what’s cookin’
Well hellllllloooooo Fogust. Here we are. At least I just finished having my closet painted a violet-tinged 80’s fuchsia that will have me thinking pink on the gray days. I also had my bathroom painted yesterday (a pinky lavender that is evocative of Easter, hence the paint’s precious name: Bunny Nose Pink), so things have been a bit chaotic over here at Hopper HQ, but visually uplifting, that’s for sure. Let’s just say focusing on writing while a couple chatty and interesting painters are five feet away from you was not really conducive to finishing my column yesterday, ha. And now, I need to put all my caftans back into my new Pinky Benson hawt box closet, so let’s get to the news.
But first: please help support and signal boost this fundraiser to help rebuild and reopen the Tenderloin Museum after suffering major water damage. They have uninsured recovery needs, and in this city of obscene wealth, we need to set them up with more than the fundraiser’s current total of $5,733 in donations to ensure the museum’s stable future. As a good friend wrote to me: “A vital space for sharing the stories of this unparalleled neighborhood, the TLM is an under appreciated SF treasure that needs our support. Please donate if you can, and share with your networks. Any amount helps.” You can read and share this post on Instagram as well, thank you.
Have a fun weekend: there’s a lot going on, like the SF Pizza, Bagel, & Beer Festival on Saturday (and you can shake off those carbs to The Juan MacLean, who is playing at Public Works that night!), and Sunday is all about Dirty Martini Frappés, plus even more tasty events below.
See you next week. Think best thoughts for our Big Sur friends.
With love,
~Marcia
the chatterbox
Pasta Supply Co Is Coming to Cole Valley, and You Can Help Them Open By Snagging One of Their Weekly Pasta Plans
A couple weeks ago, supporting subscribers got the scoop first that the next location of Pasta Supply Co is coming to Cole Valley, opening in the former Peet’s Coffee (once Tully’s Coffee, and Spinelli Coffee Company before that). Founder Anthony Strong, who has lived in the neighborhood for 12 years, and his wife, Katherine Altonaga, are gunning for a fall opening (think October). Strong says he’s hopeful that people taking the N Judah home will be inspired to jump off and stop by to grab something for dinner before making their way to their final destination in the Sunset. (Always thinking, that one.)
This will be the third PSC shop in three years, and they continue to pride themselves on staying small (but mighty)—this location should have 26 seats, plus sidewalk seats, too. The retail setup will be the same as the other two spots in the Inner Richmond and the Mission, but they’ll be adding coffee-rubbed porchetta on their ciabatta here as a cute nod to the former Spinelli’s.
Something else new they’re trying is to crowdsource/crowdfund the project themselves instead of paying one of the existing platforms their fees (or getting investors, or a loan, and starting the venture in debt). Here’s where things get fun: 200 subscribers can buy the Pasta for a Year plan for $550, and once a week, you can take home one pasta per week for 52 weeks (from the crab + sriracha rangooni to an extruded pasta, you’ll have over 30 to choose from).
If you’re feeling really pazzo—like a certified pasta freak—there’s the Pasta for Life plan, which is $4K and limited to 100 subscribers. Strong explains it’s like getting the PSC employee discount by paying up front, and what’s super cool is you don’t need to wait for Cole Valley to open: the plans are redeemable now at any and all of their locations. You know what to do! 919 Cole St. at Carl.
Upcoming SF Projects from the Friends and Family Team and The Mushroom
Your Presidio Picnic Just Got Reimagined: The Mess Hall Opens August 15th
By Francesca Gasparini
There’s nothing like stopping your run halfway through to get a steaming plate of crispy Korean fried chicken. Good news for picnic-goers and deeply discouraging news for the exercise-focussed crew: your favorite running path just got a tantalizing food hall right in the center of it. Consider your cardio officially compromised.
The Presidio’s very own Mess Hall will open in Tunnel Tops Park this Friday August 15th, and is ready to lure in all passersby with its all-day offerings. Incorporated into the Presidio National Park, this new food hall brings three restaurants, a cocktail bar, café, and specialty food market to Tunnel Tops. The Mess Hall’s 6,200-square-foot space offers dinner with a view, with sprawling vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and the Palace of Fine Arts. The building was originally constructed in 1897 as part of the Presidio’s historic military campus, but has been newly renovated into a modern communal space designed by Studio KDA and built by ACI.
