Upper Haight Has a Sweet New Spot for Brioche French Toast, and More Openings

This is a curated list of the Bay Area’s most notable restaurant and bar openings, with new updates published once a week. See an opening we missed? Then drop us a line.

Seeking the Bay Area’s fall and winter 2020 restaurant openings? Look no further.

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September 9

NORTH BEACH — Fried chicken authority SF Chickenbox moved and opened in its new location in North Beach, Tablehopper confirmed. Those boxes stuffed with fried bird, sides, and mochi muffins appear to have arrived sometime in August.

UPPER HAIGHT — Tablehopper also reports that Brioche Bakery is expanding beyond North Beach, and recently opened a new location in Upper Haight, in the former Sparrow space. There are brunchish eggs Benedict and brioche French toast to enjoy out on the deck, as well as soups, salads, and a full pastry case.

NOE VALLEY — That new-school Australian chicken shop has officially landed in Noe Valley. Village Rotisserie opened on September 8, and check out those juicy chickens, duck fat potatoes, and lemony broccoli salad.

BERNAL HEIGHTS — A former Akiko’s sushi chef has taken over the former Ichi Sushi space, bringing good omakase back to Bernal. Chisai Sushi Club opened on September 7 with uni carbonara and a mini fish waffle.

MISSION BAY — Gott’s Roadside is opening its second SF location at Chase Center on September 17. Located on the second level of Thrive City, the area immediately outside the stadium, it’s a generous 4,000 square feet plus outdoor seating, so fans have plenty of space to feast on burgers, fries, and shakes.

MISSION — As shared on Instagram, Bar Part Time busts open this Thursday, September 9. The SF Chronicle previously reported that it’s a natural wine bar slash dance party moving into the former Thieves Tavern on 14th at Guerrero.

OAKLAND — Bake Sum gained popularity with its pandemic pastry boxes stuffed with purple pineapple buns, and now the bakery is officially opening its first storefront on Saturday, September 18, Berkeleyside confirms.

SONOMA — The Matheson ambitiously opened all three levels on September 2, from fine dining to sushi to rooftop cocktails, and a wall of 88 wines available by the glass at the push of a button.

LOS ALTOS — The highly anticipated State Street Market, the first food hall on the Peninsula, opened doors to a cavernous space on September 7. About half of the stalls were ready for opening day, starting with woodfired flatbreads, oysters, cocktails, and several star chefs will be joining shortly, with promises of pork belly bao and butter chicken to come.

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August 27

SOMA — Traveler is a new cocktail bar opening on the just-below-ground level of 25 Lusk on August 31. Local cocktail pro Elmer Mejicanos (Red Window, Tony’s) is crafting the drinks menu, which will be switching out every six months, and is starting with mezcal drinks and punchy cochinita pibil tacos.

INNER SUNSET — Neapolitan pizza authority Fiorella will open its new, third location in the Sunset on August 30. It’s a sweet spot right by the park, where fans can feast on pizza, pasta, and a full cocktail list by the cozy fireplace or in the fresh fog of the rooftop deck.

MISSION — The Trick Dog team popped open Chezchez on August 17, just in time for tinned fish and hot spritz summer. It’s replacing their former Bon Voyage concept on Valencia Street.

MARINA — Norcina is throwing down fresh pasta and pizza, as well as spritz flights and torch-it-yourself s’mores, as of August 18. Chef Kaitlynn Bauman (Cotogna, Presidio Social Club, Greens) previously had a small cafe by the same name, but this latest iteration of Norcina is her first full-service, sit-down restaurant.

OAKLAND — Tribune brasserie opens in the historic Tribune Tower on August 27, the SF Chronicle reported first. Partner and general manager Darrin Ballon (State Bird, Progress, Gary Danko) and partner-chef Omri Aflalo (Mourad, Gary Danko) are serving steak tartare, branzino amandine, a serious burger, and sticky toffee pudding in a handsome mid-century space.

SANTA CLARA — iChina is a luxurious new Chinese restaurant that opened in Westfield Valley Fair Mall on August 20, the SF Chronicle reported first. It looks like a glass and jade palace trimmed in gold, complete with a private dining room with virtual reality screens.

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August 16

YERBA BUENA GARDENS — In bittersweet news for fans of Samovar Tea House Cafes: Owners and brothers Jesse and Joshua Jacobs announced on Monday the launch of a new Detroit-style pizza concept, Joyride Pizza, which is slinging square pies in the former tea house locations on Valencia and at Yerba Buena Gardens. Samovar’s tea is available for purchase online but the company’s two brick-and-mortar locations in San Francisco are no more, a spokesperson confirmed. “Samovar Tea was on the cusp of expansion prior to the pandemic,” Jesse Jacobs said in a news release. “I spent 20 years developing Samovar into an iconic brand. Similar to other restaurateurs across the country, COVID-19 dissolved the brick-and-mortar businesses to the point of no return. We needed to creatively adapt to the moment.”

The pizza spots are already open and serving 8-by-10 pies built on a base of 48-hour fermented focaccia dough that’s made from organic grains milled by Central Milling. Toppings include cured meats from Zoe’s Meats in Petaluma; ricotta from Double 8 Dairy; and all-beef meatballs, Italian sausage, and Applewood smoked bacon from Sonoma County Meat Company. The Yerba Buena Gardens menu includes six classic pizzas, plus pasta, salads, charcuterie, and desserts alongside a full menu of cocktails, beer, wine, cider, and kombucha. The Valencia Street menu, in comparison, is pared back with pizza, salad, and cheesecake for dessert.

Eric Wolfinger

UNION SQUARE — Scott’s Chowder House and its Boston-style clam chowder have set down roots in the city with the debut of a new location next door to Café de la Presse on Grant Avenue near Bush Street. Get your soup fix 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

LOWER NOB HILL — Get loose at Persona, the subterranean party hideout slinging cocktails with dramatic flair (think dry ice and forced carbonation) in a space inspired by erotic cinema history.

RUSSIAN HILL — Nisei debuts August 18 and chef David Yoshimura is here to defy ramen and sushi stereotypes with elegant and thoughtful tasting menus inspired by washoku cuisine, which he describes as “Japanese soul food.”

FISHERMAN’S WHARF — Chef Francis Ang’s much-anticipated debut restaurant Abacá opens for dinner on August 16. Take a look inside the sun-soaked space or dive deep into the menu of contemporary Filipino cuisine.

HAYES VALLEY — The intimate corner space that was formerly home to the Riddler is now Linden & Laguna Wine Bar, from ​​Chris Nickolopoulos (Maritime Wine Trading Collective, Maritime Wine Tasting Studio). The beverage list highlights small production wines that can be paired with a menu of sharable small snacks such as oysters and goat cheese stuffed apricots.

BERKELEY — Palestinian-American chef Mona Leena throws open the doors of her East Bay restaurant Lulu on Tuesday, August 17. In addition to savory items ranging from Leena’s popular mana’eesh to deviled eggs with whipped labneh yolks, the breakfast and lunch menu offers sweet pastries such as tahini caramel sticky bun or a “zalabyeh” krueller donut with black cardamon and lechera glaze.

WALNUT CREEK — Dumpling Hours, a spinoff of popular San Francisco spot Dumpling Home, opened in early August, as first spotted by Beyond the Creek.

NAPA — Fieldwork Brewing Company has upgraded its footprint at Oxbow Public Market. The brewery’s new taproom is open now at the adjacent Oxbow Public Market Annex with a 1,450-square-foot indoor space plus a 900-square-foot outdoor beer garden.

HEALDSBURG — Burdock Bar is a hidden-in-plain-sight new restaurant serving a menu of small plates like crispy pork belly and tuna tartare or slightly over-the-top caviar puffs, Sonoma Magazine reports.

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August 9

HAYES VALLEY — Le Fantastique is a cool new seafood slash wine bar from the Bird Dog team slated to open before the end of August. Check out those mini caviar eclairs and the vinyl collection.

MISSION — Itria may have eased in with pizza delivery, but the modern Italian restaurant is finally open for indoor dining and serving a full menu of fresh pasta and crudo, as of August 5.

MARKET — The former Fig & Thistle wine shop has reopened as Millay wine bar, according to Hoodline. The owners have cleared out the space, added seats at the bar and in a parklet, and are now welcoming guests in for tastings under the glow of a hot pink neon sign.

CASTRO — Hot Johnnie’s is the latest pastrami sensation to officially hit the Castro on July 30. Hoodline originally reported that SF native Jonathan Young will be brining, curing, and smoking pastrami on-site, and he’s actually taken over two storefronts, one serving sandwiches, the other selling picnic baskets and blankets.

