Marcia Gagliardi

A couple weeks ago, I was able to take a peek inside the brand-new ANGLER at a preview party for World’s 50 Best Talks, and the former Chaya has been converted in quite the spiffy waterfront restaurant. Owners Joshua Skenes and Mark Bright of the three-Michelin-starred Saison have already…

Well, this is exciting: Craig and Annie Stoll are expanding their ~PIZZERIA DELFINA~ mini-empire with a new downtown location, coming to the former A.G. Ferrari at 688 Mission Street at 3rd Street. Craig tells me they have been looking for a location in the area for about ten years—…

Last week was an important one for business incubator La Cocina: they celebrated a “bread breaking” at their future LA COCINA MUNICIPAL MARKETPLACE in the Tenderloin, with Mayor London Breed, Supervisor Jane Kim, La Cocina executive director Caleb ZIgas, and members of the community (La Voz Latina, Central City SRO…

What kind of a San Francisco is one without The Tamale Lady? Last Friday, the city was distraught over the terrible news that our dear lady of the tamal, Virginia Ramos, has left us at the far-too-young age of 65. She was a magical and mythical figure, who would appear…

Some big news on Hyde Street: after being open since 1994 (as long as I have lived in San Francisco!), Andy Debbane and Lucas Gasco’s beloved Spanish stalwart ZARZUELA will be closing soon for a new project and ownership that is taking over. Executive chef Michael Pawlik—who has…

The last time we heard about Union Square’s Hotel G, the Tartine team was planning a café project with April Bloomfield and Ken Friedman, but we know why that fell apart. The replacement concept is AYALA, and the new operators are LA’s Cast Iron Partners (who were part…

Last week, I had the opportunity to swing by the newly updated MAGNOLIA DOGPATCH, formerly Smokestack, and the new team has made some significant changes to the restaurant look and concept, adding a beer garden and neighboring 5,000-square-foot event space. Hannah Collins Design did quite the makeover, adding dove…

Now open in Union Square is FREDS AT BARNEYS NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO. It’s a corner restaurant and bar on the sixth floor of the store, offering a dramatic urban view from the historic windows. The décor is chic and very ladies who lunch, with an inviting lounge with…