12 Bay Area restaurants slated to open in 2016

(by Annie Sciacca, San Francisco Business Times)

Only two months into the new year, a slew of new restaurant openings in the Bay Area have already been announced. There are brand new concepts like a fast-casual spot from Mercer Restaurant Group and from Daniel Patterson, and cities like Walnut Creek are seeing a wave of brand new restaurant life. It's not an easy time to open a restaurant. Costs of opening are higher than ever, and with a slew of upscale restaurants around the Bay Area, competition is fierce for finding good employees that can also afford to live amidst the rising costs of the Bay Area living. Still, restauranteurs are eager to make it work, and already, the list for anticipated restaurant openings in the Bay Area is long this year.

The biggest San Francisco Bay Area restaurant and bar openings of 2014

Boy, it sure was another busy year. Restaurants and bars keep opening in the Bay Area, and 2014 was another year full of newcomers.

As you can see in the gallery above, the newbies came in all shapes and sizes, ranging from multi-million dollar blockbusters to humble yet heartfelt passion projects.

Chronicle restaurant critic Michael Bauer will share his Top 10 Restaurants of the Year in Sunday’s Food & Home section, and here on Scoop, we’ll have more year-end coverage throughout the rest of this holiday week, like closures, trends and much more.

Do note that for the purposes of this particular list, we did not include any of the restaurants that reopened in newer, bigger locations (Ichi Sushi, Lolo, Marlowe, Emmy’s), or the ones that expanded their current ones (Outerlands, Hog Island Oyster Company), or the ones that reopened in similar fashions after brief vacations (Big 4, Sam’s Grill).

What new restaurants did you love this year? Which ones did you find overrated or disappointing? Which ones weren’t on our list? How many on the list have you been to? Share your thoughts in the comments.

The full chronological list, with links to the stories about the restaurants, their stories and their address:
Pizzahacker, The Mission
Prubechu, The Mission
Blue Bottle, Oakland
The Dock at Linden Street, Oakland
Kin Khao, Union Square
The Coachman, SoMa
Molina, Mill Valley
Trou Normand, SoMa
Archetype, St. Helena
Souvla, Hayes Valley
Terra Cotta Warrior, The Sunset
Woodbury, SoMa
Red Dog, SoMa
Los Shucos, The Mission
The Commissary, The Presidio
Palm House, Cow Hollow
Kusakabe, Financial District
Los Cilantros, Berkeley
Chubby Noodle, The Marina
Gaspar Brasserie. Financial District
Bartlett Hall, Union Square
Smokestack/Magnolia, Dogpatch
4505 Burgers & BBQ, Divisadero
Schroeder’s, Financial District
La Rondalla, The Mission
Urban Putt, The Mission
Dirty Habit, SoMa
Chino, The Mission
Aveline, Union Square
The Farmer & The Fox, St. Helena
Belcampo Meat Co., Russian Hill
San Francisco Athletic Club, Divisadero
The Interval, Fort Mason
Pabu/Ramen Bar, Financial District
Causwells, The Marina
Monsieur Benjamin, Hayes Valley
Shakewell, Oakland
ABV, The Mission
The Tradesman, The Mission
Plin, The Mission
Ferry Plaza Seafood, North Beach
Urchin Bistrot, The Mission
Longitude, Oakland
Bourbon Steak & Pub, Santa Clara
Beso, The Castro
Jack’s Oyster Bar & Fish House, Oakland
Les Clos, SoMa
Bandidos/Hecho, The Castro
Wrecking Ball, Cow Hollow
Woods Bar & Brewery, Oakland
Lazy Bear, The Mission
The Hall, Mid-Market
Pink Zebra, The Mission
Arguello, The Presidio
Plank, Oakland
Mochica, Potrero Hill
Orenchi Beyond, The Mission
Huxley, Tenderloin
Brenda’s Meat and Three, Divisadero
Game, Nob Hill
Tap(415), SoMa
Rintaro, The Mission
Crystal Jade Jiang Nan, Financial District
Hapa Ramen, The Mission
Stem, Mission Bay
Kirimachi Ramen, Financial District
La Snackeria, Oakland
Mr. Holmes Bakehouse, Tenderloin
Cockscomb, SoMa
Seed + Salt, The Marina
Brewcade, The Castro
Devil’s Acre, North Beach
The Progress, Fillmore
Hogwash, Union Square
Marla Bakery, The Richmond

