The Chatterbox

By Dana Eastland. North Beach lost an icon last week, when Lina Toracca passed away on Wednesday October 22nd. Toracca was an iconic waitress at the Original U.S. Restaurant for more than 35 years. She was born in 1926 in Genoa, Italy, and began working at the Original U.…

Dia de los Muertos is here, and COPITA in Sausalito has a special menu to celebrate. Dia de los Muertos is all about remembering the dead, but it’s also about celebrating life—part of why it’s such a poignant festival at this time of year. From Friday October…

~JUHU BEACH CLUB~ will be serving brunch on Sundays from 11am-3pm, starting November 9th. The menu includes a version of croque-madame called croque memsahib with two eggs, chai-spiced bacon, spicy jack cheese, and tamarind ketchup, along with a new special item called the “Doswaffle.” It’s a cross between a…

The altruistic and visionary duo of Anthony Myint and Karen Leibowitz (Mission Chinese Food, Mission Street Food, Commonwealth, Lt. Waffle) are working on a new restaurant and bar in SoMa: THE PERENNIAL. There’s a lot of ground to cover with this concept, so let’s dive in. The restaurant…

Four Embarcadero Center’s newest tenant CRYSTAL JADE JIANG NAN (music warning on that link) is opening Tuesday November 18th after a $14 million renovation. As we reported last year, this is the first outpost of the Singapore-based chain outside of Asia. Local restaurateur Gus Murad, previously of Medjool, is…

There have been some changes at Ne Timeas Restaurant Group, the company behind Flour + Water, Central Kitchen, and Salumeria. Chef Ryan Pollnow, who has previously worked as the chef de cuisine at Central Kitchen, has been promoted to partner of the group. That means he’ll now be overseeing various…

~SAM’S GRILL AND SEAFOOD RESTAURANT~ has reopened after a hiatus and refresh, according to Scoop. To recap, the old-school spot (and hopper fave) was saved from an uncertain future by a group of regulars, while owner Phil Lyons transitions toward retirement. Its building was recently sold, and only three…

SIXTH COURSE, a truffle and dessert shop from owners Bridget Labus and Gianina Serrano that has been in the works since 2011, is now open in the Mission. The ladies are famous for their truffles, including a boozy line with offerings like one infused with St. George single-malt whiskey, though…

Last week I got the chance to preview the updated menu at the nine-month-old LA NEBBIA, and I’m here to report there are some smart new additions on there, 15 in all. First, owners Massimiliano Conti and Lorella Degan have rounded out their already amazing list of salumi with…

Based on some ABC license activity, it looks like Jason Perkins—managing partner of Parish Entertainment Group, which operates Place Pigalle in Hayes Valley and Brick & Mortar Music Hall in the Mission, plus a couple of Oakland spots—is planning something for the former Woodward’s Garden space. A…