It seems that a midsummer wave of closures is upon us in the food scene, beginning with a pair of small Asian spots in the Castro one of which had sat quietly on its side street for 28 years. Yes, that restaurant, House of Chen, is calling it quits because its owners are retiring and as those who have passed by it on Noe Street have likely noted in recent years, it's pretty much always empty, and has been subsisting on a delivery business, it seems. Hoodline reports that the restaurant called it quits last Monday, and the owners posted a note saying, "It has been a pleasure to be a part of the community over the past 28 years and to see it grow and evolve. We greatly appreciate your support and loyalty over the years, and are deeply saddened that we will no longer be able to serve you."
The restaurant, opened in that spot in 1989, has not fared well with Yelpers in recent years, though back in better years, SF Weekly called it an "inconspicuous tiny jewel" and praised its hot-and-sour soup and its cheapness.
That small restaurant spot at 335 Noe, perhaps attractive to up-and-coming chefs since it's but a hop and a skip around the corner from the ever-popular Frances, is thus now up for grabs.
Also in the Castro, Mekong Kitchen is dunzo on 18th Street, as Hoodline reported last week, and that followed just days after the closure of Zapata Mexican Grill up the street.
Over in the Marina, as Eater reports, 17-year-old bar/club Hi-Fi Lounge has called it quits. It's apparently getting a new name and concept, possibly from the same owner, in the near future.
Meanwhile in SoMa, the Design District lunch spot Blueprint Tap Room, which until a month ago was only able to sell beer and wine, called it quits on August 11 after four years in business at 680 8th Street. Hoodline brings the sad news sad for employees at Pinterest, Adobe, and Zynga, anyway, who frequented the place noting that Yelpers had been noticing decreased hours and service for a while prior to the closure. But why bother with the expensive liquor license, then? Anyway, that may be a good asset for selling the place.
Related: Chaya Brasserie Closes After 17 Years; Buca Di Beppo Closes After 20
