This week’s tablehopper: deep purple. (free)

what’s cookin’

While the spring equinox isn’t until this Friday March 20th, we definitely get to celebrate early! What a glorious week—I hope you have some outdoor lunches, alfresco spritzes, beach walks, and evening strolls lined up. Also happening this Friday is the welcome relighting of The Bay Lights, and folks are planning all kinds of viewings along the waterfront (remarks will be given on the Embarcadero at 7pm, and the lighting is at 7:30pm). The official benefit and after-party is at SHACK15, but it’s sold out. You can try to book a table at EPIC Steak and Waterbar, which have great views, and since the weather is going to be gawjusssss, try to snag an outdoor table! (Terrene, Perry’s, and Angler also have nice views and outdoor areas.)

Me? I’m going to have a front-row seat on my friend Captain Jerry’s yacht for a bubbles and bumps sunset cruise, with flowing sparkling wine, an open bar, white sturgeon caviar bumps from California Caviar Company, and savory canapés, like brown butter–seared scallops, crab cakes, spicy salmon crispy rice, stuffed mushrooms, and more from chef Gigi Nguyen (The Umami Mami). I held a birthday party a few years ago on Jerry’s other yacht, the Toi Toi Toi, and am really looking forward to stepping aboard his latest acquisition: the Dragon Lady, an 80-foot, 1979 superyacht from Long Beach.

Wanna join me? There are limited tickets available for $175—and the warm and clear weather is going to make for a memorable and stunning evening on the Bay. They’re also asking for folks to dress the part with some glitz and glamour, so bring on the sequins and the shimmer (but don’t forget sensible shoes and a coat)! Boarding begins at 5:30pm, 6:15pm on-time departure from Pier 40, and a 9:30pm return. Cheers, darlink!

Since we’re going to have some pretty gorg weather for a couple weeks, I can’t wait to take advantage of the sunny days and do some daytime outdoor dancing. Be sure to look in today’s sugar mama for a ticket giveaway to an upcoming daytime party at The Midway with Soul Clap and Sunshine Jones (playing live!). 

I’m also going to see the no-holds-barred Peaches this Thursday night (indoors at The Midway) for their No Lube So Rude Tour, with Pixel Grip as the opener. There are some VIP options, including a meet-and-greet and photo with Peaches (I can only imagine how awesome that photo would be). Let me know if you’re going!

Thanks to everyone who entered last week’s Oakland Restaurant Week 2026 giveaway. Don’t forget to savor the flavor of The Town since Oakland Restaurant Week is running now through March 22nd! (This weekend, I’m heading to the new Jack London Square location of Cenaduria Elvira, so excited.) There are 100+ participating restaurants offering a variety of special menus and dishes to choose from—make reservations at oaklandrestaurantweek.org.

If you’re on the north side of the Bay, this week is Sausalito Restaurant Week (through March 22nd), with three-course dinner menus ($50–$75), along with two-course lunch menus ($25–$45); select restaurants will be shaking up a $10 specialty cocktail. Participating restaurants include Angelino, Copita, Cultivar, Le Garage, Poggio, Scoma’s, Sula, Sushi Ran, and The Spinnaker.

There are even more new restaurant openings in today’s newsletter, and I have a look at an incredible new Basque-style cheesecake in town. Last night, I had to run to a San Francisco magazine evening event with chef Melissa King, so you’re getting this a little later than I planned. (I also wasn’t going to spend such a beautiful evening at my desk. Priorities!)

Have a swell, sunny week!
~Marcia

the chatterbox

The Inner Richmond’s Bettola Has Evolved Into Clementina, a Gluten-Free Trattoria Designed to Be Welcoming to All

Last week, I attended a preview of the new, gluten-free Italian trattoria, Clementina (which I first wrote about last month), now open in the Bettola space from owners Gianluca Legrottaglie and Viviana Devoto in the Inner Richmond. Walking inside, I was so impressed to hear Legrottaglie managed to finish the remodel in just 10 days. The previous enclosed terrace had the glass divider walls taken down, and is now one big dining room that seats 65–75 (fortunately, the nonna-style wallpaper remains).

