After almost three years on the sidelines, former Ubuntu chef and James Beard Award semi-finalist Aaron London has finally inked a deal for a restaurant of his own. London, who left the acclaimed Ubuntu when it closed in early 2012, hinted later that year that he had a San Francisco project in the works, originally, he said, slated for Hayes Valley. He's spent the interim tending bar at Locanda, and now, finally, the project is taking shape, as Inside Scoop reports.

London is taking over the South End Grill 'n' Bar space at Valencia and 26th, and he plans to open his own spot in spring of 2015. He says it won't be vegetarian but it will be "vegetable-heavy," with both meat and fish as well.

London won raves for his work at the vegetarian Ubuntu after he took over following Jeremy Fox's departure, and I can say from having had my own meal there in 2011 that he's a talented guy who does wonders with vegetables. As Inside Scoop notes, prior to his tenure there, London was the fish butcher at Dan Barber's upstate New York restaurant Blue Hill, so I look forward to seeing what he does with fish.

Expect much foodinista brouhaha as the opening approaches.