OAKLAND — Don Blanc is a new Korean barbecue spot that opened in Temescal in mid-July, as reported by Berkeleyside. The restaurant is throwing Mugifuji, a special breed of pork, and beef intestines on the grill.

OAKLAND — Pla Daek Thai Esan Food is now serving Northeastern-style Thai cuisine to Piedmont Avenue, according to Berkeleyside.

OAKLAND — Berkeleyside spotted that Motivat Coffee Roasters is a former caterer that’s officially moved into its first storefront on Webster, where the husband-and-wife duo are now serving pour-overs and specialty drinks.

BERKELEY — Mainichi Sushi is a new sushi spot on Solano Ave, now serving up a big menu of sashimi, rolls, teriyaki, bento, and kid-friendly options, as reported by Berkeleyside.

LIVERMORE — Da Boccery is a new restaurant that’s serving pub fare with a side of bocce, ax throwing, shuffleboard, and corn hole, according to Mercury News. So you can now sip a cocktail, eat a wagyu slider, and throw an ax in the same place. It’s from the same owners as Sauced BBQ & Spirits.

MOUNTAIN VIEW — Bay Biryanis is a new Indian restaurant downtown with a focus on biryanis, as reported by the SF Chronicle. The Chron says the restaurant is serving a serious 27 types of biryani, from veggie and chicken to goat and mutton, as well as curries and roti.

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July 30

TENDERLOIN — A sweet new dessert cafe has opened in the Tenderloin. Hoodline reports that Sweet Glory is now serving pandan toast and crepe cake, along with matcha lattes and jasmine tea.

SFO — Bacon Bacon opened on Terminal 3 on July 30, taking over from the departed Super Duper Burgers, so you can still get something meaty before catching a flight.

OAKLAND — The highly anticipated Jo’s Modern Thai opened in the Laurel District on July 23. Consulting chef Intu-on Kornnawong worked at Michelin-starred Kin Khao before launching a popular pandemic pop-up, and now Jo’s is serving bold Thai flavors in a beachy space.

FREMONT — Cafe Mei, inspired by a Taiwanese breakfast chain, opened in Fremont on July 24, according to Taiwan News, although as KQED originally covered, it’s been soft open for a while. Stop by for conveniently packaged sandwiches, burgers, pancakes, and milk tea.

MOUNTAIN VIEW — Silicon Valley has yet another splashy hotel restaurant. Roger opened within the Ameswell Hotel in mid July, with a menu from chef Christian McCallion (Larkspur Restaurant) and drinks from Shelley Lindgren (A16) and Greg Lindgren (15 Romolo). They say they’ll be featuring local farms and ranches and sourdough from Midwife & Baker, and yes, there are beautiful outdoor fire pits.

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July 15

HAYES VALLEY — The prolific Back of the House restaurant group may have laid off 1,127 people at the beginning of the pandemic, but seems to be back in expansion mode, with the recent openings of Tailor’s Son, a new location of the Bird, and now a new bar. In the former Dobb’s Ferry space, Afterwork Bar is a sports bar that opened on Thursday, July 8. Fans may recall that Dobb’s Ferry was both a bar and restaurant, connected via an odd passageway that cut through the corner of the block. Likewise, Afterwork Bar connects to the new location of the Bird.

Afterwork Bar does look like a cool space, thanks to ROY design group, which refreshed the formerly dark bar with white paint, white subway tile, and green leather stools. It’s a straightforward list of cocktails and beers, and there’s nothing particularly new on the menu, which mashes up existing menu items from the group’s other fast-casual restaurants, Super Duper Burgers and the Bird. But hey, Hayes could use an affordable bar, and maybe it would be nice to watch a game with other humans, while eating good fried chicken. There’s a weekday happy hour with $1 wings and $20 pitchers of beer.

Afterwork Bar

MISSION — The Mission is losing its only location of Top Round Roast Beef, but La Vaca Birria is opening in its place on August 18, SFGate reports. La Vaca Birria is already a popular food truck based in San Bruno, but now chef-owner Ricky Lopez is moving it into the Mission as a brick-and-mortar restaurant, and planning to serve birria tacos, ramen, and fries.

BERKELEY — The Kebabery is on the move, closing its location in Oakland, and opening in a new home in Berkeley, which is “coming soon” in the “coming weeks,” the SF Chronicle reports. The fast-casual spinoff from Camino will continue serving its skewers and sandwiches, and it will be joined by Sesame Tiny Bakery, a pop-up known for its cakes starring seasonal fruit.

MILL VALLEY — The Rock & Rye is a new restaurant with a big patio opening just next to Sweetwater Music Hall on August 2. Chef Rick Hackett is coming from Bocanova and Florio, and serving everything from burgers to gumbo, for those on their way to a live show.

CALISTOGA — Chef Gustavo Rios of Solbar has now opened a more casual restaurant inside the Solange resort, according to the SF Chronicle. Picobar is now open and serving crispy fish tacos, duck mole, and a meaty torta.

SACRAMENTO — Old School Smoke was a popular catering operation serving smoked meats and sandwiches for a good five years, before going quiet for a few years. But now Chef Colby Cason is back with his own brick-and-mortar restaurant, which opened on June 24, the Sacramento Bee reports.

REDWOOD CITY — Warung Siska opened in Redwood City on July 14, bringing Indonesian braised short ribs and crab fried noodles to the Peninsula. Get a good long look at those head-on prawns and whole crab claws, right this way.

MENLO PARK — The Mandarin is a splashy new double-decker Chinese restaurant now open on El Camino, the SF Chronicle reports. It’s named in honor of the late Cecilia Chiang’s landmark restaurant in San Francisco. Chef Rui Young is coming from the legendary Z&Y in SF Chinatown, and serving tea-smoked duck, salt-backed chicken, whole fish in black bean sauce, and other over-the-top dishes.

SAN JOSE — A second location of Scott’s Chowder House opened near San Pedro Square on July 14. And maybe the group hopes the lobster rolls will pick up a little more sparkle with some Michelin stardust: Chef Laurent Manrique (Campton Place, Aqua) has signed on as a consultant.

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July 8

FISHERMAN’S WHARF — Barrio opens its second, much bigger location in Ghirardelli Square this Friday, July 9. Click on through for an exclusive first look at those blue-corn tacos, tequila cocktails, and bay views.

POLK GULCH — Trade Routes is yet another new bar to start hopping on Polk Street, with the bar opening doors on July 2. The owners say the menu is inspired by “trade routes from around the world,” which seems to mean rum, spice, and tropical fruit.

CASTRO — Spro Coffee Lab, the buzzy coffee truck that parks at Spark Social, is now kicking it into gear at its new permanent shop, which will officially start serving macchiatos and mochi waffles on July 10.

OAKLAND — Snail Bar is a cool new natural wine bar and bottle shop now serving small plates of little gems, oysters, and of course, snails, as of July 3, according to the SF Chronicle.

PACIFICA — Santa Cruz brewery Humble Sea is opening a big and beachy new location in Pacifica on July 9, reports the SF Chronicle, complete with fresh brews and tots.

SAN BRUNO — Diamond Head General Store will start serving spam musubi, loco moco, shave ice, other Hawaiian snacks in July, according to the SF Chronicle. (The owners plan to move their other brunch spot, Mother Wood, south to San Mateo.)

OAKLAND — Soul Slice is a new pizza restaurant that’s pioneering a biscuit-crust pizza topped with fried oyster and country ham, E’Ville Eye reported first. The grand opening was on Juneteenth.

TAHOE — Mercury News spotted that there’s a new New Orleans–style restaurant in South Lake Tahoe. Toulouse has been serving gumbo and etouffee since spring of 2021.

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June 28

MISSION — There’s a new restaurant on Valencia, which might give a shot of nostalgia to the brunch and happy hour hoppers of the early aughts — Luna is an “American brasserie” moving into the long-vacant Luna Park space, open as of June 24. For an exclusive first look at the burgers and spritzes, as well as the wild design by ROY, click right this way.

SOMA — The Lee brothers of the Namu Restaurant Group opened SSP Beer Hall on June 23, in the former Perennial space in SoMa. It’s a beer hall with several different food menus, now serving square pizza, okonomiyaki, silog, and dank IPA. It claims to be “the first physical NFT gallery in San Francisco,” featuring digital art.

