In a week that began with temperatures so high I'm sure no one wanted to eat, food news still managed to break. Chief among it: Thelonious Monk's estate is suing North Coast Brewing over a beer that bears his name, Lers Ros spinoff Esan Classic has opened, Alice Waters wrote a book, Cold Drinks has a $52 cocktail, and badass Dominique Crenn called out a lack of female representation in competition judging. But surely there was more? Yes, there was, here it is:

Eater has word that chef Brandon Kirksey's hotly anticipated Korean bar and restaurant Foxsister hopes to open on September 20th. Located at 3161 24th Street, the menu promises food inspired by Korean drinking snacks, which means chicken galore.

Meanwhile, Inside Scoop's got more intel on Mersea, Treasure Island’s only full-service restaurant and bar from chef Parke Ulrich (of Epic Steak and Waterbar renown). The menu will reportedly include "togarashi spiced kettle corn and pozole verde, plus clam chowder, cheeseburgers and tuna melts." Expect an opening later this year.

Eater heralds the reopening of State Bird Provisions with two separate articles, one on the new menu, one on the two-week-long remodel of their 1529 Fillmore Street space. They reopened last night, and don't worry, their beloved duck liver mousse with almond biscuits remains.

Also relaunching is Serpentine, which closed their 2495 Third Street space on August 1 for a remodel and refresh. Eater's got their new menu, which is reportedly southern-cooking inspired and also sports a new roster of cocktails. Doors fling back open on September 12.

Mission Local delightedly reports that The Royal Cuckoo Market has gotten the OK to serve soup and sandwiches, after a Planning Commission struggle over the bar they opened in the back of the market in November 2016. Now, it appears, the food and booze served at their 3368 19th Street location is legit.

On the heels of glowing coverage in the Chron and an Eater review that praised their food (but drubbed their service) Duna this weekend has launched Sunday brunch, Tablehopper has discovered. The menu for tomorrow's brunch sports egg noodles, flatbreads, and an intriguing item called "Apple-Buckwheat Dumplings." It all starts at 11:30 and ends at 1:30 at their 983 Valencia Street location.

It's an abrupt transition to go from brunch to a tasting menu that begins at $225, but that's what we have with the advent of China Live's Eight Tables. Eater says the "focus is on shifan tsui, or 'private chateau cuisine,' a traditionally elite style of dining at home." And they aren't kidding with the "elite" thing, as Inside Scoop reports that chef George Chen "vowed that Eight Tables would be the French Laundry of Chinese food." You still have time to save up for your three-figure meal, as doors on the restaurant (upstairs from China Live's Market Restaurant) don't open until October 3.

Over in the East Bay: Humphry Slocombe is opening their first location on that side of the pond, inside a shipping container at The Hive, Tablehopper reports, with "Oakland tribute flavors" in the offing.

Also relevant to the eastern among us: The East Bay Express reports that Gio’s Pizza and Bocce has opened at the 2420 Shattuck Avenue place where longstanding Italian restaurant Giovanni once stood. "It’s serving Italian food, yes, but in a huge, 4,000-square-foot industrial space with a bocce court," and the owners proudly proclaim “We’re not Italian...We’re not necessarily trying to create a traditional Italian experience.”

This Week In Reviews

SF Weekly's Pete Kane visited Barcino, which he says "aims to delight" with its Catalan-style menu. He really liked their carpaccio and patata, but lavished the most praise on their "ou — a sunny-side-up egg with caviar, idiazabal crema, jamon iberico de bellota, and potato chips."

The SF Chronicle's Michael Bauer didn't offer a proper review for us this week (curiously), but he devoted some resources to writing that Dobbs Ferry doesn't merit a real review, but Khamsa and Aina might. Also on his hit list were omakase spots, with a list of his Bay Area faves.

The closest to a review was his writeup of The Roosevelt Tamale Parlor, which reopened last November as American comfort food joint "Roosevelt Sip ‘n’ Eat," but reverted to Mexican following a deluge of complaint. "The food may not be the best Mexican you’ll find, but it’s satisfying and reasonably priced," Bauer writes, which sure sounds like the damnation of faint praise to me.