The Chatterbox

LUNA PARK has a new chef at the helm, Ronnie New, who was previously at The Republic, and prior to that, Magnolia (he has also worked at Bar Crudo, Le Petit Robert, and Range). He will start making his mark on Luna Park’s menu by early February. 694 Valencia…

Over in Opera Plaza, a new sushi restaurant and brasserie, 2G JAPANESE BRASSERIE is going to be taking the place of Shima Sushi, slated to close at the end of the month. 2G’s owner, Jason Tsuji, is bringing on a chef (and family friend) from Japan who has been…

A tablehopper reader writes in: “I passed by CAFÉ KATI on Tuesday and I believe there’s a ‘change of ownership’ sign on the storefront window.” Sure enough, an ABC permit mentions a new business, Roostertail Rotisserie from Gerardo Castillo. I didn’t hear back from Café Kati’s chef-owner,…

Ready for another preview taste of chef Justin Simoneaux’s upcoming cuisine for ~BOXING ROOM~? The restaurant isn’t opening until spring 2011, so the meal will be held in Absinthe Brasserie & Bar’s main dining room on January 10th, with reservations starting at 5:30pm. Celebrating his Louisiana…

After being closed for almost two years, the PJ’s Oyster Bed space is finally coming back alive with ~PASIÓN~ from chef-owner Jose Calvo-Perez and family (behind local fave Fresca, which has three locations throughout the city). They are aiming to open by December 30th, and with the full bar,…

I am keeping this one short since I am sick to death of the story, but IKE’S PLACE got approval to build out and open in the former Joseph Schmidt space. And that’s all I’m writing about it until it opens, which should be sometime before February…

According to a post from ~BEAST AND THE HARE~, they started lunch service (it’s to go only) last week, with items like a barbecue pork belly sandwich; a bavette sandwich with sriracha aioli, sautéed greens, and curried onions on ciabatta; a smashed beet, house chèvre, ancho cress, and red…

Just in case you didn’t have your fill at parties over the weekend, or you just don’t have time to bake one more thing, there are a few places around town offering some special holiday treats. The ~BAKER & BANKER~ Bakery is putting out some holiday desserts, like…