PORTOLA — Hey Neighbor is a new coffee shop that cracked open in the former Four Barrel space on June 27, Tablehopper spotted first. New owners Dee Derisse and Natasha Podogova both live in the neighborhood, and they plan to feature BIPOC and female roasters, as well as Feve chocolates and Rize Up Sourdough.

OAKLAND — Dela Curo and Sundo are finally opening in Swan’s Market on June 29, replacing the popular B-Dama. Chef Chikara Ono split the space into two side-by-side stalls: Dela Curo will be serving rich, black Japanese curry, while Sundo will have fluffy fruit sandos.

HEALDSBURG — There’s another new tasting room in wine country. The owners of Aldina Vineyards are opening Bacchus Landing, a tasting room featuring eight local wineries, which is slated to start pouring over July 4th weekend, the SF Chronicle reported first.

PLEASANTON — The Mercury News reports that Elia is a new Greek restaurant now serving mezze platters and grilled octopus to Pleasanton.

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June 22

MARIN — RH Marin, as in formerly known as Restoration Hardware at the Village at Corte Madera, apparently opened a massive rooftop restaurant and wine bar during the pandemic, so you can eat lobster roll and sip more than 40 wines under crystal chandeliers and olive trees. The luxury home retailer opened the store in July 2020 — all three stories and 60,000 square feet of it — and while it has been operating in some capacity, spokespeople say the restaurant and wine bar is now officially wide open to the public. For reference, please see the wining and dining at RH Yountville.

RH Marin

CIVIC CENTER — Soluna closed and has been replaced with the opening of Chao Pescao on June 16. It’s a more colorful and casual restaurant under the same owner, serving up Cuban and Colombian comforts, including arepas and empanadas.

MISSION — A new queer-owned coffee shop has opened on Valencia, just next door to Glama-Rama! salon, and just in time for Pride weekend on June 26. Milk SF is an all-day cafe serving nitro lattes and making their own boba, according to Mission Local.

SOMA — Shake Shack is opening yet another location, this time inside the mall. As anticipated pre-pandemic, the New York burger chain finally confirmed they are opening the location in Westfield on June 28, which will be their second location in San Francisco, and seventh in the Bay Area.

OAKLAND — Celebrity chef Tanya Holland of Brown Sugar Kitchen is finally opening her new veggie restaurant inside the Oakland Museum of California. Town Fare is opening when the museum reopens on June 18; the SF Chronicle confirmed the date.

PALO ALTO — Hotel Citrine is the latest sparkly new hotel in Silicon Valley, and while it’s technically in Palo Alto, it’s really more in Google’s Mountain View backyard. Wild Onion Bistro & Bar is its new restaurant, which opened on June 21, with colorful cocktails and farm-to-table fare.

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June 15

SANTA ROSA — The Flamingo Resort is freshly renovated and reopened in Santa Rosa, and the mid-century cool hotel has a couple of fun new dining options. From the same team as Palm House and the Dorian in San Francisco, Lazeaway Club is the new restaurant, and Wild Bird is the new poolside menu. Both are serving up Cal-Pacific clubby fare, including ahi tuna poke, scallion pancakes, a vegan Caesar with pink radishes and nutritional yeast, smashburgers of the beef or veggie persuasion, and a serious hot chicken sandwich with Korean chili barbecue sauce on a sweet Hawaiian roll. There are frozen margaritas and oversized slushies. They also have a flamingo character named Fernando? And flamingo pool floaties for summer selfies. The grand opening is June 16, so jump in.

Lazeaway Club at the Flamingo Resort

The Flamingo Resort

SOMA — Uncle Tito is a new Filipino comfort food spot but with “hella Bay Area flavor,” according to KQED. Graphic designer Joseph Alcasabas, bartender Paolo Dayao, and brother and chef Vincent Dayao teamed up on the restaurant, which has been open for takeout, but introduces sit-down dining on June 15.

OAKLAND — A new slice shop called Pizzeria Violeta is opening on Piedmont Ave on June 22, Berkeleyside reports. Chef-owner Jonathan Ruppert is slinging New York–style pies, whole or by the slice, and named the new pizzeria after his daughter Violet.

BERKELEY — Via del Corso, the reincarnation of Corso, is opening as a new restaurant under new owners on June 16, Berkeleyside reports. Chef-owner Peter Chastain is a Berkeley native, and he’s planning on bringing back the steak alla Fiorentina, along with fresh pasta, and other rustic Italian dishes.

LAFAYETTE — Headlands Brewing Company has opened a new brewery and beer garden in the East Bay, as first reported by Mercury News. They’re now serving small-batch ales and lagers, along with hot dogs and sausages, to plenty of outdoor tables.

NAPA — There’s a new tasting room in downtown Napa. Mia Carta debuted on June 17, and it’s featuring six different family-run wineries: Art House Wines, Essere Napa, Ilsley Vineyards, Rarecat Wines, Redmon Wines, and Sciandri Family Vineyards, with wines available by the bottle, glass, or flight.

PALO ALTO — There are a few new restaurants popping up in Town & Country. Roost & Roast is a new chicken spot that opened on June 11, specializing in hat yai and other Thai dishes, the SF Chronicle reports.

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June 8

MISSION — A new dim sum restaurant called Bao is now open and bringing dumpling brunch to Valencia, Tablehopper spotted first.

CASTRO — Sancha Sushi has replaced Miyabi Sushi as the new neighborhood spot on Church near Market, according to Hoodline. It opened without fanfare in May.

EMBARCADERO — Red Bay Coffee, the popular Oakland roaster, is opening a new location in the Ferry Building on June 11. The grand opening will be loud with a mariachi band (10 a.m.), lion dancers (noon), and an African drum circle (1 p.m.), welcoming in the pour-overs and hand pies.

MISSION — Osito fine dining restaurant, from chef-owner Seth Stowaway (Bar Agricole, Mister Jiu’s), is finally slated to open after pandemic delays, as reported by the SF Chronicle. Reservations are open for the fall, starting October 15, featuring 10-plus courses for $295, all cooked over live fire.

OAKLAND — Jo’s Modern Thai started pairing Thai dishes with tropical cocktails on July 1, SF Chronicle reported first. Chef-owner Kao Saelee has been running the popular pop-up Intu-On, and his family has owned Racha Cafe in Berkeley for 16 years.

OAKLAND — Dinner House Oakland is a new bar, lounge, and restaurant now serving up a meaty menu of brisket and turkey plates, with deep-fried Oreos for dessert, according to Berkeleyside.

LIVERMORE — Pastry chef Aimee Wingen (Homestead, Range), together with her husband and partner Bryan, are opening a new bakery. It’s a bittersweet project, launched during the pandemic and following the loss of the couple’s terminally ill 8-month-old daughter. Wingen Bakery opens the first week of June, serving sourdough, focaccia, bagels, cookies, and more.

CALISTOGA — Fleetwood restaurant opened within the Calistoga Motor Lodge on June 5, serving a Mediterranean-inspired and woodfire-smoked menu of pizza, meatballs, and salads. Chef Drew Glassell is coming from Cyrus in wine country and Jardiniere and Gary Danko in San Francisco.

HALF MOON BAY — La Costanera, the Michelin-starred Peruvian restaurant, reopened in a new location on June 3. Chef Carlos Altamirano is still serving cebiche, lomo saltado, and seafood dishes, but now with a gorgeous two-story view over Pillar Point Harbor.

LOS GATOS — Epernay, a new French restaurant with a serious Champagne list — more than 700 bottles, the owner says — opened in May, according to Mercury News.

SAN JOSE — La Barrique is a new French slash Vietnamese sports bar, using the hashtag #CestLeViet, Mercury News reports. Located in Vietnam Town, it’s an intriguing combination of steak bordelaise, duck confit, and big sports screens.

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May 24

MISSION — Abanico Coffee Roasters opened its first storefront cafe in the Mission, rolling up the gate on May 17. Owner Ana Valle is originally from El Salvador and grew up sipping cafecito with her grandmother. She’s now brewing specialty coffee drinks, using beans roasted in-house, sweetened with piloncillo, and dusted with cinnamon, as well as other Latin flavors.

MISSION — Itria Italian restaurant opened for takeout and delivery on May 20, in the former Obispo space on 24th Street. Chef Daniel Evers (Cotogna, Al’s Place) and entrepreneur Min Park (Rooster and Rice, Bonchon) eventually plan to roll out a full menu of fresh pasta and bold crudo, but thanks to the pandemic, they are starting with pizza — on a crisp, bubbly, almost focaccia-style crust.