Bettola’s tavola calda counter is now a bar where you can hang out with a friend over a couple wine spritzes under lights that were converted from professional spotlights that Legrottaglie found at Urban Ore—he’s a fellow avid antique hunter and lover of vintage items, which you’ll notice throughout the cozy space, bringing warmth and homey vibes. There’s also a long wood table that is perfect for communal dining, large groups, or solo fliers.

As I mentioned before, the casual trattoria-style menu at Clementina is 100-percent gluten-free and designed to eliminate any cross-contamination. It’s an evolution of the Alice by Montesacro concept the owners popped-up with at their former Montesacro Marina—their daughter, Alice, has celiac disease, which led the Italian-born couple to create an inclusive dining experience where guests with gluten restrictions can easily dine with those without, so no one feels left out or like they’re making concessions. It was a pleasure to bring my dear friend who has some gluten tolerance issues and see her happy that she could order anything and everything on the menu (it reminded me of the first time I brought my vegetarian ex-boyfriend to Greens).

The menu, led by Ligurian chef Giorgio Brunella (who also has a daughter with celiac disease) has a variety of antipasti, from a refreshing salad of roasted beets ($16) with blackberries, dill, shaved almonds, and citronette, while the other side of the scale includes a decadent gratin of mussels ($18) with the unexpected addition of a creamy Gorgonzola dolce sauce spooned over, and a sprinkling of herbed breadcrumbs—make sure you have their basket of house bread ($8) so you can dunk the gluten-free focaccia (made with deglutinated wheat flour, pea, chicory, and potato starch) in the sauce (“scarpetta!”). There’s also a baguette made in collaboration with Mariposa Bakery that is notably good, with amaranth flour and rice flour.

A personal favorite dish, vitello tonnato ($19), here has thin and rosy slices of slow-roasted, eye-of-round beef draped onto the plate, with dollops of tonnato sauce, capers, and a split caperberry. It would be perfect during this hot week.

Of course, my primary curiosity was about the pasta. We twirled delicate ribbons of tagliatelle al sugo di calamari (with the most tender baby Monterey squid) in a tomato ragù spiked with red wine and Calabrian chile ($26), and the supple gnocchi al sugo di agnello (potato gnocchi with slow-braised lamb ragù) were homey and hearty, under a shower of Parmigiano Reggiano ($27). I need to return for the lasagna al pesto with béchamel, Parmigiano, and basil pesto ($25), and the crispy risotto with saffron and bone marrow ($29) sounds fantastic.

The pinsa dough of Montesacro has evolved here into a gluten-free mix of rice flour, quinoa, potato starch, and pea flour, with no gums nor added sugar—it’s crispy yet tender, and has quite a bit of rustic flavor, so I’d veer toward extra-savory toppings that can really stand up to the crust, like the Clementina (mozzarella, broccoli rabe, pork sausage; $26), or the Alice, which a friend pointed out is a double play on the Italian word for anchovy (tomato, mozzarella, anchovy, oregano; $25). There’s also a Margherita ($25), and the Giulia, a gluten-free version of their Casal Bertone at Montesacro (mozzarella, guanciale, chestnut honey, pecorino; $27).

Many of Clementina’s in-house pantry items will be available for sale so you can bring them home, and there are plans to participate in the Clement Street farmers’ market, selling their housemade gluten-free bread, pasta, and pinsa dough.

For dessert, we ended the meal on a light note with the Buonanotte Amore, Ciao ($13), named after a 1970s song by Luigi Tenco, served on an awkward piece of slate topped with Chantilly cream, blackberries, raspberries, meringue, green apple, and a dusting of coffee powder (nice touch). There’s also a flourless chocolate cake, red wine–poached pear, soft-serve gelato, and an affogato. (I had a good chuckle over the note at the bottom of the menu that explains why they don’t offer a cappuccino after dinner, much respect.)

The well-curated Italian wine list highlights smaller producers, with a number of wines by the glass, including a house red wine (a chilled Sardinian red from Meigamma), and don’t miss the two gluten-free beers by SF’s Otherwise Brewery. 

Reservations on OpenTable. Hours for now: Wed–Sun 5pm–9pm. Happy hour will be 3pm–5pm, with a bar menu alongside specially priced beverage offerings, and lunch is coming soon, too. 343 Clement St. at 5th Ave.