The Mess Hall’s six different concepts were thoughtfully selected by consulting chef Peter Serpico (of the Momofuku Group and STARR Restaurants) and founding partner and director of operations Nate Leonard. They aimed to choose options that were casual, delicious, and could be served all day.
The three featured restaurants include Dayboat Seafood, serving up oysters, shrimp cocktail, crudo, clam chowder, and hand rolls; Boda, a Korean-Japanese street-food concept offering Korean fried chicken, housemade banchan, kimchi fried rice, and mandu (dumplings); and, finally, Breadwinner, supplying breakfast sandwiches, smashburgers, salads, and subs.
For what to expect from the coffee bar, get excited for Wrecking Ball beans and baked goods from James Beard Award–nominated Breadbelly, all ready to go every morning by 7am.
The bar will display a full beverage program featuring house-crafted cocktails alongside local beer and wine to be enjoyed on the bridge-facing patio and wraparound deck. Aiming to transform this space into a neighborhood staple, the Mess Hall will also have a specialty market stocked with prepared grab-and-go food, bottled beverages, cheeses, and picnic essentials. They also plan to collaborate with local chefs and restaurants for seasonal pop-ups, such as seafood boils and smashburger cookouts on the Tunnel Tops outdoor grills. Operating hours will be Mon–Thu 7am–8pm; open Fri–Sun 7am–10pm. 201 Halleck St. at French.
A Couple More New Casual Stops in Flava Town
By Francesca Gasparini
San Francisco summer is bringing new restaurants popping up left and right, so buckle up, because we have news of even more openings to deliver.
Nightbird Knows How to Celebrate a 10-Year Anniversary: With 10 Fun and Super-Tasty Events
Big congrats to chef Kim Alter and Ron Boyd, who are celebrating 10 years of Nightbird! Of course, they’re doing it in style, with 10 events to commemorate each year of business (which is like dog years, amirite?). They kick things off this Wednesday August 12th, with the redux of PrimeBird, their modern homage to House of Prime Rib (using Flannery Beef, with smoked wagyu bone marrow hollandaise that you dunk the truffle and cheddar Yorkshire pudding into, uh huh!). You get three courses for $85 (exclusive of tax, 18% service charge, and SF mandate 6%), plus there are some supplements (they’re talking about adding a seared New York steak this season). It all goes down in Nightjar, their PDR flanking Nightbird. You can book your table on intermittent Tuesday–Friday nights (5pm–8:30pm) through September. 334 Gough St. at Linden.
And then this Thursday August 13th, the beef parade continues with the return of Nightburger, their decadent daytime burger pop-up, which you may recall from the early days of the pandemic. They’ll be serving their double cheeseburger (with a cheese skirt and their special 138 sauce), their fried chicken sandwich (made with chicken marinated in buttermilk and shio koji, served with slaw, fried onions, and pepperoncini on a Kaiser roll—with fried chicken skin!), waffle fries, and fun “soda jerk” cocktails inside the Linden Room; you can sit down in the bar or get your order to go from 2pm–8pm. 292 Linden St. at Gough.
Sandwich fanatics: you don’t want to miss C Squared (as in See You Next Tuesday) on Monday August 24th, Kim’s homage to the rowdy The Wieners Circle in Chicago (she lived in Chi-Town for a year). Standing in for the notoriously hostile staff will be Sister Roma slinging barbs and insults. On the menu:
12pm to sell out. 334 Gough St. at Linden.
More Anniversaries and Shindigs
A fellow biz celebrating their 20th anniversary this year is The Front Porch, and they’re throwing a 20th buffet and boil this Saturday August 15th. There will be a big-ass crawfish boil, a buffet of fried chicken, mac and cheese, rice and beans, cornbread, and coleslaw for $50 (reserve your ticket here). There will also be a second line performance from MJ’s Brass Boppers, flash tattoos, and good times rollin’. 2pm–5pm.
Although Saturday August 15th is officially Ferragosto (Italy’s treasured summer holiday), Delfina will be hosting their second annual Ferragosto aperitivo party on Tuesday August 18th, with spirits and specialty cocktails from sponsor Bordiga, Italian wines from Oliver McCrum, frosé, and complimentary snacks inspired by beachy good vibes. 5pm–6:30pm.