Article and Photos Sourced From: http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2014/12/23/the-biggest-bay-area-restaurant-and-bar-openings-of-2014/#29386-5

New BBQ: 4505 Burgers & BBQ and Smokestack Both Now Open

Up on Divisadero, 4505 Meats has debuted their little burger-and-barbecue joint in the former Brothers/Da'Pitt BBQ space on Grove Street. It's technically takeout only for now, but there is some temporary patio seating that's will be replaced by something a little nicer. Chef Ryan Farr is officially slinging brisket, ribs, sausages, and chicken, as well their famous burger (known well to everyone who's been to their Ferry Building farmers' market stand). And! He's selling a creation called the Frankaroni — that would be one of their famed bacon-studded hot dogs wrapped in macaroni and cheese and then deep fried.
The best news about this place is that they've got a dedicated burger window that stays open longer than the restaurant, until 2 a.m., to cater to all those stumbling out of The Page or Madrone Art Bar at last call.
Here's the menu. Note that they're open Sunday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the burger window open with a limited menu on Friday and Saturday until 2 a.m.

And over in Dogpatch, Monday night marked the opening of Magnolia Brewing's grand new taproom/bar and barbecue restaurant (2505 Third Street at 22nd). The restaurant is called Smokestack, and it's being helmed by Namu Gaji chef Dennis Lee. Lee is slinging "non-denominational" barbecue, meaning he's drawing influences from all over the the barbecue centers of Kansas City, Texas, and the Carolinas, as well as Asia. I can tell you right now that the chopped, smoked pork is phenomenal — don't-wait-another-day-to-go-try-it phenomenal. And the well-spiced Brunswick stew (a concoction designed for the best use of BBQ leftovers) is also stellar. It's all counter service, with seating at big, beer-hall-style communal tables, and all the meat is sold by weight — in the style of Fette Sau in Brooklyn.
The design, was handled by Kevin Landwehr and Devin Becker of Brooklyn-based Nothing:Something, incorporates a lot of reclaimed and industrial elements, and a set of backlit numbers around the beer menu (with 12-15 Magnolia brews on tap at any given time) will indicate when taps are kicked. Also, in a clever connection with the Haight Street flagship pub, Smokestack’s custom-built tabletops and benches were made with wood from a black acacia tree that used to live on Haight Street, right next to the pub, until the City had to cut down
The hours are 4 p.m. to midnight for food, and the bar stays open until 2 a.m. Lunch service is yet to come.

As for the brewery portion, things still look under construction, but I believe a daytime tasting/tour component may come along in the future. Nonetheless, much beer is already being brewed. And I recommend the saison.


4505 BBQ & Burgers - 705 Divisadero at Grove
Smokestack - 2505 Third Street at 22nd


Article & photos sourced from:  http://sfist.com/2014/05/08/new_bbq_4505_burgers_bbq_magnolia_d.php 

The Willows: Sycamore's sibling in SoMa

Like its older and aptly named sibling, the Sycamore, this down-home bar is the kind of place you want to put down roots. Only at the Willows, there's even more drinking and eating and gaming on tap.

Mary's Burger with a Manhattan cocktail at the Willows in San Francisco. Photo: John Storey, Special To The Chronicle

With card games, board games, pinball machines and, yes, Big Buck Hunter, a trip to the Willows is like going to Scrabble night at the arcade. And we mean that in a good way.

The vibe: Chill. The cat isn't fully out of the bag yet on this South of Market sequel, so there's room to spread out - three rooms, in fact, between the beer den, the arcade and the main bar/playroom. Still, you just might have to elbow someone for the rights to Cards Against Humanity.

The crowd: Very local and laid back. This is a neighborhood haunt, complete with pub quizzes and game tournaments.

