Restaurant Bridging Worlds of Food and Art Opening Soon in SoMa

Art, food, and artistic food

Palette, a high-concept restaurant that’s as much about art as food, will eventually land in a still-under-construction building in SoMa — the ambitious project was first announced about a year ago. But first, it’s moving into the former Lulu on Folsom Street (816 Folsom Street) space, which is set to later be demolished and turned into a hotel. The temporary Palette is expected to open in early March, as envisioned by Peter J. Hemsley, who’s spent time in the fine dining kitchens of Quince and Alain Passard. In addition to art exhibits and workshops, the space will house a cafe and lounge serving rotisserie chicken, flatbread, and other seasonal offerings.

Chinese food hits Emeryville’s food hall

Public Market Emeryville is continuously adding new stalls, with the latest to ink a deal being Baby Cafe. Born in Oakland Chinatown, with additional locations in Alameda and Union City, Baby Cafe will bring Hong Kong-style cafe fare to the food hall. The restaurant typically features an enormous all-day menu, including Chinese desserts and teas. Look for it to open in mid-2019 near Pig in a Pickle and Minnie Bells.

Dim sum expansion

San Francisco Chinatown landmark Empress of China might see new life soon. The six-story banquet restaurant closed in 2014 after 48 years. Now, downtown dim sum spot City View is hoping to open a location in the ground floor of the building at 838 Grant Street. The plan is still in the earliest of stages, so no timeline yet.

Burgers for all

Local mini chain Roam Artisan Burgers is opening its sixth Bay Area location on Monday, February 11. It’ll join the Slanted Door, Fieldwork Brewing Co., and others at San Ramon’s City Center Bishop Ranch, the new $300 million complex designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano (SF Academy of Sciences). The new location promises to bring Roam’s burgers and sides with vegan and gluten-free options, plus shakes via Straus Family Creamery, to a new part of the East Bay.

Mid-week specials in Sausalito

Today is the first day of Copita Tequileria y Comida’s new Wednesdays by the Fire dinner series, which features a monthly rotating three-course menu focusing on dishes prepared with the Mexican restaurant’s rotisserie. The meal costs $25 per person with a two-person minimum, and this month’s edition includes a citrus salad, roasted leg of lamb, and buñuelos (fried sweet dough) for dessert.

A very special evening for barbecue

Horn BBQ is hitting up Harmonic Brewing for another pop-up on Thursday, February 7, starting at 5 p.m. While that wouldn’t normally qualify as news, Matt Horn is bringing on a very special guest for the evening: Wayne Mueller, the pitmaster of James Beard Award-winning Louie Mueller Barbecue in Texas. Horn already has a fervent fanbase for his Texas-style barbecue — and on Thursday, he’ll be taking it up a notch with Mueller by his side.

A worthwhile Camp Fire fundraiser

Henry’s in Berkeley is hosting an all-you-can-eat supper on Sunday, February 10, benefitting Camp Fire relief efforts. Sierra Nevada’s Resilience Fire Relief Beer will be available — with 100 percent of proceeds also going to fire relief — as well as Kronnerburgers, Impossible burgers, barbecue, and more. Tickets go on sale tomorrow for $35 via Brown Paper Tickets, and the fun lasts from 3:30 to 10 p.m.