The Chatterbox

Fans of brunch at ~CANTEEN~ need to know chef-owner Dennis Leary is discontinuing Saturday brunch service, according to Scoop. Fortunately Sunday brunch service will remain, and hours are being extended from 8am-3pm, so you can get your eggs Benedict fix whenever you roll out of bed. ~BOXING ROOM~ in Hayes…

Now open in the Financial District is the first freestanding ESPRESSAMENTE ILLY CAFÉ in the United States, funnily enough in a former Starbucks. Not only will you be able to take your pick of espresso drinks, but Joyce Goldstein consulted on the savory menu (random trivia: her Square One restaurant…

Time warp time! Wow, it’s been 20 years! ~SLOW CLUB~ opened in 1991—and I have been dining there since I moved to the city in 1994. So many memories (so many first dates!). In honor of 20 fantastic years, they are running a special menu for $19.91…

Fans of the delicious and macrobiotic SHANGRI-LA VEGAN will be happy to know they have opened a sister restaurant, POLATA ORGANIC in the former Ruen Pair space in Albany. SFoodie has more here. Open daily 11:30am-3pm, 5pm-9:30pm. 1045 San Pablo Ave. at Dartmouth, Albany, 510-528-2375. Berkeleyside and Chowhound…

A couple tidbits for you North Bay dwellers: the Marin IJ mentions HAWK’S TAVERN will be opening in the shuttered Dish Mill Valley space. Co-owner Peter Schumacher (Bungalow 44, Buckeye Roadhouse) will be introducing a “welcoming” American concept in the space. Scoop chimes in with the news that Tyler…

Now open in Hayes Valley, ~DOBBS FERRY~ has opened its doors, serving Northeast comfort food with Cali influences (the name comes from a town in New York). Executive chef Mike Yakura (partnering with restaurateurs Danny Sterling, Scott Broccoli, and Todd Trippany) has put together a bistro-style menu that includes starters…

~SAISON~ is tinkering with its format, and as of November 29th, the team will adjust the dining room from 42 seats to 18, and offer only one seating per evening. The menu will be 12 courses, with pairings by sommelier Mark Bright ($198, including wine pairings). Chef Joshua Skenes wants…

The fine folks at ~BRENDA’S FRENCH SOUL FOOD~ are happy to report their  expansion is all done, and will begin seating in all 70 seats starting today. Congrats, gang—there’s now room for all of us to get fat on her biscuits and Hangtown fry together. Intern Rebecca…

After a tip-off on Chowhound, it looks like the awkwardly named INDO-BALI COOKING STREET has opened in the Financial District. More from the post: “Same owners as Bangkok Best, but cook is Indonesian. Curries, Rendang and stir-fries; plates including rice and roti in the $8-$10 range mostly.” We have…

Chris Wong is leaving luella as a chef (but staying on as a partner) in order to take over the kitchen at ~SOCIAL KITCHEN & BREWERY~ in the Inner Sunset. (Oh, and apropos of SKB, you should check out the upcoming classes from brewmaster Rich Higgins at The Boothby Center,…