Best seat: We love the communal table next to the full bar. It's high and long and about as well lit as it gets, though you might get an occasional poke from a cue stick.
Killer app: Fans of the Sycamore's pork belly "donuts" (three for $6.25) will be happy to know that they've safely made the move to the Willows. The sliders ($3.50) - everything from lamb to tilapia - are all solid, and the Mary ($12.50) is a tribute to the space's pre-Willows, pre-Mercury Lounge, existence as Hamburger Mary's.

The pork belly donuts with the mystery shot at the Willows in San Francisco. Photo: John Storey, Special To The Chronicle

Signature drink: A rotating menu of craft brews ($5-$8/pint), including the Lost Abbey and Speakeasy XXX, highlights the beer den offerings. The F* You Grandpa, a savory twist on the Old-Fashioned, wasn't on the cocktail menu the last time we went, but nine other drinks were, including the Willows' take on a Side Car ($12) and Mai Tai ($7).

Also on tap: Bottled beers and ciders, and on Fridays, a $3 "mystery shot," if you feel like reliving those college days.

Bonus: As if there weren't already enough games on tap, every Wednesday is trivia night.

People have drinks at the Willows in San Francisco. Among the items worth checking out, clockwise from top left: a Mary's Burger with a Manhattan cocktail, the pork belly donuts with the mystery shot, some colorful beer taps, and a chili dog with an Alaskan White beer. Photo: John Storey, Special To The Chronicle

If you go

The Willows: 1582 Folsom St. (at 12th Street), S.F. (415) 529-2039. www.thewillowssf.com. Credit cards accepted. Open lunch and dinner daily.

The chili dog with an Alaskan White beer at Willows in San Francisco. Photo: John Storey, Special To The Chronicle 

Article & Photos Sourced From Sf Gate:
http://www.sfgate.com/restaurants/barbites/article/The-Willows-Sycamore-s-sibling-in-SoMa-4920274.php#photo-5351116 

An explosion of upscale Mexican spots to try

This fall, three San Francisco restaurants will add to the surge in high-profile Mexican places, capping a year that has already seen the debuts of Padrecito, Nido, Garaje and two more Tacolicious outposts. And that's not even mentioning the recently opened Rancho Gordo in the Ferry Building, which is pretty much owner Steve Sando's homage to Mexican and New World products.

Chefs Jose Ramos, (glasses) and Gonzalo Guzman of Nopalito in San Francisco Jose Ramos

The formidable La Urbana (661 Divisadero St.) is nearing completion at Divisadero and Grove. With a sleek black facade and three spaces scattered over 3,600 square feet, La Urbana partners Eduardo Rallo and Juan Garduño are betting big.

When the restaurant and mezcal bar open in the first week of September, the menu of shareable plates from chefs Julio Aguilera and Ben Klein will have a distinctly modern slant.

They're ditching chips and salsa in favor of chicharron de arroz, rice crackers with chipotle salt and guacamole. Oysters will come topped with cucumber serrano froth, and huevos con chorizo will feature lime crema and nasturtium leaf. Quesadillas will be made with smoked goat cheddar, while sides of rice will be seasoned with saffron, peas and radish flowers.

Ben de Vries is selling his Luella restaurant. One regular burst into tears upon hearing the news. 

The third part of the space, which will open later in the year and is dubbed Mercado Urbano, will serve Mexican street food by day and morph into a cocktail bar with small bites at night.

On the other side of Pacific Heights, another group is formulating its own take on a 21st century Mexican cantina.

The former City Tavern (3200 Fillmore St.) has been gutted and is being rebuilt from the ground up by local impresarios Andy Wasserman, Hugo Gamboa and Adam Snyder. They've brought aboard Jose Ramos as their executive chef, and will reopen the prized corner space as a Mexican restaurant and bar named Sabrosa.

Co-Owner Adriano Paganini at Pesce's new location on Market Street in San Francisco, Calif. on August 15, 2013

The talented Ramos, who was a founding chef at Nopalito, is working on a menu that will explore several regional Mexican cuisines. Sabrosa will be a restaurant first, but given the Cow Hollow location, a lively bar scene will be integral part of the equation.

