February brought more notable openings, including another two beer-centric restaurants — Fermentation Lab and Woods Outbound (Woods Beer’s outer Sunset location) — as well as two major cocktail bar openings, Rusted Mule and Over Proof inside ABV (my Liquor.com feature on Over Proof here). Standout restaurant openings of February were Glena’s, Bayou Creole Kitchen & Rotisserie and ROOH. I have… Read more →
This article was first published here at Table8 where I am national editor. Starting 2017 off with a slew of newcomers, the most notable restaurant and bar openings of January were The Halal Guys (first SF location), Khai, Coin-Op Game Room, Almanac Beer Co., Contrada, The Gastropig in Oakland, Uma Casa, The Korean Kitchen (good for takeout — they do… Read more →
This article was first published here at Table8 where I am national editor. The notable restaurant and bar openings of December were Flores, Sasaki, Duchess Oakland in Oakland, Single Thread in Napa, Finn Town, Hinata, Dip, Haight Ashbury Slice House by Tony Gemignani and Lucia’s Pizzeria in Berkeley. While I’ve been to all but two (I am about to visit… Read more →
This article was first published here at Table8 where I am national editor. It’s been a busy month of San Francisco openings. The key restaurant and bar openings of November are The Saratoga, Onsen, Sofia Cafe, August 1 Five, Milan import Panino Giusto in Cupertino, The Roosevelt Sip ‘N’ Eat, from NYC to SF: Babu Ji, Kenzo, Flores, Phlox Commons.… Read more →
This article was first published here at Table8 where I am national editor. As I cover the standout new openings every month, there are a number of new restaurants that are welcome neighborhood go-tos serving food needed in that ‘hood, often at reasonable prices. In Napa, Oakland and San Francisco, here are five such new restaurants worth visiting. A Sleek… Read more →
This article was first published here at Table8 where I am national editor. The key restaurant and bar openings of October are The Morris, Rambler, Elite Cafe, Lao Table, fast-casual The Bird, Motze and Protrea in Yountville (Napa County) — more on a couple of these restaurants next issue. Here are my top three newcomers… and why they stand out.… Read more →
This article was first published here at Table8 where I am national editor. The most notable restaurant and bar openings of September were Old Devil Moon, Nomica, Maybeck’s (essentially a renamed Spaghetti Bros.), Mezcalito, Eva’s Waterfront in Oakland and the delightful joys of Taiwanese snow at Powder. Here are my top three newcomers of the month… and why they stand… Read more →
This article was first published here at Table8 where I am national editor. The key restaurant and bar openings of August are Buffalo Theory, Barzotto, Bon, Nene, Nightbird, Tartine Manufactory, Limewood Bar & Restaurant in Berkeley. I’ll be visiting Nightbird soon and Tartine, being the bakery that changed the US baking game, is certainly a special opening with their new… Read more →
This article was first published here at Table8 where I am national editor. The 6 key restaurant and bar openings of July are Corridor, Deccan Spice, Don Pisto’s Tequila Bar, Dabba, Scopo Divino and Black Cat. While there are strengths at each, here are my top three newcomers… and why they stand out. BLACK CAT, Tenderloin Opened the last week… Read more →
This article was first published here at Table8 where I am national editor. California pioneered the ethos of “come as you are”, though the trend has taken over the country in recent years. Especially in SF, LA and Napa, fine dining has leaned towards the casual for decades, even at its most refined. Whether movie stars or Silicon Valley moguls,… Read more →