Local restaurateur Pete Mrabe, who opened Don Pisto's in North Beach in 2010, is now in major expansion mode this year, with four new projects in the works to add to the three restaurants he currently has, including two locations of Chubby Noodle, in the Marina and North Beach. As Eater reports, Mrabe will be opening a tequila bar that's likely to feature some of Don Pisto's swell tacos, to be called Don Pisto's Tequila Bar. That's moving into the former Mas Sake space at 2030 Lombard Street, and is aiming for a spring opening.

He's also taking over Amante (570 Green Street), the North Beach bar where Chubby Noodle first began as a pop-up several years back. That will become Pete's, "an American comfort food concept" with chef Daniel Sudar (formerly of Betelnut) in the kitchen. Think burgers, chicken pot pie, and more classics, with a bar program from Cantina guy (recently turned author) Duggan McDonnell.

AND, there's also Central Station Deli in the works from Mrabe at 728 Vallejo Street, as well as an unnamed bakery project taking shape, perhaps opening by June, at 1501 Grant Avenue, around the corner in the same building as Don Pisto's. That will be a retail operation that will also do all the baking for this growing restaurant empire.

Stay tuned for opening dates on all of the above.