The Chatterbox

After eight years of pool parties (I even threw some with my disco associate there, five long years ago) and bachelorette blowouts and all kinds of mayhem, the BAMBUDDHA LOUNGE at the Phoenix Hotel has closed. I spoke with Bambuddha’s Gina Milano, who said it was just time to…

Thanks to the wonders of liquor licenses, now we know the location of Anthony Mangieri’s upcoming UNA PIZZA NAPOLETANA in SoMa: 200 11th Street at Howard. As for timing, GrubStreet mentions July. Now I just need to get the man’s phone number.…

Bonbon Patisserie is now FLEUR DE SEL, a gourmet delicatessen from Stephane Gregoire, the former chef of Chapeau! and Pisces (from the AQUA restaurant group). The day will start with natural, organic, breakfast items like freshly baked croissants, muffins, and Greek yogurt parfaits with seasonal fruit. Lunch and early evening…

I’ve been happy to receive news of restaurants extending their hours: ~KOKKARI~ is now open Sunday evenings from 5pm-10pm. I know, cool! And THE CORNER in the Mission is now serving lunch from noon-3:30pm every day. And then SUSHIRAN has started serving Saturday lunch from 11:45am-2:30pm…

DUCCA restaurant at The Westin San Francisco is moving away from its market-fresh, chef-driven, seasonal Italian offerings, and will be moving to more of an approachable, inexpensive, standard hotel restaurant format. Chef Erica Holland-Toll is still in command (for the moment).…

The Art Institute of California-San Francisco has opened BISTRO 10UN, a seasonal and affordable student-run restaurant in conjunction with their International Culinary School. Students from the school’s two culinary-specific degree programs will be managed under the direction of culinary instructor Kimball Jones. For $15, you can choose three courses,…