Papito Team to Open Mexican Restaurant in Huxley’s Tenderloin Space

Papi’s, a new Mexican restaurant from the team behind Hayes Valley’s Papito, Matador, and Tender Wine Bar will soon open in the Tenderloin. It’s going into the former home of Huxley (846 Geary), the intimate bistro that closed in the fall after owner Kris Esqueda departed SF’s tenuous restaurant scene for greener pastures.

At the time of the closure, Esqueda predicted a fast casual restaurant would soon occupy it, saying “What else can it become in San Francisco?” And here it is: The restaurant, from David Alexander, Craig Lipton and Miriam Lipton, will offer a similar, but scaled-down, menu to that of Papito. The recipes will be identical to that of the Hayes Valley menu, co-owner Craig Lipton tells Eater SF, but shorter, like the name.

The name Papi’s, short for Papito, is a result of the owners’ split with former partner Jocelyn Bulow (Chez Maman). Alexander, and Craig and Miriam Lipton took full ownership of the Hayes Valley restaurant, while Bulow retained the Potrero Hill location and all rights to the name.

New to Papi’s will be rotisserie chicken, served with sides and sauces. Mexican beers, sangria, and low-ABV margaritas will also be offered. (Side note: wine drinkers from nextdoor sister bar Tender will be able to take Papi’s food to the bar with them.) The menu has been curated with copious amounts of rotisserie chicken takeout in mind, and a catering menu available through Zesty, too.

The small space was recently remodeled, so Lipton says most changes are cosmetic, including the addition of 25 feet of murals commissioned from Mexican artists Dario Canul and Cosijoesa Cernas of the Oaxaca collective Tlacolulokos. They’re also behind the design of the colorful logo, which artist Niki Waters painted onto the metal roll-up door.

Papi’s is aiming for an opening date of March 5.

• Papi’s [Official]