Marlowe’s Cow Hollow Spinoff Is Closed and Getting a Preppy New Identity

Cow Marlowe, a Cow Hollow clone of SoMa hit restaurant Marlowe, is changing gears after less than a year in business. The bar and kitchen at 3154 Fillmore Street stopped serving customers earlier this month to undergo repairs and a remodel, and will reemerge as the Greenwich, a preppier, more Marina-inspired bar and restaurant from the same owners. An opening party is scheduled for September 10.

“Marlowe just didn’t translate to the neighborhood,” says Anna Weinberg of Big Night Restaurant Group, which runs Eater 38 member Marlowe, Park Tavern, the Cavalier, Leo’s Oyster Bar, and Marianne’s. Cow Marlowe opened with a bang in November, showcasing Marlowe’s existing, often rich hits from chef Jennifer Puccio. However, “the neighborhood wanted lighter, healthier food — and we realized that quite quickly,” says Weinberg.

The new menu at the Greenwich will be centered “on Big Night’s best” rather than simply Marlowe’s usuals: Oysters and shrimp Louie salads la Leo’s Oyster Bar, the Cavalier’s lettuce, green bean, goat cheese, and truffle vinaigrette salad, and Park Tavern’s refreshing McLaren cocktail. Fans of the Marlowe burger are welcome back, too: It’s still on the menu at the Greenwich.

The Marina setting for Cow Marlowe — another Big Night design by the team of frequent collaborator Ken Fulk — echoed the original Marlowe, but with darker and heavier hues. As the Greenwich, the redesigned space is lighter, with white paint and Nautical flags. A wall dividing the space in two is coming down, and a raw bar is going in behind the bar. And staff are changing their look, too: They’ll now sport polo shirts to complete the Hamptons aesthetic. Collars, for the record, should be popped.

Elsewhere in San Francisco, Weinberg is branching out from the Big Night restaurant group, taking over landmark San Francisco restaurant and bar Tosca with partners Fulk and chef Nancy Oakes of Boulevard. That project will move forward after the Greenwich comes together. “We’re holding off [with Tosca] until we get this right,” Weinberg says.

• New Dream Team Takes Over SF’s Treasured Tosca Cafe [ESF]
• Marlowe’s Elegant New Sibling Opens in Cow Hollow [ESF]