Closures Around the Bay
Some unfortunate closures include Chicken Fried Palace in the former WesBurger ’N’ More in the Mission (read more in these pieces by The SF Standard and SFGATE); Superprime Steakhouse was priced out by their landlord in SoMa (via The SF Standard); longtime Russian Hill restaurant Hyde Street Seafood House and Raw Bar has closed; and over in Old Oakland, Horn Barbecue has closed their last location (via Berkeley Eats and SF Chronicle).
the sponsor
Your Love for Heirloom Tomatoes Could Win You a Year of Dining in San Francisco!
A few weeks ago, I mentioned the return of the GGRA’s SF Tomato Month, and now they’ve added an Instagram dining challenge, giving you a chance to win 1 Year of SF Dining: 13 gift certificates to 13 SF restaurants. It’s a baker’s dozen! And it’s so easy to enter: all it takes is one post on Instagram, but you only have until this Saturday to enter to win!
How to enter:
Share a photo of your favorite tomato or summer restaurant dish on Instagram with the hashtag #SFTomatoMonth. That’s it.
For inspo, here are a couple of my entries!
One lucky winner will receive gift certificates to: Cotogna, Wayfare Tavern, Jane the Bakery, Brenda’s French Soul Food, Canela Bistro Bar, E&O Kitchen & Bar, Waterbar, Harborview Restaurant & Bar, Splash Sports Bar at Thrive City, Beretta, Bosco, and Ladle & Leaf/Oren’s Hummus (all gift cards are $100+ each, except for the Ladle & Leaf and Oren’s Hummus cards, which are $25 each). You’ll be busy and popular with your friends!
Enter by 11:59pm PDT on August 15th, 2026. Post your dish, tag #SFTomatoMonth, and you could be dining out in style for the next 12 months!
And for the overachiever: if you dine out at any five restaurants or farmers markets in SF between July 15th–August 15th, you can submit five photos of summer produce to enter the raffle to enter to win one of four staycation packages, with overnight stays at SF hotels! (Tomato dishes are encouraged, but corn, peaches, and other summer produce count, too.)
Good luck and happy tomato season! 🍅
the socialite
Raise Your Glass at the Toast & Taste Gala: City of Magic
By Francesca Gasparini
Mark your calendars for the evening of Tuesday August 18th, for a night of fantastic food, exceptional drinks, and a cause worth raising a glass to at San Francisco Private Dining Venues’ (SFPDV) ninth annual Toast & Taste gala. SFPDV is gathering 40 of San Francisco’s top restaurants, including A16, Acquerello, Boulevard, Copra, Harris’ Restaurant, Merkado, Original Joe’s, Perbacco, and Spruce, to create a night full of delectable offerings for a worthy cause. The event will be hosted at the snazzy Chotto Matte.
100 percent of proceeds from this event will go toward Compass Family Services, an organization devoted to aiding families experiencing homelessness. This gala has raised over $428,000 in past years to help parents and children who are struggling to stay afloat. Compass Family Services has been in operation for more than 100 years, and has delivered lasting stability to thousands of families (11,000 individuals last year alone!). Join SFPDV for a night to give back to the community by doing what we do best.
Tickets are on sale now. If you purchase your ticket online, general admission will ring in at $150, or purchase at the door the night of the 18th for $175. 6pm—9pm. 50 O’Farrell St. at Stockton.
the matchmaker
PIZZA COOK / PIZZAIOLO — FULL TIME
Tommaso’s | North Beach, San Francisco
Tommaso’s is looking for an experienced Pizzaiolo/Pizza Cook to join our kitchen team. We are a 90-year-old San Francisco institution known for our traditional pizza and original wood-burning oven. We’re looking for someone who understands dough, respects the craft, and can execute consistently during a busy service. You should have:
- 3+ years professional pizza experience
- Strong knowledge of dough, fermentation, stretching, and pizza preparation
- Wood-burning oven experience strongly preferred
- Ability to work quickly while maintaining quality and consistency
- Excellent timing and attention to detail
- Reliable, punctual, honest, and hardworking
- Strong communication and a team-first attitude
- Ability to lift and carry 50+ lbs
- Experience prepping and maintaining a professional pizza station
- Wednesday–Sunday availability
- Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus
This is a hands-on position for someone who takes pride in their craft and wants to be part of a true San Francisco culinary institution. Please apply with your resume to Mo@Tommasos.com, and tell us about your pizza experience, dough knowledge, and wood-fired oven experience.
the starlet
It’s the perfect time to subscribe to tablehopper. Trust me. Fun things are coming. 🥂
