A few places around town are starting the year with some freshening up and remodeling. So if you walk into any of these places and do a double take, now you know. First up, ~BARBACCO~ has changed their front dining area. The former communal tables are gone (owner Umberto Gibin explains diners in the Financial District don’t like to have their conversations overhead so easily by strangers), and now there is banquette seating instead, with tables for two to six. (Interestingly, there are the same number of seats.) All the tabletops throughout the restaurant are black slate as well.
Next, THE PUB AT GHIRARDELLI SQUARE has really lightened things up, moving away from the Irish pub feeling and more toward the rustic/industrial side, thanks to Oakland’s SRG Architects and seating upgrades by Big Daddy’s Antiques. Owner Scott Broccoli also added some new menu items and cocktails. 851 Beach St. at Polk, 415-351-0500.
MAYES on Polk also got a new look, and a new management team too: Matt Corvi (Velvet Lounge), Johnny “Love” Metheny (Johnny Love’s), and Nick Pigott (The Pigott Group). The look is a bit clubby-meets-Gothic cathedral in the back, with some dramatic lighting for the dance area. Swing by every Thursday and Friday for happy hour, and Johnny “Love” Metheny will be taking over the bar making cocktails and serving his very own Kobe beef burger. Happy hour drink specials include $5 draft beers and $6 well drinks. 1233 Polk St. at Fern, 415-885-1233.
No more communal tables: the new banquette seating in the front of Barbacco. Photo: © tablehopper.com.
