Tenderloin Restaurant Advertises Sit-Down New Year’s Eve Bash, Despite State and Local Health Orders

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• 620 Jones, a Tenderloin bar and restaurant founded by controversial SF nightlife figure Peter Glikshtern (he of the alleged Mission tire iron attack in 2000, for example, as well as a vigilante sweep of homeless folks this past September that he says was misunderstood by the media), drew attention from KPIX this week after it advertised a sit-down New Year’s Eve party in violation of state and local health orders. The $100 per person event, with a “delicious chef crafted prix fixe menu” is still being promoted as of publication time, albeit with contradictory notations claiming that it has actually been postponed. Commenters on the posts, with questions like “Did you receive special clearance from the city?” are told that they’ll receive explanations via DM. 620 Jones, which was was briefly known as MORE!jones in 2018, when drag performer Juanita More reportedly took over the kitchen before leaving the restaurnt in 2019, admitted in a comment posted last week that “the restrictions have unfortunately not been lifted,” but that the shutdown is “vicious and irresponsible” and that they hope that patrons “will support us.” According to SF Gate, Eventbrite has since removed the listing for the 620 Jones event, as “our community guidelines have always prohibited events that promote or contain illegal behavior.”
• Speaking of alleged scofflaws, Carmel restaurant the Tuck Box, which has faced fines and citations for alleged health order violations since the pandemic began, is now the subject of a declaration from the Monterey County District Attorney’s office, Bay City News reports. The restaurant reportedly reopened its interior dining room this month, in violation of the state stay-at-home order, which allows restaurants to serve takeout and delivery meals, only.
• Local food writer Elena Kadvany says that these were her most memorable meals of 2020. [Palo Alto Online]
• Toy Boat by Jane, the Clement Street outpost of local restaurant and bakery Jane, was damaged by vandals last week, the latest in a series of crimes at the Richmond District spot. [KRON 4]
• Food delivery robots from Bay Area-based company Nuro have the green light to roam the streets of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. [ABC 7]
• Here’s how some Bay Area restaurants are seeking to ensure proper pay and support for workers. [SF Chronicle]
• Reporters and contributors to the Cityside family of sites weigh in on the year in East Bay food. [Nosh]
• Vegan Filipino chef Reina Montenegro says that 65 percent of her customers aren’t even meatless — they just like her food. [Bay Area News Group]
• Revenge Pies founder Elizabeth Simon says that she was “up for three days straight” finishing Thanksgiving orders this year, and that when she got a bad Yelp review anyway, she told the customer “to fuck off.” [Mission Local]