotting a small batch brewery and taproom in Ghirardelli Square. Stay tuned for details. [SFGate]

OAKLAND — A cocktail-minded pool hall called Oakland Rec Club is headed to a roomy space inside the Art Deco building at 1618 Franklin St. Anticipate billiard and pool tables, a seasonal menu, local brews, and hand-crafted drinks. [Hoodline]

INNER SUNSET — A poke purveyor called Poke Origin is taking over Takaya’s former space at 716 Irving St. The counter-service style restaurant will serve a build-your-own poke menu featuring 18 different proteins. [Hoodline]

INNER SUNSET — Moo Dees Indian Cuisine (1386 9th Ave.) is being replaced by another Indian restaurant called Ghorka Kitchen. Ghorka specializes in dishes from the Indian Himalayas and will offer an $8 tasting menu as well as two reasonably priced prix fixe options. [Hoodline]

SoMa — Hungry tech workers can rejoice with the arrival of French bakery Les Gourmands to 280 5th St. this spring. Fresh-baked croissants, brioche, apple turnovers, and pastry puffs are all on the menu. [Hoodline]

NoPa — Former neighborhood coffee shop Bread and Butter Cafe (1901 Hayes St.) is set to undergo a low-key makeover into a second outpost of Cup A Joe that will offer breakfast pastries, sandwiches, and coffee drinks. [Hoodline]

LOWER HAIGHT — Blue Bottle hopes to open another location at 201 Steiner St., depending on a conditional use authorization and negotiations with the city. If approved, the outpost will be Blue Bottle’s seventh location in San Francisco. [Hoodline]

TENDERLOIN — Pork dishes galore are coming to 807 Ellis St. in the form of The Pork Exchange, an Asian pork slider restaurant that will serve fast-casual fare along with local beers. [Hoodline]

CASTRO — Cafe du Nord is paring down its food and cocktail program and returning to its roots as a live music venue. That means no more cocktails from the Bon Vivants or food from Ne Timeas restaurant group. Keep an eye out for Cafe du Nord’s transformation over the next month in the form of several upcoming shows and live music five nights a week. [EaterWire]

April 17

OAKLAND — Sandwich shop Dolmas Deli has relocated one block away from its original location to 100 Broadway. Its brand new sleek interior boasts checkered black-and-white tile and ample seating for lunchtime crowds. [Hoodline]

PACIFIC HEIGHTS — Unconventional ice cream shop Salt and Straw is bringing its creamy concoctions to 2201 Fillmore Street. It’s the first San Francisco location for the celebrated Portland-based creamery which sources local ingredients to craft unusual flavors like olive oil and lemon custard, honey lavender, and roasted strawberry tres leches. [EaterWire]

April 10

OAKLAND — Alameda’s Julie’s Coffee & Tea Garden has opened an Oakland outpost at 4316 Telegraph Ave. This iteration will serve up wine, beer, coffee, and tea, as well as a full lunch and dinner menu in addition to weekend brunch. [Hoodline]

INNER RICHMOND — An EDM-themed bubble tea lounge called Gosu has landed at 1014 Clement St. For now, the shop sells bubble tea, lemonades, and fruit juices but in the future it hopes to expand its menu to include food, as well as host evening events featuring local EDM DJs. [Hoodline]

NAPA — A tiny taproom called Tannery Blend is now pouring candy-cap mushroom flavored porters, IPAs, and Belgian-style winter ales from its location at 101 S Coombs St. [Napa Valley Register]

OAKLAND — 246 Grand Ave. is now home to 1888 Coffee Station, a window-front shop that serves smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and coffee brewed with beans from Mexico. [Hoodline]

GLEN PARK — A sushi restaurant called Tekka House has recently taken over Tataki Canyon’s former location at 678 Chenery St. The menu offers sake and Japanese craft beer, as well as plenty of rolls, nigiri, and sashimi options to choose from. [Hoodline]

April 5

OAKLAND — Popular ice cream purveyor Humphry Slocombe is bringing its signature brand of funky flavors to 2335 Broadway. They plan on opening just in time for summer. [Tablehopper]

