Bruno Chemel's Le Parc Bistrobar debuts near Union Square, Joyride Pizza opens on the Embarcadero with cocktails, and West Portal has a new Italian wine bar from the former La Ciccia team.
Le Parc Bistrobar, the latest venture from former Baumé chef-owner Bruno Chemel, opens Monday at the Galleria Park Hotel (185 Sutter Street), in the space that was once home to Gaspar Brasserie. We learned about the new spot back in April, and now Chemel tells the Chronicle that he is set to open next week with a menu of updated French bistro classics, including sole meunière, an escargot pot pie, and a cassoulet-esque dish of chicken legs in a white bean ragu. There's a full bar with classic cocktails as well, in addition to selections focused on single ingredients like Chartreuse and Lillet. Le Parc Bistrobar will be open for dinner only to start, with midweek lunch service to potentially launch in the fall. Find reservations here.
Just open as of July 4th is Joyride Pizza's tenth location at Pier 1, on the Embarcadero. We had the news of the expansion back in March, and Detroit-style pizza specialists Jesse and Joshua Jacobs have just debuted their second location to offer a full cocktail bar, with Negronis, spritzes, and more. As Eater reports, the Pier 1 location has a few new pizzas, including a Greek pizza with artichoke hearts, feta, kalamata olives, and red onion; and a thin-crust option for all the pies. There are also breakfast pizzas and egg dishes in the morning, along with Andytown coffee. Tater tots can come standard with a gremolata topping, or with a mix of toppings of your choice. And they're getting ready to roll out buffalo milk soft-serve ice cream, with an array of toppings. This location is open 10 am to 9 pm Sunday through Wednesday, and 10 am to 10 pm Thursday through Saturday.
The Jacobs brothers also reveal that they have an eleventh location of Joyride Pizza in the works in the Marina District — and a liquor license application shows us that it's actually in Cow Hollow, at 2055B Union Street, the former Muesi Cafe space, in the Equinox Gym complex. There's no word yet on an opening date for that.
Also on the Embarcadero we have an update on Bon Delire, the French cafe and Champagne bar headed for the former Hard Water space at Pier 3. As reported last fall, it's a new concept from Kais Bouzidi, the owner of Sens (in Embarcadero Center) and Barcha, with a focus on daytime and happy hour service. Bouzidi has been revealing some menu testing on Instagram, including a steak tartare, and he now says that he's aiming to have the place open by September.
We learned earlier this week that Amici's East Coast Pizzeria was closing its last San Francisco location on Lombard Street, but now the SF Business Times reports that they've got another one in the works at Fisherman's Wharf. The new, 4,000-square-foot location is slated to open on the upper level at Pier 39 this summer, in the former Lorenzo's Pizzeria space. Amici's is also maintaining a ghost kitchen in SoMa to satisfy delivery demand.
Popular barbecue pop-up Smokin D is opening a brick-and-mortar location in SF's Sunset District. As the Chronicle reports, owner Daniel Ramirez has secured the former Yum Yum Sushi House space at Irving and 23rd, and the new spot will open as soon as permits can be nailed down. Ramirez plans to offer his popular brisket bao, as well as plates of his 15-hour smoked brisket, sausages, pulled pork, and spareribs. Breakfast tacos and mac and cheese will also be on the menu.
Binu Bonu, the new Italian-focused wine bar from former La Ciccia owners Lorella Degan and Massimiliano Conti, is now open as of last week in West Portal. Tablehopper had the news, and the little bar at 230 West Portal Avenue has a full menu of snacks that are enough to make a meal of, including combination plates with cheeses and antipasti, plates of salumi and prosciutto, a dish of baby octopus, as well as olives and bread.
Tablehopper also had the scoop on Persona, the three-year-old cocktail bar in the former Cellar space at 685 Sutter Street which just underwent a total renovation and redesign. The chic, underground bar is now divided multiple spaces, with a new DJ nest, and a rentable private room called Nob Hill Grotto with space for up to 100 guests.
Up in Marin, Buvette du Marais, a spinoff of Le Marais Bakery, opened on Tuesday at Larkspur’s Marin Country Mart. It's a new cafe with a slightly more expanded menu than the bakery, including Breton-style crepes, quiches, and more, and full dinner and brunch menus will be added in the coming weeks, as the Chronicle reports. Owner Patrick Ascaso worked with the chef at Le Marais' Mill Valley location, Emmanuel Pradet, to develop the new menu. For now, Buvette du Marais is open daily from 8 am to 3 pm, but hours are set to be expanded.
Photo via Instagram