Oakland’s Grand Lake Kitchen Just Soft-Opened Their Third Location in Noe Valley

Back in January, tablehopper was first to share the news about the upcoming third location of Oakland’s Grand Lake Kitchen in the former Mr. Digby’s on 24th Street from SF-born-and-raised and seasoned hospitality owners May Seto Wasem and David Wasem (who met at Balboa Cafe—May was then a GM at Delfina, while Dave went on to Park Tavern). 

Now softly open as of this past weekend, Grand Lake Kitchen Noe Valley is bringing a bistro-style menu of elevated American comfort food, with their Bay Area creative touch. You can come in and nosh on Reuben fries, chilled artichokes, Dungeness crab toast, and fried green tomatoes, or make it a celebratory night with their high-low caviar pie (a tower of finely chopped hard-boiled eggs mixed with crème fraîche, cream cheese, chives, topped with a half ounce of American caviar, with Ritz crackers for $32). 

1199 Church St. at 24th St.

Lady Madrid Is Here to Enchant Us With Basque-Inspired Cheesecakes Made with Local Ingredients

When Charles Chen wrapped up his Basuku cheesecake production since he was moving to Asia, it was a tough farewell to him and his uniquely tangy and textured Basque cheesecakes with such inspired, seasonal flavors. I didn’t think I was going to find another Basque-style cheesecake to love, but then I received a DM from two Madrileños, Pedro Botas and Guillermo Mendez, the duo behind Lady Madrid (previously Baiak).

They both have roots in Northern Spain—Guillermo is originally from Galicia, and Pedro’s family is from the Basque Country—but they lived in Madrid, and have been friends since they were kids. They grew up loving Spanish gastronomy, cooking, and culture, and now they’re bringing a taste of Madrid to San Francisco (they moved here a year ago with their wives, who came to work in the VC world). For the past three months, the guys have been making their version of Basque cheesecakes in the La Cocina Municipal Marketplace commissary kitchen, where customers can pick up pre-ordered cakes a few days a week.

While there’s the iconic Basque burnt cheesecake (tarta de queso) from La Viña in San Sebastián (since 1959), there are other variations that are currently trending in Madrid, like the cheesecakes from Álex Cordobés (you can read more about the evolution of the Basque cheesecake scene in this article). 

With Lady Madrid, Pedro and Guillermo have created an adaptation of the traditional La Viña recipe (which they say is a bit “grandma-style”), with a twist on what has been popular in Madrid over the past four years. They’ve been developing their recipe for a while: their sophisticated cheesecake has a thin cookie crust, and they want to bring something different with their flavor lineup. They’re using quality and organic ingredients, including local cheeses and pasture-raised eggs (from Nicasio Valley), and no gums—and they keep their cakes low in sugar.

They make a classic flavor on a buttery cookie crust, a pistachio cheesecake, a dulce de leche version, and they’re developing a Dandelion chocolate flavor, too. Last Friday afternoon, I went to pick up a pistachio cheesecake, which had a softly tinted hue (no fake green here) and a golden edge (not burnt). I let the chilled cake sit out for 30 minutes before I cut into it, and grinned widely when I saw the exquisitely runny center—the fluffy edge of the cake could barely contain it (I can’t imagine how much trial and error it took to get the texture just right).

There are 7-inch (6–8 portions) and 9-inch (10–12 portions) cakes you preorder, and they’re working on an individual 4-inch version, too. For the moment, you preorder and pickups are on Tuesdays (9am–6pm), Fridays (9am–3:30pm), and Saturdays (8:30am–11am). They’re also going to start selling Lady Madrid at farmers’ markets (they have two that they’re considering), and the eventual plan is to open a shop. Lucky us. The address is 101 Hyde St., but there’s a loading zone where you can pull over for five minutes at 332 Golden Gate Ave. ¡Provecho!

