New Bay Area Restaurants: April 2016

(By Sarah Fritsche, SFGate) After March’s mild lull, April saw an uptick in new restaurant openings. Read on for more details about the month’s most high-profile restaurants and bars, as well as this month’s other notable openings:

Mister Jiu’s: Probably the highest profile opening of the month was chef Brandon Jew’s long-awaited Chinatown restaurant. The remodeled main dining room and bar area are gorgeous and Jew is serving a multi-course Cantonese-meets-NorCal family-style banquet menu. If you visit, be sure to check out the fancy lazy-Susan tables that were designed by Jew and his cousin Ryan Lee.
28 Waverly Pl. (between Clay and Sacramento), S.F. misterjius.com

Wildhawk: Another prominent opening was the PlumpJack Group’s glamorous (and somewhat controversial) overhaul of the space that formerly housed beloved lesbian bar and community touchstone, the Lexington Club space.
3436 19th St., between Valencia and Mission, S.F. (415) 420-1516.wildhawksf.com

The only holdovers from the bar’s Lexington days are the curved wooden bar and wooden floor. Photo: Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle

Rancho Nicasio: April marked the debut of fine dining chef Ron Siegel in his new tenure at this historic Marin roadhouse. While known for his previous work at high-end restaurants like Michael Mina and the Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton, Siegel says his contemporary American menu is more approachable.
1 Old Rancheria Rd., Nicasio. (415) 662-2219. ranchonicasio.com

Tony Gemignani’s Slice House: The 12-time World Pizza Champ has opened yet another outpost of his pie shop, this time inside Twitter Building marketplace, The Market. Look for his Walnut Creek outpost to open sometime in the next month or so.
1355 Market St. (in The Market), S.F. slicehouse.com 

Rooftop Restaurant & Bar: Speaking of Walnut Creek, this newly opened al fresco eatery will occupy the same venue that houses the U.S. outpost of Barcelona tapas restaurant, Teleferic, along with Gemignani’s forthcoming pizza shop.
1500 Mt Diablo Blvd., Ste 300, Walnut Creek. rooftopwc.com

Sweetgreen: Another new addition to the East Bay dining scene is this Washington, D.C.-based fast casual chain, which took over longtime Berkeley burger joint, Oscar’s. While the menu is a complete 180 from the previous occupant, happily much of the original architecture, including the sign, remain.
1890 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 990-8262. sweetgreen.com

The Den: In addition to the usual pastries, Craftsman & Wolves’ new Bayview shop, which is adjacent to William Werner’s production kitchen and forthcoming confectionery kitchen, offers a pay it forward pizza program.
1598 Yosemite Ave., S.F. (415) 423-3337. craftsman-wolves.com

The Den, located at Craftsman & Wolve’s Bayview production facility. Photo: William Werner

Bar San Pancho: Also in the Mission, Joe Hargrave and his Tacolicious team reopened the old Chino space with this latest incarnation, which showcases Mexican bar food.
3198 16th St.(at Guerrero St.), S.F. (415) 649-6077.

Basalt: Up in Wine Country, Moana Restaurant Group opened their latest in downtown Napa’s former Fish Story space.The menu from Esteban Escobar is seasonal Californian, peppered with the flavors of Spain, Mexico and Portugal. Former Chronicle Bar Star Jason “Buffalo” Lo Grasso is heading up the cocktail program.
790 Main St., Napa. (707) 927-5265. basaltnapa.com

Anchor Distilling Tasting Room: In addition to the historic Potrero Hill brewery tours, Anchor’s distillery has also started offering guided tours of its edible rooftop garden (home to the herbs and botanicals that are used in the spirits-making process) and production process.
1705 Mariposa St., S.F. (415) 863-5702. anchordistilling.com/tastingroom

WesBurger n’ More: The Mission Street brick-and-mortar of photographer/blogger/burger aficionado Wes Rowe’s beloved pop-up finally opened its doors. In addition to three different burger options, each made with Rowe’s signature coarsely ground, all-brisket patties, the menu also boasts Nashville hot chicken and three different kinds of tater tots.
2240 Mission St. (between 18th and 19th streets), S.F. (415) 555-1234. wesburgernmore.com

‘Aina: Another pop-up turned permanent, this one showcasing Hawaiian-inspired brunch opened in the Dogpatch neighborhood. The team behind the brunch spot are La Folie alums Jordan Keao and Jason Alonzo. If you go, be sure to order Keao’s malasadas with guava custard.
900 22nd St. (at Minnesota Street), S.F. (415) 814-3815. ainasf.com