News this morning via the liquor license applications is that acclaimed Benu chef Corey Lee is working on a new project at 451 Gough Street (between Grove and Hayes). He won't divulge any details and says the deal is still in escrow, but as the Inside Scoop reports, it will have a full bar.

Lee spent three years as chef de cuisine at The French Laundry, and he's gone on to win tons of national attention for Benu, a sophisticated, high-end restaurant that marries Asian influences with haute European technique and California ingredients.

One can assume that the new spot won't be quite so high end, and will likely be a more casual spinoff. Lee joins Coi chef Daniel Patterson, who has casual spinoffs in Oakland and is readying another on Mid-Market, recent former French Laundry chef de cuisine Timothy Hollingsworth who's plotting a taco concept, and James Syhabout (of Commis and Hawker Fare) in going the casual route.

[Inside Scoop SF]
[Eater]