Hayes Valley continues to return to its former pre-pandemic vibrancy, and another vacant space in the neighborhood has a new tenant opening Thursday.
The dining space on the corner of Hayes and Octavia, formerly occupied by Stacks Brunch, at 501 Hayes Street, will come back to life this week as Hazie’sa new bar and restaurant from the team behind The BrixtonHat Trick Hospitality.
It’s described by the team as “a cozy space with a vintage feel” and “inspired by rock ‘n’ roll and the neighborhood environment” – rock-n-roll also being a theme of both locations at The Brixton.
Joey Altman, one of the original Food Network personalities who cut his teeth in the kitchen of the Stars restaurant under the Jeremiah Tower, joins the team in the role of consulting chef on the project. He then became executive chef at Ti Couz in the Mission District and opened Miss Pearl’s Jam House, which was the Caribbean-themed restaurant at the Phoenix Hotel in the 1990s before moving to Oakland in 2008. He has also launched several culinary TV series, including James Beard Award winner bay cafe.
“I am thrilled to be opening a restaurant again,” Altman said in a statement. “Being in the heart of the thriving Hayes Valley has given me a rare opportunity to create a fun and eclectic menu drawing inspiration from all my culinary adventures throughout my career. Being able to bring the vision of a concept to life through the food and the experience is incredibly rewarding.”
The food menu includes dishes like the Oaxacan cheese fundido topped with carnitas; a braised brisket sandwich with Sicilian pepperoncini and mustard aioli; chicken wings with chili-ginger-lime glaze; a brie burger with garlic aioli; and pretzel knots with truffle-cheese sauce.
As for drinks, there’s a list of 15 house cocktails created by Beverage Director Victor Pichardo, including a margarita variation called Ride the Lightning with Patrón Reposado tequila infused with jalapeño and habanero, cucumber, lime, agave and
coriander; and the Naked & Famous, a combination of mezcal, yellow chartreuse, Aperol and lime. The bar will also offer large-format cocktails — such as Anna across the street — served from a large crystal dispenser.
The large 105-seat dining space housed Stacks for 13 years before brunch gave up the ghost at the start of the pandemic, in 2020. The space remained vacant for two years, but Hoodline reported on the actions taken by the people of Brixton last year.
Hazie’s opens Thursday, August 11 and will be open Wednesday and Thursday, 4 p.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.; and Sunday, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The place expects to be more of a bar at night, from the sound — with the kitchen closing at 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 9 p.m. Sunday. The weekend brunch will also take place at a later date.
See the menu of dishes and more photos below.
