San Francisco’s Most Anticipated New Restaurants, Fall 2015

There’s no slowing down in the San Francisco restaurant scene, as we’ve seen a slew of new options open in the last month alone. Here is 14 new restaurants plans to debut before the end of the year. It looks like this fall will be largely about laid-back options, including Mexico City star Gabriela Cámara’s first US location (and her taco window), a fast-casual spot from Joshua Skenes de Saison, a bar and restaurant New Orleans style from David Kinch of Manresa and several ramen spots.

black bark

Location: 1325 Fillmore St., Fillmore
Main actors: David Lawrence, Monetta White
The situation: The city grows bbq scene will continue to grow with husband and wife team David Lawrence and Monetta White (1300 on Fillmore) opening Black Bark across from their flagship restaurant. The plan is “urban barbecue” (with a nice dark crust, inspired by the name of the place) with lots of homemade sauces, sides, local beers and sustainable meats. According to the signage, Black Bark is “bringing the barbecue back to the Fillmore,” a reference to a time when barbecue ruled the streets decades ago.
Projected opening: End of September 2015

[Photo Credit: David Lawrence/Facebook]

The Bywater

Location: 532 North Santa Cruz Avenue, Los Gatos, California 95030
Main actors: David Kinch, Andrew Burnham
The situation: New Orleans is close to Chef David Kinch’s heart, as it was in Crescent City that he got his start in the kitchen, under the direction of Chef Paul Prudhomme. Now, after the continued success of Michelin-starred Manresa, Kinch is taking a more relaxed direction with a Big Easy-style bar and restaurant. Expect casual New Orleans fare and accompanying cocktails.
Projected opening: End of autumn 2015

[Photo: Hillary Dixler]

Cadence

Location: 1446 Market Street, Middle Market
Main actors: Joey Elenterio, Kate Bolton, Jay Bordeleau
The situation: Chef Joey Elenterio (Wayfare Tavern, Chez TJ) will cook “progressive American” dishes at the upcoming Cadence from owner Jay Bordeleau and cocktail guru Kate Bolton, the team behind Maven. As a dining venue that takes reservations, Cadence will be “a bit more ambitious” than Maven, and a recent preview dinner featured dishes like Meyer Lemon Rabbit Risotto with pickled blackberries. Bolton will contribute a bar program focusing on seasonal produce, and the space is linked to the team’s upcoming jazz bar next door, Mr. Tipple’s Recording Studio.
Projected opening: End of October 2015

cala

Location: 149 Fell Street, Hayes Valley
Main actors: Gabriela Camara
The situation: Gabriela Cámara, from Mexico City, opens her first project in the United States in San Francisco, with a seafood-focused menu in the Hayes Valley. The accomplished chef, known for her restaurants DF Contramar and Metrotoro, is also planning an alley taco spot called Tacos Cala. The tortillas will be formed from in-house nixtamilized corn and featuring guisado tacos, which are stewed meats such as tinga or mole.
Projected opening: Mid September 2015

[Photo: Yvonne Venegas]

fatty noodles

Location: 92 2nd St., SoMa
Main actors:Joshua Skenes, Adam Fleischman
The situation: It’s the turn of Saison’s chef-owner, Joshua Skenes, to explore the arena of fast-casual, with an upcoming collaboration with Adam Fleischman of Umami Burger. After numerous delays and extended deadlines, Fat Noodle plans to launch its $10-and-under noodle bowls by the end of the year.
Projected opening: End of autumn 2015

[Image courtesy of Fat Noodle]

Itani Ramen

Location: 1736 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
Main actors: Kyle Itani
The situation: Kyle Itani, chef-owner of Oakland’s Hopscotch, is bringing his own take on ramen to Uptown Oakland, via a 49-seat noodle bar slated for late fall. Drawing inspiration from his own travels in Japan, Itani is planning five different ramen options, ranging from a lighter Tokyo-style broth to a rotating seasonal option that will focus on the different styles of individual prefectures. Beer, sake, and shochu will be available for pairing.
Projected opening: End of November 2015

miminashi

Location: 821 Combes Street, Napa
Main actors: Curtis DiFede
The situation: Going in a completely different direction from his old rustic Italian dish at Oenotri, chef Curtis Di Fede’s first solo project will be a traditional Japanese izakaya (with a Nor Cal twist, of course) in downtown Napa. Miminashi’s menu will focus on ramen, yakitori (grilled skewered foods that are often chicken) and other dishes with a Californian approach to seasonality, alongside Japanese whiskeys, sakes and shochu, and Napa Valley wines. Beyond past experience at a noodle bar and working under chef Hiro Sone at St. Helena’s Terra, Di Fede is touring Japan to gain real-life yakitori experience and bring it back.
Projected opening: November 2015

