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The Bay Area Heatmap: Where To Eat NOW, November 2014

The hottest new restaurants in SF and the East Bay.

by Andrew Dalton@dolftown Nov 6, 2014, 10:45am PST

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by Andrew Dalton@dolftown Nov 6, 2014, 10:45am PST

More often than not, tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right now? Restaurant obsessives want to know what's new, what's hot, which favorite chef just launched a sophomore effort, where to sip the cocktail of the moment. And while the Eater 38 is a crucial resource covering old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it is not a chronicle of the 'it' places of the moment. Thus, we offer the Eater Heatmap, which will change continually to highlight where the foodie crowds are flocking at the moment.

Check out the map of the Bay Area's hottest restaurants right now below (in no particular order), and drop any feedback in the comments section.

11/6/14: Added Pink Zebra, Huxley, Orenchi Beyond, Brenda's Meat & Three, Plank

10/2/14: Added Lazy Bear, The Hall, Doc Ricketts

9/4/14: Added Bandidos (renamed as Hecho), Beso, Jack's Oyster Bar & Fish House

8/7/14: Added Monsieur Benjamin, Plin, Shakewell, Urchin

7/3/14: Added Causwells, The Dock at Linden Street, Marla Bakery, Pabu & The Ramen Bar, Perdition Smokehouse

6/5/14: Added 4505 Burgers & BBQ, Bartlett Hall, Chino, The Commissary, Gaspar Brasserie, Kusakabe, Outerlands, Palm House, Schroeder's, Red Dog, Ume, Uno Dos Tacos, Urban Putt

5/1/14: Added Dirty Habit, Souvla

4/3/14: Added Trou Normand, Barrel Head Brewhouse, Il Casaro

3/6/14: Added The Coachman, Ichi Sushi + Ni Bar, Kin Khao, The Square

2/6/14: Added Victory Hall & Parlor, Loló, Second Act Marketplace

1/2/14: Added Verbena, La Nebbia

12/5/13: Added Alta CA, Nico, Merigan Sub Shop, Iyasare, Penrose

11/7/13: Added Tosca Cafe, TBD, Maruya, Chaparral, Box & Bells, Stones Throw, Ala Romana

10/3/13: Added Fog City, 1760, Bergerac, The Vestry

9/5/13: Added The Cavalier, La Urbana, Palmer's Tavern, Pesce, Stuffed

8/1/13: Added Mikkeller Bar, Bouli Bar, Rustic, Homestead, Aliment

7/11/13: Added 20th Century Cafe, Barrel House Tavern, Heartbaker, Le Marais Bakery, Roka Akor, Redford, Waiheke Island Yacht Club

6/6/13: Added Osso Steakhouse, Mason Pacific, Novela, MKT Restaurant and Bar, Mama Ji's, El Techo de Lolinda, The Palace, A16 Rockridge

5/2/13: Added Coqueta, Seaglass, Tribune Tavern

4/4/13: Added Padrecito, Hard Water, Hutong, 20 Spot

3/7/13: Added b. patisserie, South at SFJAZZ

2/7/13: Added Trick Dog, Saison, and Hi-Lo BBQ

1/7/13: Added Ramen Shop, Rickybobby, American Grilled Cheese Kitchen, KronnerBurger

Read More

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Pink Zebra

The new venture from Mission Chinese Food chef Jesse Koide features an eclectic mix of Japanese and Mediterranean flavors with a 40-seat-dining room and an oh-so-hot-right-now $75 omakase menu that includes nigiri, pickles and other traditional small plates. Get in before the crew decamps for New York.

3515 20th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Huxley

This intimate 25-seat Tenderloin newcomer features a menu of hearty small plates from Bar Agricole vet Sara Hauman and consulting chef Brett Cooper (Outerlands). Plus a baked goods collaboration by Jane on Larkin and charming interiors from the Bon Vivants Design+Build team.

848 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94109

Also featured in:

Brenda's Meat & Three

The latest from soul food queen Brenda Buenviaje boasts an airy new space on Divisadero with a meat-heavy menu and scores of homey sides to round out the meal. Expect the usual brunch lines from Brenda's to make the leap to dinner service here.

