San Francisco Restaurant Openings: eight Locations to Get Excited About This Fall

An aperitivo-inspired bar, a Greek fish house, a new hotel on Union Square, and more.

Photo by David Varley, courtesy Estiatorio Ornos

So we have apparently … more than half of 2021 ?! It’s been a year of ups and downs here in San Francisco, to say the least. But we are optimistic as vaccine numbers keep rising and the people of this city, challenges and heartbreak aside, continue to showcase the beautiful, creative things that we are made of.

And over time, new things keep growing here. There’s a whole wave of openings this fall, from reinvented drinking destinations by San Francisco’s top bar stars, to California-influenced Russian and Georgian dishes, to wine galore (paired with records! For sale alongside vintage glassware!). We’re even getting a new hotel in Union Square! As September approaches and the fog (hopefully) recedes from the western edge of the city, we look forward to eight openings that we are particularly looking forward to:

At home

Mission District
Opening date: August
It’s a universal San Francisco truth that a new bar from Bon Vivants Hospitality – the brilliant minds behind Trick Dog, still one of the best cocktail hangouts in town – is worth checking out, ASAP. That said, we can’t wait to see Chezchez, the BVH’s newest project, a celebration of the aperitivo culture. Housed in the former Bon Voyage! space, Chezchez is a two-story, light-flooded indoor-outdoor bar that captures the feeling of enjoying drinks and snacks on the terrace in the early evening hours in France, Italy, Spain and beyond. The focus of the drinks are classics like martinis, negronis and of course spritzer (each with classic, creative and non-alcoholic versions) and a robust wine list courtesy of BVH Beverage Director Jennifer Colliau, ChezChez operating partner and sommelier Drew Record, and BVH founder Josh Harris . The complementary menu from BVH Chef de Cuisine Timmy Malloy is all about simple snacks – fritto misto, cheese and sausages and, best of all, a selection of first-class imported conservas.

Photo by Kelly Puleio, courtesy Le Fantastique

Hayes Valley
Opening date: August
White wine, raw fish and records are the stars of the show at Le Fantastique, a dreamy wine bar concept by Chef Robbie Wilson and Emily Perry Wilson. The couple who own the acclaimed Bird Dog in Palo Alto create a soulful yet low-key space that revolves around their own vision of an ideal evening. Expect creative raw fish offerings with French-inspired flavors and Japanese technique, fresh sourdough shokupan from Joe Hou (formerly by Angler), served with homemade butter (and essential additions like local seaweed or spicy crab fat) and a wine list with an extensive selection of white and , Rosé and champagne from sustainable French producers. Thanks to a custom-built Macintosh sound system that revolves around a 1970s turntable and Robbie’s vinyl selection, the mood is guaranteed to be on point too. The entire room was designed for optimal acoustics, but true audiophiles would do well to visit the record store, a special “listening corner” and a private dining area.

Photo by David Varley, courtesy Estiatorio Ornos

Embarcadero
Opening date: September
252 California Street has a glorious history in San Francisco’s dining history – home to chef Michael Mina’s Aqua and later its flagship island restaurant of the same name. This new concept was developed in collaboration with chefs Girair “Jerry” Goumroian and Nikolaos Georgousis and focuses on light, fresh seafood preparations using fish from the region and the Aegean, courtesy of (and San Francisco’s first) “Fish Sommelier “. Fish will come in a variety of preparations, from wrapped in grape leaves to salt crusts to simply grilled with olive oil and lemon. There are both fixed-price menus and à la carte options, with an emphasis on sharing; The room, which is supposed to be reminiscent of the sun-drenched Ornos beach, has a palate of blue and white accented with Mediterranean tones.

Photo courtesy of BürgerM

Union Square
Opening date: October
A new hotel opening in San Francisco feels more like an event, especially when this hotel opens in the middle of Union Square. That’s where CitizenM, an Amsterdam-based hotel brand focused on affordable luxury and new, technology-friendly features, comes in this October. This will be CitizenM’s first California property – the 195-room hotel will include a fitness center and a public rooftop terrace. This is the first of three hotels planned for the Bay Area, with SOMA and Silicon Valley locations.

Castro
Opening date: October 1
The Castro gets a piece of Naples this autumn with Vico Cavone, an ode to the southern Italian city by Alessandro Raimondi, Sanaa Hams and Giancarlo Esposito. Originally from Naples, Raimondi wants to bring the traditional Napoletana culture to the fore with a menu of pizzas, fresh pasta and Italian desserts. The restaurant is named after one of the oldest streets in Naples – Vico Cavone is home to a high concentration of pizzerias and where Raimondi’s father grew up. Look forward to a quick lunch alongside the main attractions, a large selection of wines, and cocktails made with fresh, Mediterranean-inspired ingredients such as basil, rosemary, and tangerine.

Photo courtesy of Osito

Mission District
Opening date: 15th October
Chef Seth Stowaway has been repeating his first restaurant, Osito, in years, drawing inspiration from his Texas childhood, Northern California products and the Mission District, while his years of experience as a sous-chef at Mister Jius and the head chef at Bar Agricole Group. But the heart of the daily changing, multi-course meal at a fixed price is the fire: Osito will be San Francisco’s only 100% live fire restaurant. As such, the restaurant revolves around a steel and brick fire pit, with simple, natural materials like reclaimed mammoth wood, sugar pine, and stone dominating the dining rooms. As for the daily changing menu, you can expect breathtaking products from local farms, a counter carved from whole animals and served with bonchons as well as dessert and cheese offers, all accompanied by seasonal cocktails or carefully selected wines. There will be two seats per night – tickets are $ 295 per person, with optional wine pairing for $ 95; Reservations for the opening in October can be made here. The Osito bar will also have a more casual experience with drinks and Tex-Mex snacks from the wood-fired oven.

Castro
Opening date: beginning of November
Beth Hughes has always loved food and drink – passions she has pursued since she moved to San Francisco ten years ago. The former manifested itself in her work as a pastry chef and bread baker at the praised Tartine Bakery and as a pastry chef at Blue Plate. The latter, which was driven forward in the culinary school and developed during months of work in vineyards in the south of France, will be realized this autumn in the form of Bottle Bacchanal, a boutique bottle shop in the heart of Castro that specializes in natural wines, cider, schnapps in small quantities and craft beer as well “Everything you need to enjoy your drinks,” per Hughes (think of unique vintage glassware, bar sets, and educational reading materials). Additionally, Hughes wants the store to be a real hub for the community and plans to host tastings, classes, and events.

Noe valley
Opening date: autumn
Russian and Georgian cuisine gets the Californian treatment at Birch & Rye, a brunch and dinner destination by chef-owner Anya El-Watta and chef de cuisine Amiran Tskhvaradze, which opens in the Noe Valley. Originally from Moscow, El-Wattar plans to combine traditional flavors and dishes from her childhood with an ethos developed at New York’s Natural Gourmet Institute and the famous vegetarian travel destination Greens in San Francisco. Originally from Georgia, Tskhvaradze left a lasting impression on guests and critics at Bevri in Palo Alto. Look for traditional dishes with a twist, like beet borscht with sour cream and rye crotons and golubsti, cabbage rolls with Wagyu beef. The famous Georgian Kachapuri Adjaurli will definitely make an appearance, likely topped off with changing seasonal vegetables, along with a selection of Georgian, Californian, and French wines, a vodka-centered cocktail menu, and craft beers.

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Lauren Sloss is a San Francisco-based travel, food, and music writer who has served in Philadelphia, New York, London, Istanbul, and aboard a 32-foot sailboat. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.

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