The Chatterbox

News just came today that BARTAVELLE COFFEE & WINE BAR opened this morning over in Berkeley. As previously reported, they’re moving into the space formerly occupied by Café Fanny. The project comes from Suzanne Drexhage of Kermit Lynch (and a former Chez Panisse server), so look for collaboration from…

The fall book release season is in full swing, and that means there are a bunch of opportunities for you to catch the authors in action (yes, my in-box is currently being pummeled with press releases). Here’s a roundup of some cool options for ya. This Thursday October 25th,…

The SAN FRANCISCO CHEESE SCHOOL is hosting a fun “meet the cheesemaker” event on Thursday October 25th, from 7pm-9pm. The event is their annual fundraiser for the California Artisan Cheese Guild, and lots of cheese luminaries will be on hand. Cheesemakers from Bellwether Farms, Cypress Grove, and Bleating Heart will…

Despite the elating Giants news this week, it has been shadowed by a very upsetting loss within the San Francisco food community. Last week, as many have heard, there was a large brawl at 16th Street and Valencia. Caesar Chuc, a cook at Serpentine in Dogpatch, was taken to the…

After ~AZIZA~ chef-owner Mourad Lahlou’s plans to open a Jackson Square restaurant fell through, it was just a matter of time before a new location would present itself. Scoop shares that Lahlou is going to open a project in the fabulous Art Deco Pacific Telephone Building in SoMa. (Yelp…

There’s a new izakaya in town: ROKU, the brick-and-mortar location from the folks behind the JapaCurry food truck. Eater reports that they opened softly over the weekend, with a grand opening scheduled for tonight, October 16th. Their new location is in the former Hunan Garden space on Market Street…

Details have emerged about what’s opening in the old-school JOE’S 24TH STREET CAFÉ in Noe Valley. New co-owners John Dampeer and Brendan Rees will be reopening the place as CRAFTHOUSE pretty soon, targeting November. Eater has the details, including a sample menu of tavern-inspired fare (sandwiches, hand-rolled pretzels,…

This place would be awesome, even if the holidays weren’t just around the corner. But what could make better host gifts than beautiful spice jars? The SPICE ACE is now open on Steiner Street in Lower Pacific Heights, hawking a serious array of spices in truly adorable little jars.…

~RADIUS~ is now serving brunch on Sundays from 10:30am-2:30pm. The menu, which you can take a look at here, features some good brunch staples and fresh oysters. Coffee is from Ritual and mimosas are, of course, available. Seating can be had either in the dining room or on…

A couple bistros in the city have some special offers. First, BISOU in the Castro (yes, the place with the lipstick kisses all over the signage and windows) is offering a new Monday night special: a three-course dinner with unlimited house red or white wine for $35. Yup, while dining…