FIDI — Tablehopper spotted that while Tin Cactus has closed, another Mexican restaurant has taken its spot on the formerly French-inclined Belden Place. Vida Cantina is a new vegan restaurant, now open on the alley.

PARKSIDE — Dim Sum Club, formerly located inside the temporarily closed Da Vinci Villa Hotel on Van Ness, seems to have popped up across town and opened a new location at 2237 Taraval Street in Parkside, Tablehopper reports.

OAKLAND — Chef Dominica Rice-Cisneros is finally opening Bombera Mexican restaurant in Dimond Heights, her follow-up to the late great Cosecha in Swan’s Market. Eater SF first covered when she announced plans for the ambitious new Bombera and now the SF Chronicle has confirmed the opening date of May 25.

OAKLAND — Berkeleyside first spotted a sign for Aman Cafe, a new roti specialist at 4021 Broadway. The SF Chronicle confirmed that buttery roti wraps, starring mostly veggie fillings, are coming in hot, starting mid-June.

MOUNTAIN VIEW — There’s a new hotel opening in Mountain View that’s sure to attract Google executives. The Hotel And has snagged Chef Jarad Gallagher from Michelin-starred Chez TJ, and is promising four different eateries, the SF Chronicle reports. For now, the new hotel bar has opened first: Emerald Hour started serving wagyu burgers, oysters, and cocktails by the side of the pool on May 17.

SAN JOSE — Tiki legend Trader Vic’s of Emeryville has now opened another location inside the San Jose airport, Mercury News reports. For all those who are vaccinated and ready to vacation, maybe a pre-flight mai tai will set the tone.

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May 17

POLK GULCH — Bar owner Angela Voloshyna informed Eater SF that she has opened DecoDance Bar at 1160 Polk Street, taking over the former Vertigo space. It appears to be an Art Deco inspired bar, featuring lots of black, gold, and velvet, with cocktails in cut glasses. Presumably the Gatsby-inspired dance parties are forthcoming. Stay tuned for details.

OAKLAND — Bar Moxy opened on the rooftop of the Moxy Oakland, a hotel owned by Marriott, in April, Berkeleyside reports. Grab a drink for now, but the hotel plans to open a Cuban restaurant, as well.

OAKLAND — Jolly-Jolly Coffee & Kitchen is a new Nigerian restaurant that started serving jollof rice to West Oakland in March, according to KQED.

OAKLAND — The Lede seems to have found a permanent home, officially taking over the lease from Cafe Encina, according to Berkeleyside. Chef Carlo Encina is taking over the concept from Chef Cal Peternell (a longtime chef at Chez Panisse), and he’s now serving lunches, bites, and wine.

OAKLAND — Minto’s Jamaican Patties is a small shop that opened in March, specializing in its namesake patties, but also coco bread, juices, smoothies, and coffee, Berkeleyside reports.

ORINDA — Two brothers opened Brother’s Public Kitchen in February, Lamorinda Weekly reported first. Bartender and co-owner Blair Bagneschi has poured drinks at Walnut Creek Yacht Club, Va de Vi, Pizza Antica, and chef and co-owner Jason Bagneschi has cooked through Wayfare Tavern, Quince, Cotonga, Chow. They’re now serving pizza, pasta, and cocktails.

CAMPBELL — Kanh’s Restaurant, a favorite family-owned Vietnamese restaurant for more than 40 years, is moving from San Jose and opening in Campbell, Mercury News reports.

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May 10

CHINATOWN — As highly anticipated, Empress by Boon is slated to open this summer, and now has a confirmed opening date of June 15. Chef Ho Chee Boon (Hakkasan) is taking over the historic banquet hall and rolling out a modern Cantonese menu, which will be prix fixe to start.

MISSION BAY — Harmonic Brewing has opened a second location at Thrive City, which is now serving fresh beer and pizza to Chase Center sports fans and concert goers. Croissant legend Greg Mindel of Neighbor Bakehouse is crafting the fast-casual menu, which stars Sicilian-style pizza, soft pretzels, and savory and sweet turnovers.

BERNAL — Chef Stewart Chen of Umi sushi restaurant in Potrero has now opened Shokudou izakaya in Bernal Heights. His new spot quietly sizzled open at the end of April, and is now serving crispy hamachi collars and beef-wrapped enoki skewers, along with sake and beer.

JACKSON SQUARE — Blue Bottle Coffee, the coffee roaster which is neither small nor based in Oakland anymore, has a new sweet spot at 909 Montgomery. Tucked into the art galleries and offices, it should be a welcome addition for all those returning back to work downtown, and started serving pour overs and Liege waffles on May 8.

BERKELEY — Berkeleyside reports that Badan is a new Arab takeout counter within the Berkeley Organic Market and Deli, now serving manakeesh flatbreads, soup, and vegetables, which will rotate with the seasons.

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May 3

LOWER HAIGHT — The husband-and-wife team behind Son’s Addition in the Mission are opening their second restaurant this week. Otra is a modern Mexican restaurant specializing in fresh masa, vegetable dishes, and mezcal cocktails.

SOMA — Korean fried chicken favorite Bonchon opened its first San Francisco location inside the Metreon in April, the SF Chronicle reported first.

NORTH BEACH — Tony Gemignani of Tony’s pizza fame is expanding the carb empire. He opened Toscano Brothers, a new sourdough bread and bagel shop, on May 1. The SF Chronicle dug into why he decided to name it after a racial slur.

HAIGHT — An Eater SF tipster spotted that there’s a new burger spot on Haight. Flippin Burger is now serving burgers, shakes, and fries, from a retro-cute counter that resembles a red-and-white Volkswagen bus.

ROCKRIDGE — Sunday Bakeshop is a new Asian-American bakery from the Sunday Family, a brand with ties to Boba Guys, the SF Chronicle reports. Interestingly, Baker Elaine Lau was most recently baking for popular pandemic-inspired bakery Bake Sum, and these treats do look remarkably similar.

SANTA ROSA — Johnny’s Doughnuts is expanding and opening another location in Santa Rosa on Saturday, May 8, bringing its deep-fried favorites north.

SAN MATEO — Seattle’s Dough Zone is now open in San Mateo, bringing its popular XLB and other dumplings to the Peninsula, the SF Chronicle reported first.

SAN MATEO — Slices, a rapidly expanding pizza chain started in SF in 2018, brought Sicilian-style square pizza to San Mateo in April, according to the SF Chronicle.

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April 26

OCEANVIEW — Just in case anyone failed to hear the really big grocery news, H Mart officially opened its first location in San Francisco on April 21, bringing the wildly popular Korean-American supermarket and food hall to the city. For all those shoppers who could use some help navigating the over-the-top noodle and snack options, here’s a chef-approved shopping guide.

COW HOLLOW — It appears that one French bistro has made way for another. The new Cote Ouest Bistro opened in the former Baker Street Bistro space in April, Hoodline spotted first. The new owners are Laurent Monchicourt (front of house for Baker Street Bistro, La Folie, Michael Mina, L’Ardoise, and others) and Martin Sarrailh (chef for the past five years at Le Garage in Sausalito). The menu has Basque touches, but also hits the classics, with steak frites and moules marinieres.

SAN RAMON — Portland ice cream phenomenon Salt & Straw has opened its first East Bay location in San Ramon, Berkeleyside reported first.

SANTA CLARA — Chef Helene An, who also owns Crustacean on Polk and Thanh Long in the Sunset, is now bringing the Dungeness crab and garlic noodles to the South Bay. AnQi Shaken & Stirred is a Vietnamese restaurant inside the Bloomingdale’s at Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, which finally opened in April after a lengthy pandemic delay, Mercury News reports.

BRISBANE — The chef behind Nick’s, the late mini-chain of popular vegan Filipino restaurants, now has a new permanent home on the Peninsula, according to Mercury News. Reina Montenegro’s latest online/delivery restaurant concept is called Chef Reina, and in addition to a takeout window, this location is intended to be a studio for cooking lessons and shows.

SAN JOSE — Chika Mexcian Rosticeria recently opened on Santana Row, as reported by Mercury News. Chef Cesar Vasquez was born in Mexico City, and is now spinning flame-licked chicken with citrus and chiles.

SAN JOSE — Topgolf, the chain of “high-tech” driving ranges, has opened a big new location in San Jose, with an array of food and drink options, according to Mercury News.

CALISTOGA — Chef Trevor Logan, who previously owned Green Chile Kitchen in Nopa, has moved north into wine and spa country. House of Better is a new restaurant at Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs, which soft opened on April 15. The menu has familiar southwestern comforts with green chile stew and fire-roasted salsas, but more wellness vibes with salads and quinoa bowls.

