The Chatterbox

A report by Dana Eastland. The large new project in the Presidio, SESSIONS, which we updated you on in June, officially opened its doors on Monday August 24th. The bar and restaurant comes from partners Michael Bilger (who is executive chef) and Evin Gelleri, the general and business manager. The…

This morning, both Scoop and Hoodline percolated with the news that there is a taker for 838 Divisadero, formerly an auto body shop. David Nayfeld and Matt Brewer will be opening CHE FICO, a rustic Italian restaurant in spring 2016—the two-level space will also have a full bar. dmarc…

Fans of the fantastic piadine and tortellini pasticciata (a bolognese with béchamel) and lasagna and all the other amazing housemade pastas at THE ITALIAN HOMEMADE COMPANY in North Beach will be happy to know they have expanded to a location on Union in Cow Hollow (the former American Cupcake space)…

As previously mentioned in tablehopper, the former Le Charm Bistro in SoMa is home to a slightly different concept from (mostly) the same team. To recap, the new project is called MATHILDE, and Le Charm owner Lina Yew partnered with one of her longtime staff members, Mathilde Gravel, to refashion…

Whooooosh, you ready for a bunch of news about closures? First up, stinky tofu HQ SPICES! has reportedly closed (thanks to Chowhound for the news). Fortunately, Spices II (291 6th Ave.) remains open, but here’s hoping they get some of their luster back—things have been slipping a bit…

Looking for an after-beach burger? You’re in luck because PAPA MAK’S BURGERS has opened today, Tuesday September 1st,  just a few blocks from Ocean Beach in the Outer Sunset. The menu includes a lamb patty, chicken sandwich, and even a duck burger, with lots of toppings. Of course,…

We’ve got a bunch of quick updates on hours at Traci Des Jardins’ projects in the Presidio, mostly about service hours. Ready? First, THE COMMISSARY is no longer serving lunch, but you can catch dinner Mon-Thu 5:30pm-9pm and Fri-Sat 5:30pm-9:30pm. Mon-Fri, they also open at 5pm…

As previously mentioned in tablehopper, the 4505 Meats shop in the Mission has closed, and a new location of BELCAMPO MEAT CO. has moved in. Their latest location is now open, just as a retail shop (no restaurant). They are selling their meats, sausages, stocks, and other meaty culinary building…

We’ve talked about food insecurity before on tablehopper, and it always bears mentioning that even as our beautiful city becomes a bastion of good food and good drink, many in our community are struggling to put food on the table. In fact, as San Francisco becomes more expensive, it’…

I know people deserve their retirement, especially folks in the restaurant industry, because it’s like dog years. But still, it’s tough to learn about folks like the kind Lachu Moorjani of ~AJANTA~ leaving us! (He opened the restaurant in 1993.) I noticed an ABC filing, and reached out…