The Chatterbox

The Hotel Palomar’s ~FIFTH FLOOR~ is getting ready to close after service on Friday January 17th, according to Scoop and a follow-up press release. The restaurant will be reopening in the spring of 2014, with a new, more casual concept. The new space will include a patio and fire…

As previously reported on tablehopper, Outer Sunset beacon ~OUTERLANDS~ is expanding. Well, the time has come, and they will be closing on Monday December 30th for the final step in the renovation project. To commemorate the time they’ve spent with their current space, they’ll be offering a special…

The recently opened CAFÉ CLAUDE MARINA has had a chef turnover: opening chef Doug DeGeeter has moved on, and RJ Subaba will be taking over December 15th. Subaba was most recently the executive chef at Cin-Cin Wine Bar in Los Gatos, and his background also includes positions at The Village…

This last weekend, ~LA URBANA~ softly started their brunch service. I swung by on Sunday, and tried their chilaquiles with carne asada ($15), while a neighbor’s huevos con chorizo ($15) looked mighty tasty. You can look at a copy of the menu here. The brunch plates are a bit…

This holiday season, remember to keep your dollars local and support the amazing artisans and entreprenuers who keep the Bay Area so delicious. One of the best ways to support these businesses is at ~LA COCINA~’s fifth annual Gift Alley on Friday December 13th. From 11am-7pm, downtown’s Crocker…

After many stops and starts and delays, it looks like GREAT CHINA will be opening Monday December 16th. It’s a long-awaited comeback, since Great China suffered a terrible fire two years ago. Well, the phoenix is rising from the ashes in new and much larger digs, with 150 seats…

Sunday evening I attended a friends and family dinner at the soon-to-open ~ALTA CA~, the latest project from the Daniel Patterson Group. I had an extensive interview a couple of months ago with chef Yoni Levy, and after one bite of his cracked wheat porridge topped with hen of the…

We originally broke the news about ~COMSTOCK SALOON~’s new chef and new second bar in the redesigned dining room. Now it’s all up and running. Executive chef Ronnie New (Magnolia Pub and Brewery) updated the menu, which now has a raw bar (think Drake’s Bay oysters and…

Haighteration has news that a new French bakery is coming to the Lower Haight. The new bakery, called CHOUX, comes from owner Laura Athuil, who hails from Nice, France. She’ll focus on cream puffs with different flavors, and may add some other menu items as well. Right now, opening…

Hayeswire reports that Hayes Valley institution MOISHE’S PIPPIC closed yesterday after 26 years in business. A note on the front door said “We all would like to thank you so much for your patronage and your loyalty. It is hard to say goodbye and we will miss you all!…