Topping this week's food-scene headlines is the impending opening of Lazy Bear, the brick-and-mortar restaurant from underground-dining chef David Barzelay the name is an anagram of his last name. Barzelay will be doing a tasting-menu format ($120/person for 12-18 courses) with communal seating at two 22-foot long tables in the former Hi-Lo BBQ space. And as Inside Scoop earlier reported, Lazy Bear will be adopting the same ticketing system used by Coi, and Alinea in Chicago. The restaurant is now set to open September 25, and tickets for the first tables go on sale next Friday, September 19, at noon. [Inside Scoop]
There's also big news about the reopening of Cafe du Nord in late fall, the biggest news being it's not really going to be much of a music venue anymore. As we learned earlier this year, du Nord is getting a revamp at the hands of the Flour + Water team (Ne Timeas Restaurant Group) and the Trick Dog guys (the Bon Vivants), with a whole new menu, cocktail program, and hefty renovation. But what we didn't know is that the space will be divided into a bar area (where the bar always was), including 20 bar tables, and a main dining room where the stage area was, with 40 tables. Thus: no more rock shows, but expect "impromptu intimate entertainment acts" and "unannounced sets by well-known musicians" to occasionally occur during dinner. The menu is being described as an "approachable bar menu" with a burger, some salt cod croquettes, and more TBA. [Eater]
Downtown will be getting yet another beer hall, after what seems like two straight years of a beer hall/tap room boom (with places like Hopwater Distribution, Mikkeller Bar, The Beer Hall, and Schroeder's all recently opened/reopened). It's called Hogwash, and it's a project of Paula Thompson and Zeki's Bar owner Nick Rothman which is going into the former Persimmon space at 582 Sutter Street. There will be a beer-friendly food menu with housemade sausages and pretzels, and the beers are being curated by local beer sommelier Rich Higgins. They're aiming for a fall opening. [Eater]
On its way to Divisadero later this year is Brenda's Meat & Three (919 Divisadero at McAllister), a new expansion project from Brenda's French Soul Food chef-owner Brenda Buenviaje and partner Libby Truesdell. The name refers to your menu options, which will be straight-up Southern style (not just New Orleans), with your choice of meat (including fried chicken, "city ham steak," oxtail, etc.) and three sides (including bacon fat fries, smothered green beans, mac and cheese, and creamed biscuits). Brenda's aiming for a mid-November opening, and is still working on a Fillmore project, Brenda’s Original Po’Boys, which is still on its way in 2015. [Tablehopper]
In other news, Straits has shuttered on the fourth floor of the Westfield Centre, after eight years in business. No word on who might be taking that space. [Inside Scoop]
So has Nob Hill neighborhood Chinese spot U-Lee after nearly 30 years. [Inside Scoop]
Le Marais Bakery has opened their companion Bistro in the Marina. [Eater]
And Michael Bauer offered his thoughts on the recently opened Monsieur Benjamin in Hayes Valley, calling it "full of promise" and bestowing on it three big ones. [Chron]