SAN RAFAEL — Menya Shono ramen shop is softly opening in San Rafael this week, with a tentative grand opening of April 29, according to a Facebook post. It’s the latest restaurant from Tomoharu Shono, who also owns the cult-favorite Mensho Tokyo in the Tenderloin. Menya Tokyo is in fact his original ramen concept with locations in Tokyo, and this new San Rafael location is sure to draw long lines.

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April 14

MISSION — Sanguchon, the popular Peruvian food truck, is moving into a permanent home on Valencia at 23rd. Chef Carlos Altamirano has a lineup of sandwiches, including his popular lomo saltado, as well as bowls, salads, and sauces, starting April 15.

MARINA — The team behind Westwood western bar is opening a new brunch and happy hour spot called Wilder, which is taking over the former Cow Marlowe/the Greenwich space. Decorated with antler chandeliers, and offering bone marrow with a whiskey shot, it should attract a rowdy Marina crowd, starting April 30.

SOMA — The Sushi Hon team is in full expansion mode, opening two new restaurants within the space of a month, first Sushi Hakko in the Marina (see below), and now Izakaya Hon in SoMa, which opens April 14. The latter is the first izakaya for the group, serving sake, cocktails, and bar bites.

OAKLAND — Red Bay Coffee officially opened doors to their massive new headquarters and cafe on April 12. Get a first look inside the light and airy space, and expect smooth pour-overs and African hand pies.

OAKLAND — Cosecha has sadly closed in Swan Market, but star chef Dominica Rice-Cisneros confirmed she is opening Bombera Mexican restaurant in the Dimond District, softly opening in April, and getting in the full swing in May.

SAN RAFAEL — Christian Albertson of Monk’s Kettle confirmed that the popular Mission beer spot is opening a second location in Terra Linda on May 1. New chef Derek Lau has worked everywhere from Saison and Benu to Pizza Hacker and Biergarten, so expect good beer and bites.

NAPA — Oakland bottle shop Bay Grape opened an outpost in Napa the last week March, which is now serving cured meat, cheeses, and wine on the big patio.

NAPA — Ace and Vine is a new restaurant and casino that opened in March. It’s serving an “Asian fusion” menu to both players and regulars and players, and outdoor fire pits have a view of the Napa river.

SAN JOSE — Jackie’s Place soul food restaurant closed following a fire in May, but as now moved and reopened in a larger new location, Mercury News reports. The smothered chicken, mac and cheese, collards, and sweet potato pie are all back, starting with takeout for now, and moving to indoor dining in May.

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April 6

MISSION BAY — New Belgium Brewing opened a big new brewery in San Francisco, serving up wagyu burgers, bacon-wrapped hot dogs, and fresh brews. Opening day is April 9, just in time for the Giants first home game of the season at neighboring Oracle Park.

NORTH BEACH — Barman Elmer Mejicanos (Tony’s) and chef Adam Rosenblum (Causwells) teamed up to open Red Window, a tapas spot just off Washington Square. The pintxos, croquettes, and sherry cocktails are flowing as of March 26, as reported by the SF Chronicle.

FIDI — SF Weekly first spotted that there’s a new katsu sandwich spot downtown as of March, with outstandingly crispy, cheesy, and square sandwiches. Katsuya is a small takeout counter tucked inside the International Food Court, but it’s already an Insta sensation. Yes, they also have cheese-pull corn dogs.

POLK GULCH — Hoi An Vietnamese restaurant opened in March, Tablehopper reports. It’s from the same family as Green Papaya in SoMa, which was forced out when their landlord — the city of SF — demanded rent. Fortunately, fans followed them for the move, and are now slurping big bowls of pho.

TENDERLOIN — Barley has been pouring more than 20 types of craft beer since January 21, as reported by Hoodline. Owner Erik Anderson came from Fly Bar, and he’s into local brews, as well as sandwiches.

SONOMA — Valley Bar & Bottle is a natural wine bar with snacks, serving XO eggs, pink shrimp toast, and butter beans. It opened in March on the Sonoma Plaza, as reviewed by the SF Chronicle.

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April 2

SAN FRANCISCO — More than two years after La Cocina broke ground on its food hall in the Tenderloin, the nonprofit incubator is set to open its doors on April 5. Six of the food hall’s seven food vendors will be open to start. Learn more here.

ALAMEDA — New to Alameda is Elaine’s Gourmet Chinese, a small Sichuan restaurant serving ma po tofu, spicy boiled fish, salt and pepper wings, and several shareable family meals. Takeout only for now, according to Berkeleyside.

OAKLAND — Downtown lunch counter Fusion Mediterranean has permanently closed and in its place Big A Sandwiches is now serving lamb shawarma, carne asada, and something called an “alien sandwich,” made with chicken, beef kebab, and french fries, according to Berkeleyside. The restaurant from owner Ahmad Alloun is open 24 hours, seven days a week.

OAKLAND — Mosaic Mediterranean Cafe, a self-described “fast-food cafe,” is now serving Greek and Turkish fare in Jack London Square, as first spotted by Berkeleyside. The restaurant serves falafel and several gyros, but the star of the menu appears to be its kebabs, made here with chicken, beef, and two types of lamb. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

OAKLAND — Cakes, muffins, cookies, and scones are now available from PennDel’s Bakehouse, a bakery that celebrated its soft opening on March 27, according to Berkeleyside. The business is named for Pennsylvania and Delaware, the home states of owners Pamela Braxton and Gayle Tule-Chen. Get there early: The bakery completely sold out during its first weekend of business.

OAKLAND — The menu at Emeryville newcomer Oleis Fusion Cuisine nods to the cuisines of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Caribbean, as reported by Berkeleyside. Dishes like stewed Dungeness crab, chicken kelaguen empanadas, and fried eggplant sandwiches are available by calling messaging the restaurant on Instagram or calling at (510) 250-9143.

OAKLAND — Highly anticipated natural wine bar Snail Bar is coming to Temescal this spring, Berkeleyside reported first. The forthcoming business comes from chef Andres Giraldo Florez, who previously worked in some of the country’s leading kitchens, including Saison in San Francisco, the three-Michelin-starred Alinea in Chicago, and the acclaimed but now-closed wd-50 in New York City. Until Snail Bar in full, Florez is offering local delivery of his natural wines.

OAKLAND — Thai comfort food restaurant What the Cluck has branched out with a new location in Oakland, where its serving khao mun gai and chicken and rice soup, Berkeleyside reports. The restaurant brings the company’s total number of locations to two after an outpost in West Hollywood permanently closed during the pandemic.

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March 23

SAN FRANCISCO — After a year of delays, Ernest, the kickstarted Mission District fine dining spot from Rich Table alum Brandon Rice is officially open. It’s been a long road to sit-down service for the spot, which Rice announced the summer of 2019: He initially planned an opening in summer of 2020, serving takeout meal kits and holiday dinners for much of the year. Reservations for the spot’s 40 outdoor seats are available on Resy, and indoor seating will open up once the staff is fully vaccinated.

SAN FRANCISCO — Italian restaurant the Tailor’s Son is set to open at 2049 Fillmore Street on March 31. The new Lower Pacific Heights addition comes from the Back of the House restaurant group with restaurateur Adriano Paganini. The menu comes from A Mano chef Freedom Rains and features plenty of pastas and antipasti, with the specialty being risotto. Don’t expect any meaty mains, because according to Hoodline, Paganini didn’t grow up eating much meat while in Italy.

SAN FRANCISCO — Fried chicken sandwich eatery the Bird now has a second location in Hayes Valley. The restaurant offers its signature sandwich with berbere-spiced chicken topped with apple slaw, biscuits, wings, salads, curly fries, and apple fritters.

SAN FRANCISCO — High-end restaurant Hakko Sushi opened at 2184 Union Street with an omakase menu full of seafood flown in from Japan. Chef Alex Kim, previously of Ijji Sushi, also adds in California produce to round out some of the non-sushi dishes.

SAN FRANCISCO — Korean take-out spot Bap focuses on bibimbap options. Only available for delivery or pickup, Bap is the work of chef Chris Oh of modern Korean restaurant Umma.

SAN FRANCISCO — Plant-filled bar Propagation is owned by bartending vet Heather Hoffman and interior designer Lauren Nguyen. The Instagram account claims the space is “garden-centric.” Featured photos of the space show plenty of plants, as well as plant-themed wallpaper to thrill the horticulturists at heart. Vegetation also makes its way into the cocktails through garnishes and flavors.

