The Chatterbox

As previously reported on tablehopper, ACAPULCO in Alameda is reopening. Mike Wiesner of Paradiso in San Leandro and his business partner Gordon Galvan have purchased the restaurant. The two previously collaborated on Boulevard Burger in San Leandro and Castro Valley. They are still working on permits for the Acapulco building,…

The ever-so-delicious ROLI ROTI rotisserie truck is celebrating 10 porky years on Sunday September 30th. Yup, a lot of people have stood in that line over the past decade, again and again. Take a skip across the Bay to ~CHEZ PANISSE~, which will be hosting the Roli Roti truck outdoors.…

Michael and Jacky Recchiuti, the chocolate masterminds behind the Recchiuti chocolate line (and shop in the Ferry Building) are getting ready to open their newest venture, the CHOCOLATE LAB café. The café (in the former Piccino space in Dogpatch) will serve savory and sweet treats, including light sandwiches, chocolate desserts,…

Since I don’t have time to follow up and get details on these pieces of news, I’m just gonna give you a grab bag of tidbits: first, a tipster writes in the the now-closed Circolo will become CAÑA CUBAN RESTAURANT (they have another location in Oakland). Construction has…

As previously mentioned on tablehopper, the Inner Richmond is getting a new bakery! PRETTY PLEASE BAKESHOP is now open on 3rd Ave. The bakery will serve as a brick-and-mortar location for pastry chef Alison Okabayashi’s cakes, pastries, and other sweet goodies. Look for retro-style treats, like housemade Oreos, snowballs,…

Well, shoot, this sounds like a blast! Head to the Pacific Rod & Gun Club on Sunday September 2nd for a pop-up dinner with the STAG DINING GROUP. The dinner features an opening charcuterie and cheese reception paired with five rounds of skeet for you to shoot. Once the guns…

Celebrate bivalves with ~WATERBAR~ at the Fourth Annual Oysterfest, on Saturday September 15th from 12pm-3pm. The outdoor event (with great views of the Bay Bridge, natch) includes unlimited sustainable oysters and passed hors d’oeuvres. The kitchen will be helmed by Parke Ulrich, and collaborators include EPIC Roasthouse, Farallon, and…

Big news came over the wires this week, with the announcement that chef Ron Siegel is coming to ~MICHAEL MINA~ as executive chef. Siegel is leaving the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco (Parallel 37) after eight years at the property and should be in the Mina kitchen in a few weeks. I…

Last week I had a chance to tour and dine at the new ~FARINA PIZZA & CUCINA ITALIANA~, the latest project from the Farina team at the corner of 18th Street and Valencia. There’s a coffee counter open for service in the morning, along with some baked goods, like…

After 23 years in business, Maharani Restaurant at the corner of Post and Polk closed last October. But the space has a new future (and owners): the crew behind Blur up the street on Polk are going to open BITTERS, BOCK, AND RYE in mid-October. There will be house-brewed beer…