Massive Peninsula Food Hall State Street Market Opens Next Week

State Street Market, that new food hall landing in Los Altos, is poised to finally open its doors Tuesday, September 7. And there’s another star chef is joining the lineup, one that Silicon Valley and SF diners already know and love: the inimitable Srijith Gopinathan of Michelin-starred Taj Campton and Ettan. Years in the making, the groundwork for the massive project has been laid by a tech visionary, an award-winning architecture firm, and a slate of star chefs — plus it’s the first food hall of its kind for the Peninsula, built to make the town of Los Altos a dining destination.

Little Blue Door is the name of the new counter from chef Srijith Gopinathan and business partner Ayesha Thapar, the duo behind the new and popular Ettan restaurant in Palo Alto, which just got an early nod from the Michelin guide (in advance of the official stars later this month). Little Blue Door will be a fast-casual, counter-service eatery within the food hall, with a menu of about 15 items, from butter chicken to street-inspired buns and ice cream.

Gopinathan says that for years, curious diners have driven up from the Peninsula and South Bay to try his tasting menus at Taj Campton in San Francisco. Now, he’s excited to come to them and bring his food further down the Peninsula to more families. “It’s a way to reach another cool community while serving a quick and comforting version of Cal-Indian food,” the fine-dining chef says. “It’s similar to what we make at Ettan, similar to what I’ve always made, using the same effort, same recipes, but absolutely no frills.”

Little Blue Door joins a roster of star chefs and popular names. and as one might expect, the massive project is going to unfurl in layers. The State Street Market food hall is going to open next week, but various vendors will open at later dates over the next few months:

• El Alto is a Cal-Mexican restaurant and speakeasy from Traci Des Jardins, formerly of Jardiniere in San Francisco. It’s a full restaurant and bar space, not technically within the food hall, but attached by a covered “paseo,” and opening at a later date.
• Bao Bei is a Korean-Taiwanese counter from the Kims, formerly of Michelin-starred Maum in Palo Alto. It will be serving bao and noodles within the food hall, and is slated to open in mid-September.
• Little Blue Door is the Cal-Indian counter from chef Srijith Gopinathan and partner Ayesha Thapar, also located within the food hall, and slated to open later in the fall.
• Tin Pot Creamery will serve locally made, small-batch ice cream, starting on September 10.
• Cowgirl Creamery from Point Reyes will kick in their triple-cream and washed-rind cheeses, targeting an opening in late 2021.

In the meantime, all of the counters from Bon Appetit Management Company and Los Altos Community Investments, the development group behind the food hall, will be open when the food hall opens doors next week:

• Banks & Braes is a grill serving rotisserie chickens and woodfired flatbreads.
• Ostro is a seafood bar popping oysters, Dungeness crab, caviar, and salmon poke.
• Grains & Greens will have seasonal salads, grain bowls, and sandwiches.
• Murdoch’s is the bar pouring cocktails, wine, and beer, as well as brioche burgers and fries with harissa aioli.

State Street Market opens for outdoor seating, mobile ordering, and to-go on Tuesday, September 7. Hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and closed Mondays.

The Los Altos Community Investments/Bon Appetit Management Company counters will open first, starting with Banks & Braes, Ostro, Grains & Greens, and Murdoch’s. The chef concepts will follow at later dates, with Bao Bei, Little Blue Door, and El Alto. Stay tuned for menus and photos.