PETALUMA — Once a pop-up, Table Culture Provisions now has a permanent location. The mission of the restaurant is to “create comfort food using local ingredients.” The menu changes often, but right now it includes dishes like a vegetarian bowl with turmeric couscous and tahini carrots, a grass-fed beef burger with gorgonzola, and a skirt steak with creamy asparagus.

ALAMEDA — Chefs Francisco Bazo, Casey Hunt and Jason Ryczek met at Embarcadero seafood restaurant Waterbar, and now they have their own restaurant in downtown Alameda named Alley + Vine. The menu is new American with a focus on locally-sourced products.

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March 12

SAN FRANCISCO — The owners of the Sunset District’s beloved Irving Subs have opened a Mission District location of their sandwich shop, this one called Valencia Subs. Mission Local reports that this is the third sub shop for the business partners/siblings Crystina and Frankie Lee, who also own a Chinatown-area restaurant. It opens Friday, with the same menu as the other spots, including their free chips or drink with every meal.

SAN FRANCISCO — Lion’s Den Bar and Lounge, a throwback-themed bar from Chinatown restauranteur Steven Lee, has announced an opening date. The bar — the first to open in the neighborhood in decades, Lee tells Eater SF — was originally slated to open in February, but as with everything else, the pandemic delayed that plan. The SF Chronicle reports that Lion’s Den will open on Friday, March 12, at 5 p.m. Reservations are available here, and you can learn more about Lion’s Den here.

SAN FRANCISCO — Aegean Delights, a Turkish and Greek dessert shop, has opened in the heart of the Castro, Hoodline reports. In addition to sweets, the spot serves coffee, tee, and savory Greek dishes like spanakopita.

SAN JOSE — Philz Coffee will open its second San Jose location in Willow Glen, the Bay Area News Group reports, with a plan to start serving customers this May.

SAN FRANCISCO — Veteran bartender Heather Hoffman and wife-business partner Lauren Nguyen hope to open Propagation Bar, a plant-themed cocktail spot, by St. Patrick’s Day, Tablehopper reports. Expect some fresh spins on classics like a piña colada with Champagne and açai, wines on tap, and beer from Standard Deviant. Confidential to canine fans: the bar will be dog-friendly, they promise.

SUNNYVALE — Dunkin’ Donuts has opened a so-called “next generation” shop at 852 E. El Camino Real, the Bay Area News Group reports, with a fireplace-and-TV lounge and nitro cold brew coffee. The newly-opened spot brings the coffee-and-pastry chain’s location count in the Bay Area to 12.

SAN FRANCISCO — Honeybear Boba is officially open for business at 801 22nd Street in the Dogpatch, it announced via Instagram. Leading the menu is the Instagram fave of brown sugar boba, but there are also slushies, lattes, and pudding.

WALNUT CREEK — Pinole taco favorite Que Onda Taco Shop is opening a second location in Walnut Creek, the East Bay Times reports. It’s build-your-own taco spot will open in the Sprouts marketplace by early April.

SAN FRANCISCO — Oakland plant-based barbecue sensation Vegan Mob has announced its long-awaited San Francisco opening, but it won’t be a brick-and-mortar: Instead, as SF Gate was first to report, founder Toriano Gordon will park a food truck next to the Señor Sisig Vegano truck on Valencia Street. Gordon tells Eater SF that the process of opening a permanent location “would just take too long, and I need to keep moving forward.” Señor Sisig co-founder Evan Kidera, who sold Gordon the truck he’ll be using for the second Vegan Mob, tells Eater SF that he hopes to bring even more trucks to the lot, and has hopes of fostering an ongoing outdoor dining space on the block. Gordon says he expects to pull into the 701 Valencia Street spot starting March 20, and hopes to be open Tuesdays-Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

OAKLAND — Chef Nelson German’s African Diaspora-focused cocktail lounge Sobre Mesa was only open for nine days in 2020, before the pandemic shut it down for nearly a year. That makes its reopening with outdoor service (indoor will roll out as soon as it’s allowed in Alameda County) feel more like a debut than a return, hence its inclusion on this list. Get the full story here.

SAN FRANCISCO — Mr. Digby’s, a cocktail bar from the folks behind Noe Valley stalwart NOVY, is set to open in April of 2021. Learn more here.

CAMPBELL — Hinodeya Ramen, the 136-year-old Tokyo-based chain with locations in Japantown and the FiDi, has expanded to South Bascom Avenue, the Bay Area News Group reports. Expect seven types of ramen and a dashi-style, fish-based broth.

SAN FRANCISCO — Yet another location of Oakland-founded Blue Bottle Coffee opened in San Francisco this past weekend, a spokesperson tells Eater SF. The newest Blue Bottle is located at 1385 4th Street in Mission Bay. It’s keeping the cafe closed to indoor seating, but to-go service for coffee drinks and treats like liège wafels and ham and cheese sandwiches is available from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

YOUNTVILLE — Inside the North Block Hotel lies North Block, a newly-opened restaurant from Momofuko Group alums Nick Tamburo and Andy Wedge, Hoodline reports. Per its website, the restaurant promises “refined California cooking featuring locally grown, seasonal ingredients.”

BERKELEY — VegNews reports that California vegan fast-casual chain Veggie Grill will open a burger based spinoff on March 10 called Stand-Up Burgers. Its menu appears to be a meatless answer to In-n-Out, including a vegan take on the chain’s Animal Fries called Save the Animal-style fries.

OAKLAND — Que Rico Nightclub and Restaurant will open “in the next few months” in the space last occupied by Bissap Baobab Oakland, the Bay Area Reporter reports. Owner Valentino Carrillo, who also owns East Oakland’s La Frontera Mexican Restaurant, says that Que Rico will serve a menu ranging from quesabirria to fish tacos to hamburgers to hot wings.

ROCKRIDGE — San Francisco-founded tea drink chain Boba Guys, which just this past summer was rocked by allegations of racism and harassment, is hiring for a new cafe inside the long-vacant site of the Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Parlor and Cafe, Berkeleyside reports. According to now-hiring signs from the company, an opening is expected “in early 2021.”

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March 2

SAN FRANCISCO — Village Rotisserie, an Australian-style rotisserie chicken spot from the owners of Hotel San Francisco, is set to open in the Noe Valley space last occupied by Le Zinc. Expect whole, half, and quarter-chickens to spin out in May. Learn more here.

SAN FRANCISCO — Kona’s Street Market, a globally-inspired cocktail bar, opened at Third and Market Streets on February 25, with food from Francis Ang’s Filipino pop-up Pinoy Heritage. Get the scoop here.

SAN FRANCISCO — A coffee and gift shop called Japonica ruled the corner of California Street and 17th Avenue for decades. It closed during the pandemic, but soon a new business will rise in its place, Tablehopper reports: Ham and Cheese, a sandwich-centric restaurant with a menu of snacks including breakfast biscuit sandwiches, nachos, and pastries. It’ll open to customers on March 5.

MOUNTAIN VIEW — Ten months after downtown lunch-and-cookie standby Specialty’s Cafe and Bakery filed for bankruptcy and closed its 55 locations, founders Craig and Dawn Saxon announced via Facebook that they bought back the brand and have reopened a location at 645 Ellis Street. Palo Alto Online notes that the cafe’s menu includes some new offerings, like a porchetta sandwich, but that the owners say it’s serving the “same cookies – we’re not crazy!” According to the Bay Area News Group, Specialty’s owners are “starting with the one cafe ‘to help us get back into serving changed customer needs.” but will “open additional locations based on customer demand.”

SAN FRANCISCO — Savion’s Sweets, a cupcake and dessert shop from veteran pasty chef Athena Harven, opened March 1 inside the Westfield San Francisco Centre. Expect daily cupcake selections like cookies and cream, or special offerings like a mimosa cupcake made with orange juice cake, champagne buttercream, and sprinkles.

SAN FRANCISCO — Per Tablehopper, the long-vacant eastern corner of the Laurel Village shopping center will soon be a new location of Back of the House’s burger spot, Super Duper.

SAN LEANDRO — Tony Gemignani’s Neapolitan pizzeria Slice House will open a location at 135 Parrott Street on March 7, the Bay Area News Group reports. It’s owned and operated by franchisees Tom and Teresa Lawrie, who own neighboring tavern the Sons of Liberty Alehouse.

ROCKRIDGE — AKA Coffee will open a location at 6021 College Avenue this summer, Berkeleyside reports. This will be the first retail location for the West Oakland-based specialty coffee company, which before now has been focused on wholesale orders and direct sales.

