The Chatterbox

There are a bunch of new ways to try out tasting menus at ~QUINCE~ this month, starting with a special dinner on Sunday September 15th. The dinner is a collaboration between Quince’s Michael Tusk and guest chef David Nayfeld, previously of Aqua and New York’s Eleven Madison Park.…

The Oakland beer hall HOG’S APOTHECARY, from partners Bradford Earle and John Streit, is now softly open, according to their Facebook page. East Bay Express reported that Streit is the chef, and they’re serving classic bar food, including housemade pretzels, sausages, and sauerkraut, along with some more updated…

Get your tickets now for this awesome event with Brazilian chef Alex Atala of Sao Paolo’s D.O.M. restaurant at CAMINO in Oakland on Monday October 21st at 6pm. The dinner is a party to celebrate the release of his new cookbook, D.O.M.: Rediscovering Brazilian Ingredients,…

Hello, my fellow singles who love food and wine. Did you catch the news last week? It’s time for round two of the tablehopper singles events! This time it’s for the gents, specifically gay men of all ages, as long as you are over 21 (we removed the…

Russian Hill and Nob Hill residents have been wondering for a while what was opening in the former Pasha space (and short-lived Cossu) on Broadway. The owner is Giovanni Toracca, a name many North Beach longtimers know well. He’s opening TAPS, a 170-seat restaurant that will have chef Michael…

Hello, my fellow singles who love food and wine. Did you catch the news last week? It’s time for round two of the tablehopper singles events! This time it’s for the gents, specifically gay men who are in the age range of 35-55 (whether you choose to color…

Hallelujah, I finally don’t have to answer any more emails asking me, “When is PALMER’S TAVERN going to open?” The GM I left my card with didn’t follow up with information, and owners Albert and Klaus Rainer (Leopold’s) were very good at never returning calls or…

Over a year ago, we reported on the closure of SAM WO. The Chinatown institution had been around for more than 100 years, and was famed for its colorful clientele and staff, including Edsel Ford Fong, the world’s rudest waiter. The restaurant was shut down back in April 2012…

A report by Dana Massey-Todd. Back in July, we did a hardhat preview of LA URBANA, the modern cantina and mezcaleria on Divisadero. The new spot officially opens on Wednesday September 4th, after several nights of test runs and friends and family dinners. I had a chance to check it…

Last week I heard through the grapevine that chef Jan Birnbaum was leaving ~EPIC ROASTHOUSE~. By the time the PR team decided to confirm my fact checking, it was past my column post time, so here we are. Sadly, Birnbaum is in fact leaving after his six years at the…