The Chatterbox

The city continues to keep on cranking in the café department. This Friday October 25th, RAINBOW GROCERY will be opening its coffee and tea shop in the area in front of the store, serving Stumptown Coffee Roasters and a variety of teas. Come by this Friday for snacks and samples.…

Celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali at ~DOSA ON FILLMORE~ on Thursday October 23rd. There are two seatings, one from 5:30pm-8pm and the second from 8:15pm until closing. Reservations include a three-course, family-style South Indian feast complete with dosas, uttapam, and curries, plus live music, henna tattoos, and…

New York’s amazing chef and author Gabrielle Hamilton will be in the bay next month, promoting her new cookbook, Prune. There are a few ways to catch her; don’t miss one of these delicious events. First, she’ll be at March on Sunday November 9th from 12pm-2pm, signing…

KUSHIDO, a new yakitori-style Japanese restaurant, is now open in Temescal. Owner Jonathan Moon’s project is inspired by the izakayas of Japan, where yakitori skewers are served alongside beer and other beverages. Think of it as a drinking place with good food, not the other way around. They’ve…

Exciting (potential) news here: if the ABC license transfer and escrow gods cooperate, it looks like Melissa Perello of ~FRANCES~ will be taking over the recently closed ~BAKER & BANKER~ space in Pacific Heights. Perello was not able to confirm or deny that she is in contract to purchase the…

Some news at the upcoming THE PROGRESS, the second project from State Bird Provisions’ Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski that they’re opening next door: they have hired Jason Alexander as the general manager and wine director. He was most recently the GM for Meteor Vineyard and was the wine…

~QUINCE~ reopened September 20th after closing for renovations in July, and here are some updates on how it looks (yes, it’s swanky!). Local designer Douglas Durkin designed the new space, which includes a private entryway, a new bar and lounge area, two new private dining rooms, a refreshed kitchen…

As previously reported on tablehopper, Peruvian restaurant MOCHICA is reopening on Potrero Hill, and it’s happening this Thursday October 16th. Chef and owner Carlos Altamirano has expanded the menu to reflect the additional seating afforded by the new location, and there is also a full bar. Look for small…

After changing from Tao Café two years ago, ~COMPANY~ is now becoming HOFFMANN’S GRILL AND ROTISSERIE. Chef Karen Hoffmann, one of the partners from Company, is now the sole owner. The menu will be focused on simple, comforting food that reflects the seasons, with many items made in-house, including…

An all-day café has opened in Union Square, called KLYDE CAFÉ & WINE BAR. It’s inside the Hotel G, though the projects are unaffiliated. The kitchen is run by local Sam Fechheimer, the project’s executive chef, whose previous experience includes Michael Mina, Locanda, and Il Cane Rosso. The…