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February 23

SAN FRANCISCO — The first-ever location of Next Level Clucker, a vegan “chicken” sandwich spot from plant-based burger chain Next Level Burger, is open for takeout inside the Whole Foods at 450 Rhode Island. That’s where a Next Level Burger has operated since 2018, but company co-founder Matthew de Gruyter insists that the SF faux-chicken spot is a full-blown spinoff, not just a couple extra menu items. “As America’s first 100-percent plant-based burger joint chain, it’s only fitting that Next Level Burger would help hatch America’s first coast-to-coast all vegan chik’n joint,“ he said via statement.

SAN FRANCISCO — Lazy Susan, a Chinese-American restaurant from local restauranteur Hanson Li (the investor behind spots like Atelier Crenn and Saison), is open for business in Hayes Valley. Chef Eric Ehler (Mister Jiu’s) is in the kitchen, cooking up a 25-item menu of the genre’s “greatest hits.” Get the full story here.

BERKELEY — Casa Barotti, a regional Italian restaurant from 54 Mint Forno Italiano owner Daniele Carsano, is set to open today, Berkeleyside reports. Expect pizza by the slice and a panoply of focaccia.

SAN FRANCISCO — After a decade away, Filipino fast food chain Jolibee is returning to SF, the SF Chronicle reports. The company has 1,300 restaurants across the globe, but its location at Fourth and Howard Streets shut down in 2011. But now it’s planning a return, a sign at 934 Market Street says. An opening date is, as yet, unknown.

BURLINGAME — Wahlburgers, the reality-show-featured burger chain from Donnie “New Kid on the Block” and Mark “racist hate crimes” Wahlburg, will open a second location on Burlingame Avenue, the Bay Area News Group reports.

SAN FRANCISCO — Mini-chain Proposition Chicken has signed a lease in Laurel Village, the SF Business Times reports, with a plan to open this summer in the space most recently occupied by Rigolo Cafe. For now, the spot will be its third location, but co-founder Ari Feingold says he plans to shutter the restaurant’s Market Street location at some point in the near future.

BERKELEY — Sacramento-based Pizza Guys will open its 19th Bay Area location on March 1. The 1109 University Avenue spot will be its first Berkeley outpost, and the first restaurant from franchisee Ali Vahdat, who “has experience owning and operating a used car dealership, and prior to that, he was involved in real estate,” a company spokesperson says.

OAKLAND — Los Kinjas Fusion Eatery, a spin-off of shuttered-by fire Japanese spot Kinja, is open at 366 Grand Avenue, Berkeleyside reports. Via Instagram, its owners say “we couldn’t get our previous location rebuilt fast enough so we took over another location so we can get back to serving our beloved community!”

February 16

SAN FRANCISCO — Since 1928, Chico’s Market has served Nob Hill shoppers from its Leavenworth corner. That ended in late January, when the market’s owners sold it to SoCal-based Mexican mini-chain Tahona. Now the company is opening a bottle shop called Tahona Mercado in the space, with focus on mezcal and other agave spirits. Diners can expect “Mexican specialty food” via vendors with local non-profit La Cocina, as well as “some of our favorite Mexican inspired food offerings from the Bay Area and beyond,” its owners say on its website.

OAKLAND — Detroit-style pizza spot Square Pie Guys will open its first Oakland location on March 1, with a menu that includes a custom pie from NBA icon Jeremy Lin. Get the full story here.

SAN FRANCISCO — Bun and bowl-focused food truck the Chairman has opened a permanent location in the Financial District, a space it shares with owner Curtis Lam’s other brand, chicken-and-rice takeout operation Good Gais. Read more here.

SAN FRANCISCO — Beloved Inner Sunset Korean diner Art’s Cafe has reopened under new ownership, and a promise to keep favorites like its crispy has browns on the menu. Here’s the deal.

SAN FRANCISCO — Popular Japanese curry chain Hinoya Curry opened its first U.S. location in the Marina, with roux blocks shipped directly from Japan for a base cooked between 48-100 hours. Learn more here.

BERKELEY — The third location of Lila Owens’s bakery Cupcakin’ is open inside the former home of Virginia Bakery, Oaklandside reports.

BERKELEY — Build your own salad chain Mixt will open in Downtown Berkeley mid-March, the Daily Californian reports. “We’ve had a lot of Berkeley residents asking for us to open for years,” company CEO Leslie Silverglide says, “so I am so excited to reach out to them and say, ‘yes, we are finally here! Thank you for being so patient.’”

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February 8

SAN FRANCISCO — Berkeley’s Souvenir Coffee has expanded into San Francisco, opening a new coffee shop at 262 Divisadero Street in the space that’s been home to a few coffee spots in the last year — first, Repose Coffee, which closed in 2017, then Native Twins, which quietly shuttered in recent weeks. Owner Jeremy Bled, who also told Berkeleyside that he’s opening another location inside Oakland’s Swan’s Market in March, tells Eater SF that he moved on the SF space after negotiations to open in Oakland slowed — but then “everything happened at once.” The Divis shop is Souvenir’s first SF location, and Bled says he’s ready to “let the neighborhood tell us what they want” and to evolve accordingly. For now, that means house-label beans including a new, “lighter-roast” Divisadero Blend, and pastries from five-generation-old SF bakery Les Gourmands.

OAKLAND — La Perla, he only full-fledged Puerto Rican restaurant in the East Bay, will open in a new, larger location on February 14, with the widest variety of mofongos one can find in the region. Get all the details here.

BERKELEY — Califa’s Greens, a “health-focused restaurant” serving bowls and toasts, has opened on University Avenue, the Daily Californian reports.

OAKLAND — Low Bar, the (per co-owner Matt Meyer) “dive bar that grew up a little bit,” is reportedly set to open after months of pandemic-related delays that threatened to shutter the business before it began. Hoodline notes that the business has started to tease a grand opening via Instagram, and a menu of bar bites is up on its website.

SAN FRANCISCO — Mission Local reports that Arcana, which (per its website) is an “urban greenhouse serving healthy nourishments,” will open in March. Its menu boasts a selection of savory and sweet bowls with Middle Eastern and Latin American flavors and ingredients.

SAN FRANCISCO — Lion’s Den, the first new nightclub and live music spot to open in Chinatown in decades, is expected to open within weeks with a menu of “Asian tapas” from RM 212 and a focus on cocktails. Read more here.

SANTA CLARA — Psycho Donuts, the Campbell-based shop that promises “the Bay Area’s craziest donuts,” has opened a second location in the Westfield Valley Fair mall, the Bay Area News Group reports.

SAN FRANCISCO — Gus’s Community Market has opened in the Outer Sunset, just a few blocks from its now-shuttered Noriega Produce location. SF Gate reports that the new spot offers deli sandwiches, grab-and-go options, and a sushi bar along with its traditional grocery store wares.

SAN FRANCISCO — The first U.S. outlet of Japanese chain Hinoya Curry is expected to open in the Marina as soon as February 13, operated by two Bay Area natives who seek to make Japanese curry as popular in San Francisco as ramen is. Learn more here.

SAN FRANCISCO — Total Meltdown, a cheese-focused popup with a focus on grilled melts and a variety of mac dishes, is open inside Mission Picnic, Mission Local reports.

SAN FRANCISCO — Santeria, a Castro district margarita bar and Mexican spot, is open for takeout from food from Tex-Mex pop-up Tejas Forever, Hoodline reports. The restaurant plans to develop its own menu eventually, but right now its in-house offerings are only available for weekend brunch.

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January 26

NEWARK — Rolling Snack is now open with a full menu of Sichuan street snacks reminiscent of those found in night markets in China. Think deep-friend meat skewers and offal on a stick, for $0.69 each. Get the full story here.

BERKELEY — Louisiana-based chicken finger chain Raising Cane’s will open its first NorCal location next year, the Bay Area News Group reports. The restaurant has a cult following for its fried-to-order, chicken breast fingers; there’s also crinkle-cut fries and Texas toast on the agenda.

OAKLAND — Sweet July, a coffee shop and retail shop from celebrity food figure Ayesha Curry, has opened in Uptown, Hoodline reports. The restaurant and store apparently tie into Curry’s lifestyle magazine of the same name, and serves a limited selection of grab-and-go beverages and drip and iced coffee.

OAKLAND — Just months after a devastating fire closed Huangcheng Noodle House, the dao xiao mian spot has reopened in a new location at Swan’s Market in Old Oakland. The menu’s the same, with only a few additions like a pot-like “family noodles” dish. Learn more here.

