This week on the food beat we got the name of the upcoming Jonathan Waxman restaurant at Ghirardelli Square, which will be Brezza Emporio and Pizzeria, we learned about Tacolicious chef Telmo Feria's Portuguese solo project Uma Casa headed for the former Incanto space in Noe Valley, and we heard that 24th Street's Roosevelt Tamale Parlor is closing up shop after some 93 years in that spot. Also, Caleb spotted Jake Gyllenhaal at Cala, and the big news dropped that Tartine and Blue Bottle have nixed their deal to merge. But December is the traditional time of year when we start to hear about restaurants closing or preparing to close, and that's where we'll begin.
Despite an effort to rebrand and reconfigure the place as a wine shop and wine bar in the past six weeks, St. Vincent looks to be headed for its end. Eater reports that owner David Lynch now says, "I couldn't make it work financially. Not ever, really," and so, after three and a half years, it's not long for this world and it's for sale, though it does remain open right now.
Another restaurant that appears to be in trouble is the pork and beef heavy Rickybobby, which is on the market for $200,000 and is closing according to Hoodline. Co-owner James Moisey says the closure is only temporary, however, so we may just have to wait and see.
Also notably for sale is Drake, the SoMa space built for and formerly home to Elizabeth Falkner's Orson, along with its furniture and fixtures, as Socketsite reports.
The former home of Dante's Table at 544 Castro Street is getting new occupants, reports Hoodline. Little is known about the future restaurant, other than that it will be called Masons and that owner Richard Hamer is also in the process of opening another spot nearby on Market Street by the name of Finn Town.
Polk Gulch is getting a new cocktail lounge with the forthcoming Rusted Mule, notes Hoodline. Helmed by Kristian Cosentino (formerly of Press Club), Ashley Miller (formerly of Alta CA), and Richard Vila (of Poquito), Rusted Mule at 1217 Sutter Street aims to be an "incredible cocktail [place]," according to Cosentino.
The recently renovated Claremont Hotel in Berkeley is getting a new restaurant, and chef Dominique Crenn is involved, reports Inside Scoop. Crenn will not be the chef, however, telling the Chronicle that rather she will be involved in a "curatorial" manner. No name has been decided on for the forthcoming spot, but an early 2016 opening date is expected.
Bini’s Kitchen will open this coming Monday, December 7th at a spot above the Montgomery BART stop in a location previously occupied by Zog’s Dogs, says Inside Scoop. Owner Binita Pradhan will serve up the same curries and chais that she perfected at her Off The Grid stall.
The Daly City Filipino restaurant Tselogs appears to be making a play for a second location to be located in San Francisco, notes Hoodline. Although owner Consuelo Gilla has not commented on her plans, permits indicate that she is will be taking over the shuttered formed Kare-Ken curry spot.
Moving away from curry to the contentious topic of San Francisco bagels, the Chronicle took a moment to encourage us to throw off our insecurities and revel in the uniquely San Franciscan style of bagels that seem to be gaining steam in the Bay Area. Examples provided are the not-yet-available bagels of Leo Beckerman and Evan Bloom of Wise Sons and Amy Brown’s bagels at Marla Bakery.
Speaking of starches normally associated with breakfast, Tablehopper notes that a second Craftsman and Wolves location opened today in Russian Hill. Their frittata sandwich and caramel-walnut-mandarin tarts are called out for excellence, but everyone associates them with that yolky-egg-in-a-muffin thing they do so well.
Once Michelin-starred Guerneville spot Applewood has closed, but Inside Scoop says a new concept will be coming there soon.
Fillmore is getting a little fine-dining love with the soon-to-be open Mosu at 1552 Fillmore Street, reports Hoodline. The kitchen will be run by Sung Ahn, who previously worked as the chef de cuisine at Richmond's Aziza. Ahn told Hoodline to expect an intimate vibe, and that "reservations will be required, and only a tasting menu will be served." It may or may not have a Korean bent, from the sound of it.
A new ramen spot from the team behind Kaiju Eats, Kevin Chen and Judy Chen, just opened. It's called Hawker Eats, notes Eater. The spot, located at 1650 Balboa Street, focuses on huge bowls of ramen which are made "bowl for bowl" according to Kevin.
This Week In Reviews
Michael Bauer's midweek update comes with a smackdown to the popular A Cote, calling its kitchen "complacent" and saying the Oakland restaurant with chef Michael Cook has "fallen behind." He seemed all about the mussels in Pernod sauce, however, but went on to snub his nose at the "poorly executed" $8 pommes frites. Bauer awarded A Cote two stars this time around, down from the three of his original review.
And for his Sunday review, Mr. Bauer travels north across the bridge to visit Fairfax's Village Sake, the new spot from several former Sushi Ran employees, including executive chef Scott Whitman. Bauer awards the Japanese pub three stars, calling out Whitman's vegetable tempura and highlighting the Wagyu beef tataki before circling back around to say Whitman's"treatment of vegetables" is "unparalleled." Apparently the Brussels sprouts flavored with kimchi are a must have at $6.
Pete Kane visits the Marina's Scotland Yard, a wine bar with Chef Jason Raffin in the kitchen. While seemingly confused at an umami-heavy menu that would perhaps be better paired with beer, Kane still finds plenty to be excited about. He notes the Coca-Cola ribs were "were among the very best [he's] eaten in San Francisco," and that he "[digs] the kitchen's vision." Just stay away from the pork chop.
Kane then makes his way to Salumeria to explore their attempt at the most San Franciscan of meals: brunch. He's a fan. Calling it "delicious," he notes the avocado toast and fingerling potatoes are "absolute steals." Part of the Ne Timeas Restaurant Group's series of restaurants, Kane appreciates the simplicity of the menu and the atmosphere, saying it is like "like being in the food court to the world's best mall." Which, that's good, I guess?
The Chronicle's Anna Roth goes on a cheesecake voyage at the newly opened Vive La Tarte. Opened by Arnaud Goethals and Julie Vandermeersch, a husband-and-wife team that moved to San Francisco from Brussels in 2011, Vive La Tarte combines the Californian with the European in a cheesecake that mixes Sierra Nevada Cheese Co. cream cheese with a Belgium Speculoos crust (which Roth recommends). The carrot cake, however, was deemed by Roth to be "nearly flavorless."