There is quite the random pileup of openings this week, starting with BARONS MEATS opening in the former Drewes Meats in Noe Valley. Look for humanely raised meats free of hormones and antibiotics in the case, plus the addition of seafood! And bring on the sausages. Note the original Alameda location will remain open. You can read this interview with owner David Samiljan in the Noe Valley blog. 1706 Church St. at 29th St. [H/t to Noe Valley Blog.]
More meaty news: GUERRA’S TO GO, an offshoot of Guerra Quality Meats, is now open, offering prepared meats that are hot and ready to go, like pulled pork, pot roast, and Northern Italian beef stew, along with lasagna, eggplant Parmesan, and potato and leek soup. Check out the menu and what’s available at different times. Dinner is ready! Open Mon-Fri 2pm-8pm. 345 Taraval St. at 14th Ave., 415-564-5201.
Yay: Deanna Sison Foster’s MESTIZA TAQUERIA is holding its super-soft opening and is now ramping up with lunch for the next two weeks. They will be open for their full hours the week of April 11th. Come by for consulting chef Sophina Uong’s taqueria-style menu, with flavors and ingredients from the Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Here’s the first look at the opening menu. Dishes on the preview menu include tacos, burritos, or bowls (your pick) with Filipino pork adobo with ginger salsa cruda and green papaya achara; Khmer lemongrass chicken with avocado crema, peanuts, escabeche; and Thai red curry beef with pineapple-arbol chile salsa, roast shrimp powder, coconut flakes, basil.
The weather is so nice this week, which means you can enjoy their patio (with that beautiful mural) and a cold beer cocktail or michelada, but the cute tropical interior is great too. More details are in my previous post. Open Mon-Fri 11:30am-2pm. 595 Bryant St. at 4th St., 415-655-9187.
Mission Bay residents and workers: you have a new casual eatery and café to add to your neighborhood list. Now open is TAPROOT from Bon Appétit Management Co., the same folks behind nearby STEM Kitchen & Garden. Come in and order a custom sandwich with your choice of charcuterie and artisan cheeses, salads, and heartier Mediterranean-inspired entrées like porchetta with seasonal vegetable sides or something lighter like poached salmon. You can dine on-site (there’s seating) or get it to go. Since it’s like a deli, Taproot should come in handy for stocking your fridge or supplying a party or picnic. There are some pantry items, like honey, plus a selection of wine as well (including wines on tap). There’s also coffee service and espresso (they plan to open in the morning soon). Hours for now are Mon-Fri 11am-7pm. 409 Illinois Ave. at 16th St.
There’s a quirky little spot in the Castro that opened called ME & TASTY, serving Thai rice plates, breakfast and brunch dishes, sandwiches, and more. Dishes range from omelettes to tea leaf salad to shrimp and grits to Thai red curry vegetables to fried chicken and waffles to shrimp tacos. When you have no idea what you’re craving, this place may be able to help you figure it out. Open Mon-Fri 10:30am-3pm and 5pm-10pm, Sat-Sun 8am-2pm and 5pm-10pm. 3970 17th St. at Hartford, 415-923-8498.
There is a second Noe Valley Bakery location that has opened in West Portal, NOE VALLEY BAKERY WEST PORTAL. Hoodline reports it’s now open, and unlike the original location, it has seating so you can take a load off while you enjoy your croissant or cookie. Open Mon-Frid 7am-7pm, Sat-Sun 7am-6pm. 28 West Portal Ave. at Ulloa.
BLUE BARN GOURMET has moved to a bigger location on Chestnut. It’s now in the former Barney’s, which means there’s more room and a patio where you can enjoy your salad. Open Mon-Fri 11am-8:30pm, Sat-Sun 11am-8pm. 3344 Steiner St. at Chestnut, 415-896-4866.
If you’re craving some Hong Kong-style street food, there’s a place that has opened in South San Francisco that sounds really fun: THE NIGHT MARKET. The menu pays homage to the dai pai dongs (street food stalls) of Hong Kong, with curry fish balls, soy-marinated eggs, BBQ pork noodle soup, steamed buns, Hainanese chicken rice, and yes, Hong Kong milk tea. But here’s where it gets extra cool: the food is actually prepared at food carts/counters, and you sit at folding wood tables on red plastic chairs, beside a wall displaying images and sounds from night markets around the world (and movies). I will be checking this out ASAP (hello cheung fun with roast BBQ pork), follow me on Instagram for an update soon! It’s only open during the day for now, Mon-Sat 11am-2:30pm. 230B S. Spruce Ave. at Myrtle, 650-634-8388.
The spiffed-up exterior of Barons Meats. Photo via @baronsonchurch.