There are a bunch of new openings happening, so let’s breeze through ‘em:
Now open in Cole Valley is the second BEIT RIMA in the former Burgermeister. The neighborhood should be so stoked to have Samir Mogannam’s fantastic Arabic comfort food. Crazy-delicious food. Open Wed-Mon 5pm-9:30pm, closed Tue, and lunch/brunch is coming soon. 86 Carl St. at Cole.
I received word from owner Anthony La Via (Southern Pacific) that he has just opened LUPULANDIA, a brewpub in the Mission with his wife, Marisol Gonzalez. There’s a brewery on-site, plus a full kitchen and bar. (In case you’re wondering about the name, the word for hops in Spanish is “lupulos,” so they “Spanglished it up.”)
The Baja and Mexican-American menu sounds awesome—it ends up they are partners in a similar restaurant-brewery operation in Tijuana called Tras Horizonte with the Campos brothers, Pablo and Oso, who have a little mini-chain of taquerias called Kokopelli. Chef Oso has influenced the menu here in SF, which has ceviches (including a green ceviche from Tijuana), aguachiles, Tijuana-style chilaquiles, chicharron de pargo (fried fish fillets, a dish from Tijuana), and I gotta try his menudo in crispy tacos (tacos de panza)—Anthony says, “He cooks the tripas in caldo like you would normally, but then takes it out and puts it in a crispy taco, with the reduced caldo as a dipping sauce.” And then there’s a burger with green chile, and American-style buttermilk fried chicken, but with Mexican chile and a touch of mesquite smoke. And churros. And Mexican-influenced cocktails from LaVia’s brother-in-law, Sal Gonzalez. And their beer should be ready this week: a hazy IPA, a West Coast IPA, a fruity tropical pale ale, a dark brown lager, a grapefruit lager, a sour blonde ale, and a tropical India Pale Lager. There’s an outdoor patio, plenty of tables for dining, and they’re open for lunch and dinner Wed-Sun (closing at 12am Wed and Sun, open until 2am Thu-Sat). Fun! 2243 Mission St. at 18th St.
Now open in the FiDi is TACOLICIOUS CHICO, a casual, counter-service spot specializing in tacos de guisado. Basically, dreamy, drippy tacos with stewed meats and vegetables. Selections include T-lish’s famed guajillo-braised beef, Rancho Gordo yellow eye beans and winter greens, chicken tinga, pork chile verde, and lamb birria—and everything is just $3.75! Tortillas are made by hand on-site using fresh masa brought in daily from La Finca in Oakland, and all the meats are responsibly sourced (no antibiotics, vegetarian-fed, and humanely raised). Beverages include horchata made with HighWire cold brew and hibiscus lemonade. It’s all to-go, but you can grab a seat at a few sidewalk tables. 685 Market St. at 3rd St.
This is both wonderful and dangerous: BOB’S DONUTS has opened a second location in NoPa, just blocks from my apartment, in the former Green Chile Pies. Yup, their apple fritters and famed crumb doughnuts are making the neighborhood smell really nice. There are seats where you can sit and have a coffee and hang out. Open Sun-Mon and Wed 7am-9pm, Thu-Sat 7am-10pm, closed Tue. 601 Baker St. at Fulton.
Also in the neighborhood, a new sandwich shop has opened that is making locals happy: inside the recently upgraded MCBAKER MARKET (it got a new owner last year) is now a deli counter, serving a variety of sandwiches, from creative deli combos to meatball sandwiches, plus housemade hummus and baba ghanoush. 1800 McAllister St. at Baker.
There’s a new plant-based Filipino restaurant that opened: NICK’S ON MISSION, a second location of the original in Daly City. Partners Reina Montenegro and Kenny Annis are serving breakfast and lunch in the heart of San Francisco’s Filipino Cultural Heritage district: SOMA Pilipinas. This “turo-turo” restaurant (Filipino for “point point”) is hofbrau-style, where guests survey the counter for what they want. Look for vegan lumpia, pancit, sisig, and kaldereta (stew), plus ube pancakes, leche flan, and some packaged foods—it’s to-go to start, with seating coming later. Open Mon-Sat 7am-3pm. 996 Mission St. at 6th St.
The Castro has been having a rough go of restaurants lately, but the new BHOGA RESTAURANT is hopefully going to help elevate things, serving progressive, upscale Indian cuisine. Chef Mel Oza (previously Copper in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Mantra in Palo Alto) is serving dishes like Cauli Lollis (battered and fried cauliflower florets, soy-chile-ginger glaze); Pondicherry Escargot (Burgundy snails, Indian “mirepoix,” tamarind-peanut ketchup); Duck Leg “Bhoona” (slow-roasted duck leg, spiced cashew-roasted onion purée); Black Masala Pao Bhaji (mashed vegetable medley, Mumbai-style black masala, buttered pao); and large plates like King Mackerel Rechado (Goan-style spicy rub, root vegetable sukka); plus Shrikhand “Cannoli” and Cacao-Walnut “Kulfi” for dessert. One of each, please.
There’s a full bar—with cocktails created by Brian Howard (August (1) Five)—along with house-brewed beer, and Oza has quite the background in wine, so the list features 12 wines poured by the glass, with a focus on Old World wines. Bhoga is right by the Castro Theater, and the late hours will make it a good spot for pre- and post-show dining. Open Sun-Thu 5pm-11pm and Fri-Sat 5pm-1am. 468 Castro St. at 18th St.
Over in the Lower Haight, BERLINER BERLINER has opened in the former Rosamunde Sausage Grill from employee Christine Blunck (she was born in Berlin). You’ll still be able to enjoy sausages (from a new Kringel bratwurst to vegan sausage), Tuesday burgers, plus some new additions. Hours: 11am-10pm. 545 Haight St. at Fillmore. [Via Hoodline.]
Over in North Beach, Pete Mrabe continues his restaurant musical chairs, and has now moved CHUBBY NOODLE into his former Pete’s on Green. Look for a new menu (with Chubby classics) and full liquor. Open for dinner 5pm-11pm; 12/1 marks the beginning of bottomless brunch (Sat-Sun 10am-3pm, and then dinner 5pm-11pm) and hours will shift to Mon-Fri 11am-11pm. 570 Green St. at Grant.
Ful (fava beans) with an egg and pita at Beit Rima. Yelp photo by Dan B..