OAKLAND — San Francisco’s Park Café Group (Dolores Park Café, Precita Park Café, Duboce Park Café) latest venture is in the East Bay, taking over Actual Café’s former digs at 6334 San Pablo Ave. It’s called Paradise Park Café and it will have a vegetarian-friendly menu, along with smoothies, juices, and beer on tap. [Tablehopper]

MISSION — Manny Torres Gimenez’s The Palace (which burned down in 2015) is being reborn as Francisca’s at the same location (3047 Mission St.) as a Venezuelan-inclined restaurant boasting reasonably priced tasting menus and a flare for European cooking. [SFGate]

OAKLAND — Chiaroscuro’s chef/owner Alessandro Campitelli plans on experimenting in pasta with his latest dining venture, a pop-up called Contrasto Test Kitchen that will host ticketed dinners at 388 Grand Ave. [EaterWire]

FIDI — Kearny Street’s pita paradise, Sababa, has designs on a second location on Commercial Street across from the TransAmerica Building. This time, the grab-and-go lunch spot will have twice the seating room available along with a patio out front. [EaterWire]

SAN FRANCISCO — Sababa’s increased kitchen space on Commercial Street means that there’s about to be even more pita abounding in the city’s supermarkets. They’ll soon be selling packages of pita at grocery markets and making meal options available on Caviar. [EaterWire]

HAYES VALLEY — Big plans are in the works for pasta, courtesy of Adriano Paganini. The prolific restaurateur will soon be selling plates of handmade, semolina-flour pasta for around $15 a pop out of his latest venture, a casual fine-dining stopover called A Mano (450 Hayes St.). [EaterWire]

NAPA — Master Sommelier Chris Blanchard is concocting a fried chicken fantasy called Blanchard’s Fried Chicken over at Melissa Teaff Catering (101 South Coombs Street). The former REDD wine director will be selling Southern-inspired take-out twice a month along with pop-ups at Napa wineries. [Napa Valley Register}

March 29

NORTH BEACH — Two partners from Roma Design Group are redesigning the roomy space that Rose Pistola formerly occupied (532 Columbus Ave.) to create Cantina di Liguria, a bar and restaurant that plans to pay homage to the neighborhood’s culinary roots. [Inside Scoop]

MISSION BAY — Popular boba purveyors Boba Guys are plotting a fifth outpost in San Francisco. This time, it’s taking roots in the Design District’s up-and-coming culinary scene at 1002 16th St. [Hoodline]

POLK — East Bay’s mediterranean restaurant Troy Greek is taking over Polker’s former location at 2226 Polk St., serving up a casual menu of classic Greek dishes along with beer and wine. [Tablehopper]

NAPA — The owners of Oxbow’s Eiko’s and Eiko’s are planning a new concept called Napa Noodle for Atlas Social’s former space at 1124 First St. They’re bringing on former Eiko’s chefs Tateki Noma and Adam Ressler to execute a Pacific-Rim inflected menu of soups, house-made noodles, roasted meats, and rice dishes. [Napa Valley Register]

NAPA — There’s big plans in store for Chinese restaurant XiXi Bistro which will soon take over 1040 Clinton St. The owners intend on serving dim sum on the weekends, hosting chopstick classes for kids, and pairing classic Chinese dishes alongside an ambitious wine menu. [Napa Valley Register]

MISSION — A Middle Eastern counter-style shop called Tahini is bringing shawarma, kebab, falafel, and French fries to 2859 Mission St. Stay tuned for an opening date. [Hoodline]

OAKLAND — Locol’s second East Bay iteration will open as soon as March 31. Called Locol Bakery, the shop will serve pizza slices, garlic herb butter “bunzz,” house-made chili and a Bay Area rarity: $1 cups of coffee. [EaterWire]

LOWER HAIGHT — The team behind Divisidero’s Horsefeather is dreaming up a brand new concept for the former location of The Residence at 718 14th St. For now, details are scarce as the team is still in business planning mode. [Hoodline]

RUSSIAN HILL — Mediterranean-inflected North African cuisine is headed to 1516 Broadway in the form of fine dining restaurant Berber. According to its website, Berber will be helmed by Tunisian chef Ali Dey Daly and will be an “opulent nightlife venue.” [Hoodline]

NOPA — A pie shop called Theorita is in the works for 834 Divisadero St. It’s the brainchild of James Beard Award-winning pastry chef Angela Pinkerton and partner David Nayfeld, and she plans on serving both savory and sweet renditions of the dish for lunch and dinner.

