The Chatterbox

Consider this a quick-fire round of cool events and happenings. If something catches your eye, be sure to click through for more details. Tonight (May 10th) at 5pm PST, La Cocina’s amazing auction is ending. You won’t believe the dinners and experiences you can bid on, like Melissa…

Good news for cheese fanatics (i.e. most of us): SF’s Mission Cheese was originally going to be opening a second project MAKER’S COMMON in SF, but now it’s going to be on University in Berkeley. It’s going to be a larger project, with a sit-down…

Here are some new spots for you to check out, starting with HOMAGE from David Kurtz (Maven). We broke the news about the project back in November, mentioning the daytime spot was moving in the former Galette 88 space in the FiDi. Well, it’s now open, and you can…

Well this seems like the perfect place for brunch: ASTER in the Mission just turned one, and has decided to launch weekend brunch (the first day was this past Sunday). Chef-owner Brett Cooper’s delicious-sounding menu can be viewed here, and low-ABV cocktails will be available too. Hours are Sat-Sun…

A few programming notes for you: fans of the Neapolitan pizzas at CAPUTO will need to find another spot in the neighborhood. Scoop reports the restaurant from Marin’s Boca Pizzeria and Boca Tavern team has closed after six months in biz. And so, the bad juju of that space…

Well, East Bay, I have some good news and I have some bad news. Let’s start with the good stuff: opening today in Uptown Oakland is ITANI RAMEN from Kyle Itani of Hopscotch, working with executive chef Brian Ikenoyama. And how handy, it’s right by the Fox Theater.…

We have been waiting to hear from Bill Clarke of ~MISSION BEACH CAFE~ about his plans for the former Luna Park space, and a tablehopper reader just forwarded a letter sent to people in the neighborhood. It’s going to be called MISSION BEACH VALENCIA, and they plan to offer…

It looks like BARBARY COAST GASTROPUB has finally opened in the former Bocce Cafe in North Beach, just in time for everyone to enjoy that big outdoor patio. It’s from the owners of the Grant & Green Saloon. The dinner menu from chef James Liles includes a variety of…

I received a press release stating the new owners of the beloved old-school GRUBSTAKE diner, Nick Pigott and Jimmy Consos, have revised their redevelopment proposal, and it sounds like the Grubstake may survive in some form after all. The proposed 15-unit building will have its entrance on Austin Alley, instead…

A couple of new projects for your consideration. First, opening mid-May at the prime corner of Valencia and 16th Street will be FOODHALL, a 2,500-square-foot indoor market founded by two “passionate foodies” and ex-investment bankers from London, Bilal Mannaa and Yasmin Murtadha. Scoop’s piece mentions they are taking…