Michelin Information-Listed San Francisco Italian Restaurant Che Fico Is Opening a Pizzeria at Chase Middle in Mission Bay
Chef David Nayfeld, who was named one of the country’s most outstanding chefs by the James Beard Foundation earlier this year, is ready to announce his next move: Back Home Hospitality, the restaurant group that co-owns Matt Brewer and Nayfeld’s owns the restaurants in the Divisadero Street, the Michelin Guide-listed Che Fico, and the more casual Che Fico Alimentari will open a pizza-focused spin-off called Che Fico Pizzeria in Thrive City later this year.
The restaurant will be specially relocated to the space directly above Chef Tyler Florence’s upscale steakhouse Miller & Lux, meaning guests can expect both bay views and easy access to the Chase Center next door. Nayfeld says the pizzeria has been a long time coming; Since Day 1, Che Fico fans have been asking for a place where the restaurant’s naturally fermented dough can take center stage. “It was really a super natural thing for me,” says Nayfeld, “because we’ve talked about it. I’ve literally been doing a pizzeria since the early days of Che Fico because the pizza has become such a cult classic.”
Nayfeld says he wasn’t looking for an opportunity to expand, but it came at the right time. In the past, there was no point in baking pizza at high volume in Che Fico’s wood-fired oven. But after the pandemic, Che Fico Alimentari’s chef installed deck ovens on the ground floor, opening up new possibilities for pizza heaps. When the Chase Center team approached him about the Mission Bay room, he took it.
Che Fico Pizzeria’s menu offers both whole pies and slices, along with a no-frills selection of salads, sandwiches, and soft serve. But even if the menu seems simple, Nayfeld promises the pizzeria will maintain the ethos and quality that guests associate with its big sister restaurant. That means Bianco di Napoli tomatoes, hand-pulled mozzarella, and seasonal produce from the farmers’ market scattered across the menu. Nayfeld is happy to bring back some of Che Fico’s “seasonal OG” pizzas – like the Sungold tomato cake for the summer and Fontina and truffles for the winter. And of course, classics like Ode to Judy Rodgers and Pineapple with Pineapple and Chili Topping will also be coming.
As the restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, Nayfeld says he also has in mind diners who want something lighter than pizza for lunch, so there will be a selection of “protein-rich salads”. A full bar also means cocktails, with an emphasis on light spritzes that reflect the season, paired with an extensive selection of Italian Amari. The wine list will include a value-based selection, although Nayfeld promises that anyone who wants to treat themselves to a nicer bottle before a game can do so too.
The chef says he envisions a lively space with plenty of outdoor seating and lots of TVs. They will of course feature all the usual Bay Area teams, but Nayfeld is also excited to feature just about anything sports fans would want to see. “For me it’s a place where you can come and watch sports from all over the world,” he says. DLC ID’s Jon de la Cruz, who also designed Che Fico, will take the lead here as well. And there will be a walk-in window for people who want to stop by and grab a slice or gelato to go. He’s also planning some alcoholic dessert options: think a peach sorbetto spritz for summer, or Lambrusco paired with a scoop of grape.
Nayfeld says he’s looking forward to bringing the business to the neighborhood. “I think Mission Bay is one of the more exciting neighborhoods in all of San Francisco, in my opinion,” says the chef, who has been cheering on the Warriors since he was a kid. “I’ve been a fan all my life so to be able to do something with them now is absolutely a dream come true.”
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