March 22

OAKLAND — A traditional Irish bar called Sláinte will be pouring Irish brews and whiskey alongside a hearty menu of pub fare as soon as April 1. The owners hope to foster an Irish community at the bar’s outpost at 131 Broadway, and have plans to host storytelling nights, live music, and viewings of European soccer matches. [EaterWire]

FIDI — A meatball restaurant called Meatball Bar is taking over Shorty Goldstein’s former location at 126 Sutter St. The fast-casual concept will serve an assortment of meatballs from different culinary influences including Thai chicken balls with peanut sauce, Vietnamese-inspired pork balls, and the traditional Italian variety accompanied by marinara. [EaterWire]

MISSION — A devastating fire shut down taqueria El Gran Loco last year, but now the shop is making a triumphant return to a new location at 4591 Mission St. It will be serving it’s same casual menu of tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and more. [Hoodline]

SOMA — Grilled-cheese shop The Melt is losing its Howard Street location to a new construction venture, but never fear: the crowd-pleasing lunch spot is headed to a new location at 925 Market St. and will open within the next few months. [Hoodline]

DOGPATCH — A seasonal-focused menu is in the works over at 690 Indiana St. which is soon set to become Noon All Day, a 65-seat restaurant from former Piccino cook Carlo Espinas. The restaurant will serve grab-and-go items, an organic menu of several rotating dishes (like curry clay pots and meatball sandwiches), and espresso drinks. [Tablehopper]

POTRERO HILL — Doughnuts filled with ice cream are coming to 1717 17th St., courtesy of Milkbomb, a pastry-meets-ice cream confectionary inspired by a traditional Sicilian dessert. The menu will serve basic glazed doughnuts with ice cream flavors like horchata, “birthday cake,” and Vietnamese coffee. [Hoodline]

FIDI — A luncheonette called City Counter will soon be dishing up an updated iteration of diner fare at 115 Sansome St. The spot will feature a 40-foot-long counter that seats as many as 30 customers — a nostalgic throwback to old-school-styled stopovers like Woolworth’s.

March 14

With every passing week, the roster of San Francisco’s food offerings gets better and better. The big-ticket items added this week include a yakiniku and whiskey restaurant, udon counter, and butcher shop all in one, some rolled ice cream, and much more.

SOMA — Omakase Restaurant Group (Omakase, Okane) is dreaming up a culinary trifecta for the ground floor of the Henry Adams Building. The plan is to open a yakiniku and whiskey restaurant, an udon counter, and a butcher shop to help revitalize the neighborhood’s meal options. [EaterWire]

MISSION — Jessica Kahn of Sandbox Bakery will open her first brick and mortar bakeshop at 3321 20th St. It’s called Kahnfections and will soon be rolling out piping hot trays of croissants, scones, and an intriguing selection of biscuits (bacon cheddar and dill Swiss are both on the menu). [Tablehopper]

MARINA — A family-owned wine shop is headed to 2379 Chestnut St. Dubbed Cultivar, it will offer a mix of Napa Valley heavyweights alongside lesser known labels from boutique vintners. Wines will be available both by the bottle and glass, and an organic-focused food menu is also in the works. [EaterWire]

INNER SUNSET — Let’s Roll Ice Cream is taking over JJ Ice Cream’s former digs at 1152 Irving St. The shop’s name refers to the way the ice cream is prepared — served in frozen spirals rather than scoops. Look forward to flavors like cookies n’ cream, vanilla and fruity pebbles, and a Nutella/banana mash-up called “funky monkey.” [Hoodline]

BERKELEY — 64 Shattuck Sq. will soon be home to Fire Wings, a beer and fried chicken wing wonderland that plans on offering an extensive selection of fiery flavors. [Berkeleyside]