WALNUT CREEK — Diablo Magazine reports that Ostro Restaurant, a spot from Manakish Oven and Grill owner Feras Gaban, is set to open in a long-vacant downtown spot.

MILPITAS — Nostalgic pizza brand Straw Hat has opened a slightly reformatted restaurant called Straw Hat Pizza Grille, a spot that splits its focus between pizza, burgers, pasta, sandwiches, and a full bar. It’s only the second restaurant of its kind for the chain, the Bay Area News Group reports, writing that “for Californians, it’s the Straw Hat Pizza they grew up with — and then some.”

SANTA CLARA — Seafood chain Pacific Catch will open its 11th location this March, the Bay Area News Group reports, in the new Santa Clara Square development.

SAN FRANCISCO — Foghorn Taproom, a Richmond District bar and restaurant focused on chicken and beer, has opened a second location on Irving Street, in the spot occupied bu Bussaba Thai until its closure in August of 2020. In addition to a menu of tenders, wings, and dips, there’s a selection of “loaded” fries with chicken on them, too. They’ve also built out an outdoor dining area, which will presumably be available with sit-down service resumes this week.

SAN JOSE — SomiSomi, the Korean-style soft-serve ice cream spot with locations across California, will bring its distinctive fish-shaped waffle cones to the Market Park San Jose shopping center in mid-2021, Hoodline reports. It’s the first restaurant for the still-under-construction mall.

OAKLAND — Commissary kitchen Jingletown Eats has added a new takeout spot: Dar Couscous, a Tunisian from a longtime tech worker, Oaklandside reports. Keep an eye on the menu, as owner Ali Jaoua plans to add 8-10 new items in coming days, including sandwiches and desserts.

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January 19

SAN FRANCISCO — Brewvino, which promises beer, wine, and pizza, within a hybrid restaurant/retail space, will open in the shuttered 24th Street tap room most recently occupied by Seven Stills, Tablehopper reports. Per Instagram, their first day of business will be Wednesday, January 20.

SAN FRANCISCO — Cancha Boutique Gastrobar, a Peruvian restaurant that promises “great atmosphere, good music, delicious food to enjoy at our venue or to go” will open on February 1 on Chestnut Street, Tablehopper reports, though the to-go part of that list is probably the only offering available when their doors open.

BERKELEY — Bánh Mì & Rolls Factory has opened on Euclid Avenue with a menu of sandwiches and spring rolls, the Daily Cal reports. Owner Khoi Xa also operates a number of other Vietnamese spots in the area.

SAN FRANCISCO — Outer Sunset wood fired pizza spot Damnfine is open on Judah Street, with dinner service now and a plan for morning coffee and pastries within weeks. Get all the details here.

BERKELEY — Tony’s Style, a Hearst Avenue pizza spot that’s recently opened for business, also offers baguette pizzas (aka French bread pizzas) with toppings like crab and shrimp or brisket, Berkeleyside reports.

OAKLAND — Ghost Town Brewing has signed a lease at 3506 MacArthur Blvd., most recently the location of the since-shuttered 4505 Burgers & BBQ, Oaklandside reports. The brewery, which also has a spot in West Oakland, hopes to open a taphouse and beer garden in the space some time next month.

SAN FRANCISCO — Longtime sushi chef Ken Ngai has opened Ken at 52 Divisadero Street, Tablehopper reports.

CASTRO VALLEY — Gustavo Villarroel, the founder of popular SoMa pop-up Tavo’s Joint, has partnered with Hermanos Verdes founder Mikey Ochoa to bring a new Mexican and Venezuelan menu to the restaurant. Read more about it here.

SAN FRANCISCO — Ocean Beach Cafe, a small sandwich shop in the far Outer Richmond, is gearing up to open with a menu of smoothies, bowls, and a breakfast burrito, Tablehopper reports. Their Instagram also promises “Free Delivery to the Beach,” for those reluctant to shake off the sand for a sandwich.

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January 11

OAKLAND — Filipino-American food truck turned Mission restaurant Señor Sisig has opened its first permanent Oakland spot after years there as a mobile operation. Learn more here.

SAN JOSE — The Bay Area News Group reports that Channy Laux, the chef and founder of condiment company Angkor Cambodian Foods, has opened her first restaurant in the city’s downtown area. Called Angkor Chef Restaurant, it specializes in “classic Cambodian dishes” served during the lunch and dinner hours.

SAN FRANCISCO — The Cake Gallery, a SoMa cake shop known for its risqué baked goods, closed its doors in September, posting a sign in its window thanking customers for its 38 years in business. But now, its owners have opened in a new location at the edge of Dogpatch, (warning: NSFW cake images) Broke Ass Stuart reports. “While the pandemic has hugely affected business, we moved to a better place.” its owners say.

DANVILLE — Hazy Barbecue, a brother-and-brother restaurant from two East Bay natives, is open for takeout, the Bay Area News Group reports. The restaurant boasts 36 taps and a 70-seat heated patio, but those are off limits for now — but its extensive menu (which includes vegan and vegetarian options) is open for online orders now.

SAN FRANCISCO — Jaranita SF, a grilled chicken spot from global restaurant chain Acurio International, will open in the Marina this month, the SF Chronicle reports. Acurio owns 53 restaurants around the world, including SF’s 13-year-old Peruvian spot La Mar Cebicheria Peruana.

SAN JOSE — Holy Cannoli, a made-to-order Italian pastry shop from chef-caterer Jamie Whitmire, has opened, the Bay Area News Group reports. The spot’s Sicilian cannoli are made daily with a variety of flavors including chocolate chip, pistachio, and Nutella with hazelnuts.

SAN FRANCISCO — Chic’n Time will soon open inside Burger Joint’s old Valencia Street spot, Mission Local reports. The restaurant is owned by Michael Ho, who as one of the owners of Perilla Vietnamese Cuisine says that the restaurant’s “most popular dish is five spice chicken with garlic noodles,” hence his interest in entering the chicken game. Expect “deep fried chicken, chicken wings, curry chicken, chicken noodle soup,” Ho says.

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January 4

SAN FRANCISCO — Underdogs Tres, the Inner Sunset location of the Underdogs family of sports bars/taco shops, has opened in the Ninth Avenue spot last occupied by Nopalito. Owner Doug Marschke tells Eater SF that its opening timeline moved up after a December 15 fire left the restaurant’s Parkside location, Taraval Street’s Underdogs Too, too damaged to operate. That blaze happened just five days before Underdogs’ original Irving Street location was slated to permanently close in preparation for the move to Ninth Ave. Its hours and menu are limited for now, with plane to add more options, including breakfast, in the coming weeks.

OAKLAND — Vacant since 2018, the Piedmont Avenue spot last occupied by Kronnenburger has found a new tenant: Charm Thai Bistro, a restaurant from Anchalee Thai owners Anchalee and Chuck Natasiri, Berkeleyside reports.

SAN JOSE — Lady M Confections, a national bakery chain with locations in New York, SoCal, Boston, and Chicago, has opened a spot inside Westfield Valley Fair. The French/Japanese cake spot is perhaps best known for its mille crêpes cakes, a confection of thin layers of handmade crêpes and pastry cream.

SAN JOSE — Coffee and pastry chain Dunkin’ Donuts is opening a third location in San Jose, the Bay Area News Group reports. The popular chain had been absent in the Bay Area for over a decade, when a 2016 expansion plan included several locations from walnut Creek to Santa Cruz. Its most recent shop, in San Jose on Winchester Boulevard, opened just four months ago.

BERKELEY — Fast-casual Japanese mini-chain KoKoLo Donburi has opened in a downtown Berkeley spot that was most recently home to the Bear’s Food Court, Berkeleyside reports. Expect a menu of rice bowls, small plates, and housemade tofu.

SAN RAMON — Portland-based ice cream company Salt & Straw is planning a spring opening for its first Contra Costa County location, the Bay Area News Group reports. The chain, which is known for long lines and funky seasonal flavors, has signed a lease at City Center Bishop Ranch. The new shop will join locations in SF, Palo Alto, Burlingame, Oakland and San Jose.

OAKLAND — T&T Seafood #2 is open at 4104 MacArthur Blvd, Berkeleyside reports, with a menu of french fries, and fried fish, shrimp, and oysters. (Based on its Facebook page, it appears that #1 is located somewhere in Houston, Texas.) The spot is cash only, so hit the ATM before stopping by.