919 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Also featured in:

Orenchi Beyond

The brand-new San Francisco outpost of the wildly popular Santa Clara ramen shop immediately drew lines when it opened at the end of October— and for good reason, the ramen is worth the wait. Speaking of which, those lines are that much more bearable thanks to a front counter area where you can drink until a table opens up.

174 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Visit Website

Also featured in:

14 Slurp-Worthy Bowls of Ramen in San Francisco

Plank

Oakland's entry into the upscale amusement dining trend features 18 lanes of bowling, 3 bocce courts and a massive 50,000 square feet— not to mention a full menu of unexpected bowling alley items from chef Jason Moniz (Flora, Tres) like ramen and queso fundido. Live music and karaoke round out the entertainment options making this something of a one-stop night on the town.

Open in Google Maps

98 Broadway, Oakland, CA

Lazy Bear

You'll need a hotly contested ticket to visit the Mission brick-and-mortar from long-running underground chef David Barzelay. But if you can snag one, Lazy Bear is an exciting new player in the tasting-menu scene, with an upstairs cocktail party leading to a lively communal dinner full of playful and seasonal creations.

Open in Google Maps

3416 19th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Visit Website

Causwells

This casual new bistro comes from two restaurant vets, with a Flour + Water alum in the kitchen. Expect casual bites like deviled eggs, grilled octopus, and a burger, along with beer and a big wine-by-the-glass program.

2346 Chestnut Street, San Francisco, CA 94123

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Doc Ricketts

The revamp of the former Purple Onion is intended to capture North Beach's bohemian spirit, with relaxed fare upstairs and cocktails to accompany the live music and comedy in Doc's Lab, located downstairs. It's a nice place to catch a show without sacrificing good eating or drinking.

Open in Google Maps

124 Columbus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94133

Visit Website

The Hall

Hungry mid-Market office workers are rejoicing at the arrival of this lively new complex, featuring six vendors offering everything from Vietnamese food to Indian curries to sustainable seafood. An Anchor beer and wine bar keeps things bumping, and the $5 dim sum carts at happy hour are a lot of fun.

1028 Market St, San Francisco, CA

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Bay Area Heatmap: Where To Eat NOW

Hecho

Sit-down Mexican fare has arrived in the Castro with this second project from the folks behind Hi Tops, featuring funky tacos (duck mole, prawns with goat cheese and arugula), plenty of margaritas, and other dressed-up offerings. It was formerly known as Bandidos, but the name was changed due to controversy in the local Mexican-American community.

2200 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Jack's Oyster Bar & Fish House

The team behind Bocanova has expanded their Jack London Square empire with this new seafood spot, offering all the classics (chowder, raw bar, fish and chips) with sleek decor, cocktails, and a view of the water.

Open in Google Maps

336 Water Street, Oakland CA, Oakland, CA

Visit Website

Monsieur Benjamin

The second project from Benu whiz Corey Lee is a thoroughly French bistro, with takes on the classics both familiar (duck confit, steak frites, a burger) and less so (escargot, sweetbreads, beef tongue). There are cocktails and a solid under-$100 wine list, and it's open until 1 am.

451 Gough Street, San Francisco, CA

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Plin

Alexander Alioto, the former chef of Seven Hills, has taken over Valencia's former Conduit/Another Monkey space for this Italian small-plates spot, which emphasizes seafood dishes, pasta, and wine. Italian-influenced cocktails complete the package.

280 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Shakewell

A duo of Top Chef alumni are behind this new Spanish-Mediterranean restaurant and cocktail bar on Lakeshore, which offers classic tapas, bomba rice dishes, and cocktails. Be sure to save room for desserts like blackberry-Manchego tart.

Open in Google Maps

3407 Lakeshore Ave, Oakland, CA 94610

Visit Website

Urchin Bistrot

Hiro Sone and Lissa Doumani (Ame, Terra) have landed in the Mission, with a new French bistro-inspired restaurant in the former Wo Hing General Store on Valencia. Expect updated classics and plenty of cocktails and wine.