But while La Urbana and Sabrosa hope to explore new realms of Mexican cuisine, be it modern or regional, Adriano Paganini - the entrepreneurial hit-maker behind Super Duper, Beretta, et al. - is taking another route: reinterpreting the ubiquitous San Francisco taqueria, with better ingredients.

He plans to open his take on a taqueria - named Uno Dos Tacos - in the Financial District's former Sellers Market (595 Market St.), also in the fall.

High on a hill: Last week, Luella chef-owner Ben de Vries told a regular customer that he was selling his Russian Hill restaurant (1896 Hyde St.). The diner, who had been coming every other week for years, broke down in tears.

That's the kind of neighborhood love that Luella has fostered in its nine years of business. But citing a desire to lead a more balanced and family-centric life, de Vries will close it Aug. 31.

The new regime says it will strive to create a similar, quintessential neighborhood spot.

Jason Kirmse and Cyrick Hia, who own the popular Fat Angel (1740 O'Farrell St.) in the Fillmore, and former Michael Mina general manager Ryan Cole are taking over and plan to open a new restaurant in the Luella spot, named Stones Throw.

"We want it to be really, really approachable," says Cole. With restaurants like Nopa and Frances as inspirations, Cole says the partners will aim for "a balance of comfort and familiarity when it comes to the food, but still having some surprises."

The core of the staff will be made up of well-seasoned Michael Mina vets, including 30-year-old executive chef Jason Halverson, who has cooked at both locations of Michael Mina's eponymous San Francisco flagship. Tai Ricci, who worked alongside Cole in Michael Mina's dining room and more recently at SPQR, is also aboard on the service side.

Ciao, Napa: Executive chef Scott Warner is leaving his post at Bistro Don Giovanni after more than a decade at the Napa Valley restaurant (4100 Howard Lane). He's off to open his own restaurant - most likely in somewhere in Marin, he says.

Meanwhile, Bistro Don Giovanni will continue to hum along as it celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

Chef-owner Donna Scala has given Warner her blessing.

She also quips that she knew that Warner's time was winding down when he wore a kilt to work one day, because, as she jokes, "There's only room for one skirt in this kitchen."

Hop-ocalypse Now: It's no secret that the Bay Area is in the midst of a craft brewery boom. In San Francisco alone, there are under-construction breweries by Triple Voodoo and Magnolia in Dogpatch, Cellarmaker in SoMa, and Barrel Head Brewhouse in NoPa, among others.

But it's probably safe to say that none of those entrepreneurial endeavors will be quite like Warfighter Brewing Co., an upcoming microbrewery and tasting room in San Carlos (360 Industrial Road). Its mission is to create jobs for veterans with and without disabilities. Owner Jon Barton, himself a combat veteran, comes from the film industry, and has decorated the tasting room with old recruitment posters, vintage propaganda and similar war memorabilia.

The grand opening is set for Sept. 11.



Article & Photos Sourced From:  SF GATE:
http://www.sfgate.com/food/insidescoop/article/An-explosion-of-upscale-Mexican-spots-to-try-4750355.php#photo-5069037

Blue Barn Gourmet opens on Polk Street

Pesce went dark this week, but Polk Street got a restaurant newcomer right next door with yesterday’s arrival of Blue Barn Gourmet in the former Yabbie’s space.

As reported last week, the Russian Hill outpost is the third branch of the popular quick service sandwich-and-salad spot from Sam Josi, Stryker Scales and Nate Valentine. On opening day, right on time, a line of eager neighborhood folks snaked toward the door.

The new location is much bigger than the Chestnut Street location, complete with high-top tables, two-tops and a 8-seat wine bar area. The menu is a virtual facsimile of the Marina outpost, with sandwiches like the Rooster (chili-lime grilled chicken, bacon, white cheddar, avocado, chipotle aioli on a ciabatta roll, $10.75) and the Smoked (smoked wild king salmon, goat cheese, cucumber, red onion, watercress and horseradish aioli on sliced country levain, $9.50). There is also an entire menu section dedicated to gussied-up grilled cheese sandwiches ($9.25-$10); beer and wine is also available.

Click here to view the full menu.
Open Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.






Original Article & Photos Sourced from  sf gate.com:
http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2013/08/07/blue-barn-gourmet-opens-on-polk-street/