Just over a year ago we heard the first word about The Morris, the new elevated neighborhood spot from Frances/Octavia wine guy Paul Einbund and chef Gavin Schmidt (Coi) in the former Slow Club digs in Potrero Flats. Now, via some social media rumblings, it looks like the place is nearing an opening, with photos like the one below of chickens and charcuterie dry-aging a week ago, and other photos from test dinners as well, including one that happened Thursday or Friday.
The kitchen and bar look complete, and fellow chef David Barzelay appears to have attended a test dinner, posting the praise below for two dishes: "crispy pork trotters with Asian pear on the left," and "absolutely perfect buckwheat doughnuts with creme anglaise on the right."
Also, here's Einbund testing out a cocktail recipe:
Einbund's innovative dollar-an-ounce wine program, serving house blends of white and red wine on tap at Frances (these days it's $1.80 an ounce) won a ton of early press for the popular Castro restaurant, and almost seven years in it's a tough reservation to get most nights of the week at prime time.
Einbund now has his own wine label, Seam Wines, with which he aims to "bring really good wine to the public at affordable prices," rather than always trying to figure out "how much you can get" for a wine.
At The Morris, Einbund earlier hinted that he wanted to "carry on Slow Club’s tradition of being one of the neighborhood’s great haunts" and that the new restaurant would feature "the next level of neighborhood dining, much like Frances."
With the test dinners already underway, the (possibly soft) opening could be days, or just a week off, though I've yet to get confirmation on a date from Einbund or the team.
I'll update you as soon as we hear back.
Update: Eater confirms that The Morris will open to the public sometime next week.
The Morris - 2501 Mariposa Street at Hampshire - 415-612-8480 - Opening soon
Previously: The Slow Club Closing To Make Room For The Morris, From Frances Wine Guy Paul Einbund