From a Tipsy Pig to a Mexican She-Wolf, Lobalita Brings a California Cantina Style to the Marina 

Two New Openings and New Ownership, Too

Chef-owner Dontaye Ball of Gumbo Social in Bayview has officially taken ownership of Café Mélange, located on the ground floor of San Francisco City Hall. While Ball has been involved with the café for the past year, his new role as owner was just marked at a grand reopening and ribbon cutting this Wednesday March 18th. Joining him will be lead team member Quanisha Johnson, former owner of Yes Pudding, who will lead day-to-day operations.

Updates include refined menu offerings, expanded catering visibility, collaborations with local vendors and artists, and the exploration of new culinary technologies, such as an AI-powered vending machine. Ball shares, “My vision for Café Mélange is to create a place where we can elevate, promote, and show off Bayview culinary talent and San Francisco culinary talent citywide. It’s an opportunity to bring different food artisans into City Hall to expose staff and visitors to some of the greatest food in the country, and also give fellow restauranteurs and food businesses an opportunity to show off their work.” 

Take a look at the initial menu here, which includes breakfast items, soup, salads, sandwiches, Ball’s acclaimed gumbo, desserts from Bayview’s Yvonne’s Southern Sweets, and full coffee service. Open Mon–Fri 7:30am–3pm. City Hall, Ground Floor, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place.

Del Popolo Pizza Is Closing in May (But the Frozen Pizzas Will Continue)

Over the weekend, I was surprised to see Jon Darsky of Del Popolo announce on Instagram that he’s closing his busy pizzeria after service on Friday May 8th (he opened his first brick-and-mortar location in November 2015, after launching his one-of-a-kind pizza truck made from a shipping container in 2012). At least we still have time to head in for some final pizzas from the wood-fired oven (and with this sunny weather, don’t forget about the back patio).

In his post, he mentions he’s going to be focusing on his line of frozen, handmade, Neapolitan-style, naturally leavened sourdough pizzas, which I guess in a funny way are even more “of the people” than the restaurant is since they can be shipped and stashed in freezers everywhere. As for who’s going to take over the space next, stand by. 855 Bush St. at Taylor.

the sugar mama

Have Fun in the Sun at These Two Day House Parties at The Midway—Enter to Win a Pair of Tickets to EFUNK SF 2026 with Soul Clap!

I’m fired up to see a couple parties coming to the patio at The Midway will coincide with the gorgeous springy weather we’re having. This Saturday March 21st is the seventh annual birthday bash for Mark Farina and Homero Espinosa (Moulton Music), and it’s going to be an all-vinyl day party with deep grooves and soulful cuts from a lineup that includes Dani Siciliano and John Glass. Tickets are moving fast. 2pm. 900 Marin St.

I’m so ready to see SF underground legend Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe Sound System) perform live (pllllllease play Fall in Love, Not in Line!) on Sunday March 29th at EFUNK SF 2026 with Soul Clap—it’s going to be a Sunday funday party on the patio, with indoor music, too. The lineup includes Detroit’s DJ Minx, SF’s Sweater Funk, Detroit-rooted and Atlanta-based Ash Lauryn, and more. It’s gonna be a hella groovy day. 2pm–6pm. 900 Marin St.

the socialite

This Friday, You’ll Be Seeing Lots of Hands in the Air at Tony’s Pizza Napoletana

This Friday March 20th, 13-time World Pizza Champion Tony Gemignani will host a rare one-night-only collaboration at Tony’s Pizza Napoletana in North Beach for an evening dedicated to both traditional and contemporary Neapolitan pizza. Flying in from Italy for the event are Diego Vitagliano, whose Naples pizzeria was named No. 1 in the world by 50 Top Pizza in both 2023 and 2024, and Vincenzo Capuano, a World Champion of Contemporary Pizza and third-generation Neapolitan pizzaiolo known for his modern approach to Neapolitan dough and technique.

Guests will have the chance to try a special wood-fired, canotto-style pizza (a longer-proofed dough that yields an extremely puffy and airy crust), made with Latteria Sorrentina smoked provola and hand-sliced soppressata. The specialty pizza will be available Friday night only, beginning at 5:30pm; first-come, first-served (no reservations) until sold out.

Guests can chat with the pizzaioli and there will be giveaways throughout the evening, including Latteria Sorrentina swag and copies of Gemignani’s cookbooks: The Pizza Bible and The Pursuit of Pizza. 1570 Stockton St.

the archivist