The Chatterbox

Plenty o’ pop-ups and more this week, starting with HAPA RAMEN tonight at Wing Wings from 6pm-10pm. Sounds like the fryer is going to be put to good use with tempura Gulf prawns with fried Meyer lemon and kale ($10), plus fried local herring ($9; one of your last chances…

A bunch of local bakers and chocolatiers are making some heartfelt options for you and your sweetie to enjoy on Valentine’s Day. Here are a few that caught our fancy. The babes of THREE BABES BAKESHOP are holding a special V-Day pop-up, offering chocolate cream pies in jars from…

On Thursday February 23rd, the new DOTTIE’S TRUE BLUE CAFE is hosting a special oyster and wine event in conjunction with the Lunny Family of Drakes Bay, the oyster team from Waterbar, local wine purveyor The Secret Wine Shop, and local winemakers all in attendance. The roof deck will…

Some more details and clarification have emerged since last week’s (incomplete) post about the future of JACK LONDON MARKET. The market will feature a mix of on-site artisanal food producers and retailers; the concept has further evolved this year with the formation of a new management/development group and…

Opening sometime in May or June near Lake Merritt will be LA GRANDE JATTE KITCHEN. Owner May Seto (previously a GM at Delfina and wine buyer for The PlumpJack Group) is working alongside her mother to open this deli/diner that will be focused initially on lunch. Think healthy and…

North Beach was buzzing over the weekend, and I think some older folks were popping a little more Lipitor than usual before heading over to check out ~ORIGINAL JOE’S~ new home on Washington Square Park. The restaurant, which dates back to 1937, tragically closed in October 2007 after a…

A tablehopper reader tipped me off that after 18 years in business, REX CAFE on Polk Street is converting into a Spanish restaurant. Partners Bob DiFranco and Daniel Mougeot will close Rex at the end of February, and after a month of refreshing the space, will reopen it as MARBELLA,…

One of the owners of ~TROYA~ in the Richmond, Berk Kinalilar, emailed me last week to tell me Troya is opening a second location, Troya Fillmore, in the vacant Citizen Cake space. The menu will have the same Turkish focus (have you ever had their delicate and delicious manti?), but…

David Lynch is going full-tilt over at ~ST. VINCENT~, his upcoming project on Valencia Street (in the former Heart space). Scoop announces Lynch has hired Bill Niles (Bar Tartine) as the chef—although Chris Kronner will still be consulting on food operations. The impending food style is described as “hearty,…

A tablehopper reader alerted me CAFE ALTANO in Hayes Valley has closed. (The owners are behind SOMA Restaurant & Bar in the Pickwick at 85 5th Street and Mission) Here’s hoping someone with some crazy-delicious food moves in there, it’s such a pretty corner space. 602 Hayes St.…