Looking for somewhere new to eat? Here’s your monthly cheat sheet of five brand-new places that recently opened around town.
The next time a craving for jamón strikes, or maybe you want a spot for date night, this flirty new Spanish-inspired spot in the Castro is winking at you. (Blame it on the sangria.) Find a seat at the marble tapas counter or various tables (there’s a communal table too). Small plates include txipirones (grilled Monterey squid, fried baby radish, and citrus aioli) and chorizo con tinto (seared fresh chorizo, sunchoke purée, baby bell pepper, red wine reduction), plus standbys like patatas bravas and paella. One thing to note:much of the seasonal produce they use comes from their Napa Kitchen Garden in Napa Valley. // 4058A 18th St. at Castro
Dim Sum Club
It’s always good to have another dim sum spot in your arsenal, and this could be especially handy news if you live near Russian Hill. Classics like BBQ pork bun, siu mai, xiao long bao, shrimp noodle roll, and har gow are all on the menu, and there are some soups and other dishes like salt and pepper spare ribs and Peking duck, plus dessert (egg custard tarts, always a crowd pleaser). // 2550 Van Ness Ave. at Filbert; 415-529-2615
Any San Francisco old-timer will recognize that this new North Beach spot was the previous home of the Purple Onion in the basement. Now there’s a restaurant, while the basement is having a rebirth of sorts asDoc’s Lab (there will be comedy and other kinds of live entertainment). As for the restaurant, chef Justin Deering is going to be pulling a bit from his brasserie background at Café des Amis (soup au pistou with cranberry beans, basil) and the creativity of Conduit (halibut crudo, tomato, avocado, green coriander). There’s also housemade charcuterie, cocktails, and later hours Thu–Sat, which is when that short rib burger is sure to be in high demand. (Since Deering cooked at 15 Romolo as well, he knows a thing or two about late-night appetites.) // 124 Columbus Ave. at Montgomery
Have you made your way to this incredible bakery in the Marina yet? No? You don’t love croissants? Er, okay. Well, here’s another reason to check it out: they just launched dinner service, and since they expanded into the space next door, there’s now a cozy dining room ready to host you. Chef Nicolette Manescalchi’s bistro menu looks and sounds fantastic, with dishes like tomato levain panzanella with chicories, bacon vinaigrette, cherry tomatoes, and a slow-cooked egg, and there’s za’atar-crusted albacore tuna with charred corn, black-eyed beans, and anise hyssop. With dishes like that, you’ll be glad they serve dinner nightly. // 2066 Chestnut St. at Mallorca
If you’ve ever had the sticky buns from this Sea Ranch bakery, then you will probably beeline for this new South Beach location. Owners Margaret Smith and Hilla Ahvenainen are also baking scones, cakes, and banana bread (plus some gluten-free options) that will go well with your Equator coffee or espresso. For lunch, they are making all kinds of calzones, and daily salads. Open Mon–Fri for now. // 240 Ritch St. at Bryant
Marcia Gagliardi is the founder of the weekly tablehopper e-column; subscribe and get more food news and gossip at tablehopper.com. Follow her on Twitter: @tablehopper.