584 Valencia, San Francisco, CA

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Dock at Linden Street

James Syhabout's latest is a restaurant collaboration with west Oakland's Linden Street Brewery, featuring both a full-service restaurant with global shared plates and a more casual "beer shed" with snacks.

95 Linden St, Oakland, CA 94607

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Beso

Give your boca some sugar with the Spanish fare at this new spot from the Bisou guys, which offers tapas both traditional and inventive, plus Spanish wines.

4058A 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Marla Bakery

Don't believe the name: this labor of love from an adorable couple (who even got married there) is a full-service restaurant, with lunch, brunch, dinner, and Sunday suppers. Their awesome baked goods and desserts are, of course, worthy of note, as is a wine program from Nopa's former wine director and a lovely back patio/garden.

3619 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA 94121

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Pabu & The Ramen Bar

Michael Mina and Ken Tominaga's lavish new duo of Japanese restaurants have landed at 101 California. Pabu features authentic sushi and izakaya fare, as well as a serious cocktail program centered around Japanese whisky; the more casual Ramen Bar is focused on ramen, donburi, and salads.

101 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Perdition Smokehouse

The name says "hell," but this spot from the Mikkeller Bar team is more like nirvana for barbecue and beer aficionados, who can choose from all the usual hits (brisket, housemade hot links, ribs, mac and cheese), paired with one of the 43 drafts. They've got a huge back patio, too.

Open in Google Maps

2050 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

Visit Website

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Pink Zebra

3515 20th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

The new venture from Mission Chinese Food chef Jesse Koide features an eclectic mix of Japanese and Mediterranean flavors with a 40-seat-dining room and an oh-so-hot-right-now $75 omakase menu that includes nigiri, pickles and other traditional small plates. Get in before the crew decamps for New York.

3515 20th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Huxley

848 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94109

This intimate 25-seat Tenderloin newcomer features a menu of hearty small plates from Bar Agricole vet Sara Hauman and consulting chef Brett Cooper (Outerlands). Plus a baked goods collaboration by Jane on Larkin and charming interiors from the Bon Vivants Design+Build team.

848 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94109

Brenda's Meat & Three

919 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94115

The latest from soul food queen Brenda Buenviaje boasts an airy new space on Divisadero with a meat-heavy menu and scores of homey sides to round out the meal. Expect the usual brunch lines from Brenda's to make the leap to dinner service here.

919 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Orenchi Beyond

174 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94103

The brand-new San Francisco outpost of the wildly popular Santa Clara ramen shop immediately drew lines when it opened at the end of October— and for good reason, the ramen is worth the wait. Speaking of which, those lines are that much more bearable thanks to a front counter area where you can drink until a table opens up.

174 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Visit Website

Plank

98 Broadway, Oakland, CA

Oakland's entry into the upscale amusement dining trend features 18 lanes of bowling, 3 bocce courts and a massive 50,000 square feet— not to mention a full menu of unexpected bowling alley items from chef Jason Moniz (Flora, Tres) like ramen and queso fundido. Live music and karaoke round out the entertainment options making this something of a one-stop night on the town.

Open in Google Maps

98 Broadway, Oakland, CA

Lazy Bear

3416 19th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

You'll need a hotly contested ticket to visit the Mission brick-and-mortar from long-running underground chef David Barzelay. But if you can snag one, Lazy Bear is an exciting new player in the tasting-menu scene, with an upstairs cocktail party leading to a lively communal dinner full of playful and seasonal creations.

Open in Google Maps

3416 19th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Visit Website

Causwells

2346 Chestnut Street, San Francisco, CA 94123

This casual new bistro comes from two restaurant vets, with a Flour + Water alum in the kitchen. Expect casual bites like deviled eggs, grilled octopus, and a burger, along with beer and a big wine-by-the-glass program.

2346 Chestnut Street, San Francisco, CA 94123

Visit Website

Doc Ricketts

124 Columbus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94133

The revamp of the former Purple Onion is intended to capture North Beach's bohemian spirit, with relaxed fare upstairs and cocktails to accompany the live music and comedy in Doc's Lab, located downstairs. It's a nice place to catch a show without sacrificing good eating or drinking.