LOWER NOB HILL — Sushi paradise Kuma Sushi + Sake will soon be serving sashimi and rolls from its brand new outpost at 1040 Polk St. Owners Ryo Sakai and Cory Jackson have worked at SF staples like Blowfish and Cafe Zuni, and they plan on offering a reasonably priced menu filled with more uncommon seafood items like saltwater eel. [Hoodline]

INNER RICHMOND — Popular Italian restaurant Bella Trattoria has just acquired former dive bar Buckshots’ location at 3848 Geary Blvd. While details remain unclear, it’s rumored that a beer, wine, and cafe menu are all in the works. [Hoodline]

INNER RICHMOND — A taco shop called Taqueria Los Mayas will soon be doling out tacos at 331 Clement St. Stay tuned for an opening date. [Hoodline]

SAN JOSE — Neapolitan pizza and beer chain Blast & Brew is adding three locations to the greater San Jose area over the next three years. The first location will open this summer. [EaterWire]

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March 8

The Bay Area continues to receive popular transplants, with Korean fried chicken shop Bonchon being the latest to enter the fray, following others like Babu Ji, Din Tai Fung, Ippudo Ramen, and more.

BERKELEY — Crowd-pleasing New York transplant Bonchon will soon be frying up its signature soy garlic-glazed chicken wings from its first West Coast outpost at 2050 Berkeley Way. [EaterWire]

NORTH BEACH — An Italian cafe called Norcina is headed to Levi’s Plaza (50 Francisco St.), expanding the neighborhood’s lunch options with frittatas, broccoli rabe, pancetta and cheese cornetti, and Cibo coffee for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. [EaterWire]

OAKLAND — An expanded iteration of industry vets Melissa Axelrod and William Johnson’s Mockingbird will re-open in downtown Oakland (416 13th St.) by the end of the month. The sprawling, 4,200-square-foot restaurant will serve the same seasonally-minded menu as before, along with happy hour selections and classic cocktails. [EaterWire]

HAYES VALLEY — A long-awaited full-service grocery will soon be entering Hayes Valley’s depopulated bodega scene at 555 Fulton St. The chain is Portland-based New Seasons, and its shelves will be stocked with organic offerings, traditional pantry items, home goods, and an expansive selection of beer and wine. [Hoodline]

LOWER NOB HILL — A coffee shop called Crostini & Java will soon be filling the void left by Coffee Cabin at 899 Hyde St. Coffee, pastries, crostinis, bagels, and more are all on the menu, as well as beer and wine — as long as its pending beer and wine license goes through. [Hoodline]

OAKLAND — A quintessential bartender oasis is coming to the intersection of Broadway and Grand Avenue in the form of Proof, a boutique liquor store catering to mixologists with an eye for unique mescals, whiskeys, tequilas, bourbons, and vintage barware. [East Bay Express]

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March 1

It’s been just a few short weeks since Noe Valley casual Italian restaurant La Nebbia bid adieu, but the space has already found a new tenant in Gialina and Ragazza owner Sharon Ardiana. Plus, the ladies of Vietnamese pop-up Rice Paper Scissors are on the rise.

MISSION — Longtime Vietnamese pop-up Rice Paper Scissors is receiving brick-and-mortar permanence over at 2598 Folsom St. The fast-casual restaurant concept should be up and operating within a year. [EaterWire]

OAKLAND — Whole Food’s eco-minded, less expensive brand will soon have a store all its own at 5110 Telegraph Ave. Called 365 by Whole Foods, it will offer organic, health-conscious grocery items that are slightly more friendly to your pocketbook than Whole Foods’ typical fare. [EaterWire]

PALO ALTO — A swanky restaurant lounge called [esc] is opening inside of Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley (2050 University Ave.) as soon as the beginning of April. The restaurant was designed with the Valley’s clientele in mind — it comes equipped with an automated enomatic wine system (read: a fancy machine that chills and preserves wine) and a digital art wall. [EaterWire]

NOE VALLEY — Gialina and Ragazza owner Sharon Ardiana is drawing culinary inspiration from Mediterranean, Italian, and Californian cuisines for her latest restaurant concept called Ardiana. She plans on serving pizza, tapas-style small plates, and a number of shareable entrees. Ardiana will open in the spring in La Nebbia’s former location at 1781 Church St. [Inside Scoop]