If you were to pick one word to describe this week in restaurants, it would be "closure." Chaya Brasserie and the SF outpost of chain Buca Di Beppo both closed their doors, as did House of Chen, Mekong Kitchen, and Blueprint Taproom. Maybe instead of serving food, those places should have just memorialized it: after all, the Museum of Ice Cream sold all its tickets in less than 30 minutes. Or maybe they should have gone into bread, as one of the only tales of prosperity this week is Outerlands' expansion into a second Outer Sunset location. But who cares, you're heading to Burning Man and can't be bothered with SF worries — here's where to eat on the way.

Noe Valley pub Caskhouse joins the ranks of the shuttered, but owner John Dampeer is also behind Hamlet, just up the street at 24th and Church. “Having two very similar bars a block away from each other doesn’t make sense,” he told Eater.

And here's a closure I hadn't even noticed until its replacement was announced: Embarcadero restaurant The Plant apparently closed some time ago (Hoodline seems just as surprised as the rest of us, heading to the healthy food chain's website to learn that several outposts have gone dark). In its place will be Seaside, a restaurant from the folks behind "several restaurants at the San Francisco and Oakland airports, as well as Lou's Fish Shack in Fisherman's Wharf and Firewood Café in the Castro."

Speaking of the now-defunct Blueprint, we already have its replacement. Hardwood Bar & Smokery "abruptly" opened in the 680 8th Street space, and is already serving cocktails, craft beers, and “Bay Area-style barbecue,” the latter of which Eater admirably refrains from mocking the brow-raising idea of in their report. According to Hoodline, the owners are "long-time friends" Albert Lee (Rocks Den), chef Jake Kwan-Rosenbush (Gary Danko, Naked Lunch), and beverage director Adam Brogan (Wayfare Tavern, Stock in Trade).

The folks behind The Barrel Room are preparing to open a new "food-and-wine concept" (Hoodline's words, not mine) in the former Bin 38 space at 3232 Scott Street. Expect “a collection of stimulating wines from interesting regions…wines with character,” and food inspired by those wines when they open on September 7.

While Wholesome Bakery isn't the most exciting name, its opening on Divisadero appears to thrill Eater, which says they company is "poised to become the city’s most prominent bakery dedicated to vegan, gluten-free baked goods." Operating as a wholesale retailer since 2009, you've likely seen their wares at Rainbow or Whole Foods. The 1001 Page Street spot is their first brick and mortar, as owner Mandy Harper tells Hoodline "it's time for us to have our products available where we make our products." She's shooting for an opening in October.

This Week In Reviews

SF Weekly's Pete Kane visited Namu Stonepot this week, terming the fast-casual noodle joint "a well-oiled machine." Their Raging Ramen "is merely OK" but their Original Namu Stonepot Rice is "irresistible." For dessert, their butter mochi is "almost improbably good."

San Francisco Magazine's Josh Sens headed to Napa for Charter Oak, where he frequently mentions the price points as an effort to contextualize its description as "casual." When Michelin-starred chef Christopher Kostow "gets down to 'basics' in the Napa Valley, a charred avocado still runs you 16 bucks," Sens writes, but the place "falls shy of being insufferably earnest." 2.5 stars.

The Chronicle's Michael Bauer, appears to be writing more little daily items these days. On Tuesday he blurbed Z&Y, and on Wednesday briefed us on Live Sushi Bar. Thursday brought us his "favorite restaurants around the Civic Center and Performing Arts area." Which appears to bring us only one actual review: Dumpling Time, which he says "feels like a spirituous party in cramped quarters." The soup dumplings are a little too sticky, but have "intense, finely crafted fillings." Their The gyoza are also "particularly good." In the end, it's enough to get them 2.5 stars.