Open in Google Maps

124 Columbus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94133

Visit Website

The Hall

1028 Market St, San Francisco, CA

Hungry mid-Market office workers are rejoicing at the arrival of this lively new complex, featuring six vendors offering everything from Vietnamese food to Indian curries to sustainable seafood. An Anchor beer and wine bar keeps things bumping, and the $5 dim sum carts at happy hour are a lot of fun.

1028 Market St, San Francisco, CA

Visit Website

Hecho

2200 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Sit-down Mexican fare has arrived in the Castro with this second project from the folks behind Hi Tops, featuring funky tacos (duck mole, prawns with goat cheese and arugula), plenty of margaritas, and other dressed-up offerings. It was formerly known as Bandidos, but the name was changed due to controversy in the local Mexican-American community.

2200 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Visit Website

Jack's Oyster Bar & Fish House

336 Water Street, Oakland CA, Oakland, CA

The team behind Bocanova has expanded their Jack London Square empire with this new seafood spot, offering all the classics (chowder, raw bar, fish and chips) with sleek decor, cocktails, and a view of the water.

Open in Google Maps

336 Water Street, Oakland CA, Oakland, CA

Visit Website

Monsieur Benjamin

451 Gough Street, San Francisco, CA

The second project from Benu whiz Corey Lee is a thoroughly French bistro, with takes on the classics both familiar (duck confit, steak frites, a burger) and less so (escargot, sweetbreads, beef tongue). There are cocktails and a solid under-$100 wine list, and it's open until 1 am.

451 Gough Street, San Francisco, CA

Visit Website

Plin

280 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

Alexander Alioto, the former chef of Seven Hills, has taken over Valencia's former Conduit/Another Monkey space for this Italian small-plates spot, which emphasizes seafood dishes, pasta, and wine. Italian-influenced cocktails complete the package.

280 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

Visit Website

Shakewell

3407 Lakeshore Ave, Oakland, CA 94610

A duo of Top Chef alumni are behind this new Spanish-Mediterranean restaurant and cocktail bar on Lakeshore, which offers classic tapas, bomba rice dishes, and cocktails. Be sure to save room for desserts like blackberry-Manchego tart.

Open in Google Maps

3407 Lakeshore Ave, Oakland, CA 94610

Visit Website

Urchin Bistrot

584 Valencia, San Francisco, CA

Hiro Sone and Lissa Doumani (Ame, Terra) have landed in the Mission, with a new French bistro-inspired restaurant in the former Wo Hing General Store on Valencia. Expect updated classics and plenty of cocktails and wine.

584 Valencia, San Francisco, CA

Visit Website

Related Maps

The Dock at Linden Street

95 Linden St, Oakland, CA 94607

James Syhabout's latest is a restaurant collaboration with west Oakland's Linden Street Brewery, featuring both a full-service restaurant with global shared plates and a more casual "beer shed" with snacks.

95 Linden St, Oakland, CA 94607

Visit Website

Beso

4058A 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Give your boca some sugar with the Spanish fare at this new spot from the Bisou guys, which offers tapas both traditional and inventive, plus Spanish wines.

4058A 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Visit Website

Marla Bakery

3619 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA 94121

Don't believe the name: this labor of love from an adorable couple (who even got married there) is a full-service restaurant, with lunch, brunch, dinner, and Sunday suppers. Their awesome baked goods and desserts are, of course, worthy of note, as is a wine program from Nopa's former wine director and a lovely back patio/garden.

3619 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA 94121

Visit Website

Pabu & The Ramen Bar

101 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

Michael Mina and Ken Tominaga's lavish new duo of Japanese restaurants have landed at 101 California. Pabu features authentic sushi and izakaya fare, as well as a serious cocktail program centered around Japanese whisky; the more casual Ramen Bar is focused on ramen, donburi, and salads.

101 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

Visit Website

Perdition Smokehouse

2050 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

The name says "hell," but this spot from the Mikkeller Bar team is more like nirvana for barbecue and beer aficionados, who can choose from all the usual hits (brisket, housemade hot links, ribs, mac and cheese), paired with one of the 43 drafts. They've got a huge back patio, too.

Open in Google Maps

2050 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

Visit Website