The Chatterbox

The former London Wine Bar ("America's First Wine Bar") space in the Fugazi Building has a new tenant: ~GEORGES~. I had a chance to catch up with co-owner Elias Bikahi (Nook, Caffe Sapore, Sapore Catering, and he started Valentina), who is partnering with Leo Lippi on…

~E & O TRADING COMPANY~ suffered a (contained) fire on Thursday night in a duct above the grill. No one in the restaurant even noticed anything was wrong until a building neighbor noticed the fire and the sprinklers came on, so it wasn't some big dramatic scene or…

Well, it's the end of an era. After seven years in the Financial District, the last tomato soup en croute was served on Friday night at ~JEANTY AT JACK'S~. I know I'm not the only one who will be missing the famed soup, oysters…

There have been countless rumors and rumblings over what is happening at ~AQUA~. Here's what we do know: chef de cuisine Ron Boyd is off to lead R&D for Beautifull!, the company focused on healthy meals for delivery or pick-up. Boyd's replacement is Jason…

Well, I think it's safe to say it's finally happening: opening this Saturday is the Divisadero location of ~BAR CRUDO~. (I'd just call before heading over—things can happen between now and then.) Owners Tim and Mike Selvera have done a nice job with…

Big congrats to all the ~JAMES BEARD~ winners (and nominees!). Nate Appleman won Rising Star Chef (!!), and Douglas Keane of Cyrus won Best Chef: Pacific. Also, my fabulous new publisher has a winning Cookbook of the Year for Fat: An Appreciation of a Misunderstood Ingredient, with Recipes (author: Jennifer McLagan,…

It just goes to show that sometimes wicked talent and THAT Burger just aren’t enough to keep a restaurant afloat during rough economic times. Was sorry to hear from executive chef Jonnatan Leiva that ~JACK FALSTAFF~ is closing on Saturday May 9th. Leiva said they had a great run…

After months of wondering what was going to go into the 54 Mint space in Mint Street Plaza, I was thrilled to get the first peek at the project. A very special Italian restaurant is going to be opening in the now-chic space, a project from Alberto Avalle (an original…

I was riding my bike down Haight Street this weekend and noticed a few changes in the Lower Haight: ~VISIT THAI~ has now morphed into ~BISTRO SAINT GERMAIN~. The owner is Laurent Legendre, who also has ~LE P'TIT LAURENT~ in Glen Park. He will have the same chef,…

~BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE~ is due to open their Ferry Plaza Marketplace café this Thursday April 2nd (it’s going into the former Oak Hill Farm spot). Now, while it’s not going to be as swish as the Mint Plaza location, it’s going to be a step up from…