Night Bird

Location: 330 Gough Street, Hayes Valley
Main actors: Kim Alter
The situation: Chef Kim Alter (Plum) fends for herself with the impending Night Bird, his Hayes Valley restaurant currently under construction. According to Alter, Nightbird will be a 40-seat restaurant focused on tasting menus that will change frequently, depending on “what’s available in the market and classic technique.” The 40-seat space will have a little sister in the form of a seven-seat bar called Linden Room, which “will focus on craft cocktails.”
Projected opening: December 2015

[Photo: Patricia Chang]

nine bark

Location: Napa
Main actors: Matthew Lightner
The situation: New York heavyweight, Atera’s critically acclaimed Chef Matthew Lightner, heads West to spearhead the redesign of downtown Napa’s Thomas and Fagiani’s Bar and take on the role of Head of Culinary Operations of the west coast for the AvroKO hotel group. The menu will include lots of smoking, grilling and pickling and will emphasize seafood dishes like savory porridge with smoked fish, traditional rice and sourdough; AvroKO cocktail genius Eben Freeman will lead the bar program.
Projected opening: Mid-late September 2015

[Photo: Nick Solares]

Gold

Location: 8 Mint Plaza, mid-range
Main actors: Jason Fox, Timothy Felkner, Travis Day
The situation: Chef Jason Fox (Commonwealth) adds another restaurant to his portfolio. Located in Mint Plaza, Oro will be a casual eatery serving “eclectic California fare,” via shared plates and larger-format dishes. There will also be a fixed-price “blind tasting menu”, which will essentially be a “chef’s choice” affair featuring family-style dishes that are not on the menu. Chef Travis Day (Central Kitchen) will also bring his talents as a deli and butcher to the menu.
Projected opening: September 2015

[Photo: Colliers]

perennial

Location: 59 9th street, mid-range
Main actors: Anthony Myint, Karen Leibowitz, Chris Kiyuna
The situation: The project by Anthony Myint and Karen Leibowitz (Mission Chinese Food, Mission Street Food) and former MCF chef Chris Kiyuna will be more than a beautifully designed restaurant with expertly prepared dishes (although it will also be that). The project will also be a super sustainable restaurant and bar that “stands for progressive agriculture”. This means growing an aquaponic greenhouse, a “living pantry”, working closely with farmers on sustainability, and exploring alternative crops like Kernza, a perennial wheatgrass (Also note: Chad Robertson of Tartine Bakery is working on a special bread using the grain) . Expect a dining room with communal tables, booths and an L-shaped bar, as well as a coffee area that will be open during the day (serving Paramo coffee) and become a private dining room at night.
Projected opening: End of September 2015

[Photo: Julie Ann Fineman]

Spaghetti Bros.

Location: 3213 Scott Street, Marina
Main actors: Erik Lowe, Aaron Toensing
The situation: Erik Lowe and Aaron Toensing (Bix, Fog City) have joined forces to bring in US regional favorites – we’re talking green chili mac & cheese and St. Louis-style grilled ravioli — to the transplant-heavy San Francisco scene, but with twists like homemade pasta and gelato. Spaghetti Bros (an apt name for the marina) opts for a laid-back vibe in the 4,000-square-foot, 120-seat space, which includes a dedicated Negroni bar serving “accessible” wine.

Projected opening: Early October 2015

[Photo: Spaghetti Bros]

Van Ness Trestle Project

Location: 100 Van Ness Street, The Hague Valley
Main actors: Ryan Cole, Jason Halverson, Tai Ricci, Jason Kirmse, Cyrick Ha
The situation: Details are still under for the restaurant concept, but partner Ryan Cole said this new outpost of the Hi Neighbor restaurant group would cater to diners “on the go” in San Francisco’s bustling mid-market section. There has also been talk of using the rooftop terrace atop one of the last skyscrapers to squeeze through the Hayes Valley zoning changes.
Projected opening: End of autumn 2015

[Photo: 100 Van Ness]

NO NAME Jonathan Waxman Spot

Location: 900 N. Point St., Fisherman’s Wharf
Main actors:Jonathan Waxman
The situation: The Bay Area native’s new project will focus on the Italian-influenced style that made him one of the pioneers of “new California cuisine.” The menu will be “earthy, rustic and authentic”, with lots of fresh pasta, grilled and roasted meats and pizzas. Located in the Mustard Building on Ghirardelli Square, it will certainly be a draw for tourists, and probably locals as well.
Projected opening: November/December 2015

[Photo: TripAdvisor]

Other notable fall openings: Hashiri, Single Thread Farms, True Cup, Little Gem, The Treasury, Grand Fare Market, Mensho Tokyo, Volta, Brasserie Saint James, Craftsman and Wolves Russian Hill, Mr. Tipple’s Recording Studio

Early 2016 Openings: Bellota, Chow Oakland, At Mr. Jiu’s, Le Marais in Ghirardelli Square, Saison/Jiro Lin Sushi Spot, Locol