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 Openings
Perbacco Ristorante + Bar owner Umberto Gibin and chef-owner Staffan Terje are stretching their California Street realm one door down with the opening of the more casual barbacco eno trattoria. Dubbed a "little sister" to the larger Italian hot-spot, the 66-seat trattoria features Perbacco vets chef Sarah Burchard and wine director Mauro Cirilli. Designed by Cass Calder Smith, architects behind Perbacco's sleek style, the urban space lends comfortable appeal, with a black marble bar, dark walnut two-tops, small communal tables and an electronic menu screen. Seasonal trattoria fare includes artisanal salumi, gourmet Italian sandwiches and salads, baked pastas, and heartier dinner plates such as braised calamari with tomato, chili, fennel and olives; fried olives stuffed with pork and sage; and egg occhio di bue on braised rapini, tomato and ‘nduja. A focus on biodynamic international wines, with 100 by the glass, as well as San Francisco-local beers rounds out the experience. Lunch Mon.-Fri., Dinner Mon.-Sat. barbacco eno trattoria, 220 California St., San Francisco, CA 94111, 415-955-1919.
More East Bay happenings: The historic Claremont Hotel Club & Spa, a grand white hotel on the border between the Berkeley and Oakland Hills and a well known local landmark, has opened Meritage at the Claremont in the space that formerly housed Jordan's. The sweeping, upscale restaurant marks a significant update for the hotel (though its second restaurant and lounge, Paragon, is thoroughly modern). It is the third Meritage concept originated by Boston chef Daniel Bruce, adding to locations at the Boston Harbor Hotel and Maison Dupuy Hotel in New Orleans; each of the three Meritages features a strong focus on wine pairings with small and large plates of regional cuisine. New executive chef Josh Thomsen (The Lodge at Pebble Beach, Nobhill Tavern in Las Vegas) works with pedigreed local produce, meats and artisan ingredients, and offers a weekly "Vineyard to Table" prix-fixe menu featuring ingredients specifically chosen to best highlight local wines. Meritage at the Claremont, 41 Tunnel Rd., Berkeley, CA 94705, 510-843-3000, 800-551-7266.
Bocanova has opened in Oakland from husband-and-wife team Rick Hackett and Meredith Melville. The space comprises 6,500-square-feet of a restored 1920s icehouse in the burgeoning Jack London Square restaurant district, complete with waterfront views. Together Hackett and Melville bought and revived Enrico's in the early 1990s, and Hackett was most recently executive chef of MarketBar. At Bocanova, he creates pan-American plates with pungent flavors from South, Central and North America. Architect Michael Guthrie (Bix, Myth, Zinnia) designed the space, which uses recycled and sustainably harvested wood, stone, tile and found objects to create a stylish, rustic atmosphere. Lunch Mon.-Sat., Dinner nightly, Brunch Sun. Bocanova, Jack London Square, 55 Webster St., Oakland, CA 94607, 510-444-1233.
McCormick & Kuleto's and Spenger's Celebrate New Zealand
Through February 27, McCormick & Kuleto's Seafood Restaurant and Spenger's Fresh Fish Grotto are bringing the flavors of New Zealand to the Bay Area. Special menu items will include Greenshell mussel fritters served with a cilantro-roasted garlic Pesto; grilled salmon from Marlborough Sounds topped with a caramelized apple-Sauvignon Blanc reduction; and Pavlova with Meyer lemon curd and kiwi puree. The restaurants are also featuring New Zealand wines and two new cocktails, the Kiwi Meringue Pie and the Kiwi Quencher. Guests can enter to win a trip for two to New Zealand, provided by Air New Zealand and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise. For more information, visit www.McCormickandSchmicks.com/ExploreNewZealand. McCormick & Kuleto's Seafood Restaurant, Ghirardelli Square, 900 North Point St., San Francisco, CA 94109, 415-929-1730.
Shaken, Not Stirred
Fifth Floor Restaurant & Lounge debuts a new cocktail cart for 2010, helmed by master barman Jacques Bezuidenhout. Classic, vintage-inspired concoctions are crafted fresh to order tableside, complete with perfect ice spheres from Bezuidenhout's new toy, a distinctive copper ice machine. This follows in the tradition of Fifth Floor tableside service, including a notable cheese cart and, our favorite, the artisan bread cart with paired butters. Fifth Floor Restaurant & Lounge, Hotel Palomar, 12 Fourth St., San Francisco, CA 94103, 415-348-1555. 
"Top Chef" Features CyrusCyrus in Healdsburg hosted the season finale of Bravo's "Top Chef: Las Vegas." Chef Douglas Keane was one of the guest judges during the episode that named Michael Voltaggio of The Dining Room at The Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa the winner of season 6. Cyrus, Les Mars Hotel, 29 North St., Healdsburg, CA 95448, 707-433-3311.
Cetrella Introduces Weekly Prix-Fixe Menu
Cetrella in Half Moon Bay has the introduced a weekly-changing prix-fixe menu available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. The $25 three-course menu has included dishes such as Maine salt cod brandade with focaccia toast point, cold pressed Spanish olive oil and Castelvetrano olive tapenade; wood oven roasted sardines with French Riviera style stuffing, herb medley and balsamic vinaigrette; and Corsican style goat cheese cake with red berries gel and a citrus salad. Cetrella, 845 Main St., Half Moon Bay, CA 94019, 650-726-4090.
Daniel Patterson's Coi has two new team members. Notable executive pastry chef Bill Corbett (Michael Mina, wd-50) now helms desserts at the restaurant, and provides consult for desserts at Patterson's newer projects, Il Cane Rosso in the Ferry Building and Bracina, which will open in Oakland this spring. Coi's new chef de cuisine Evan Rich was formerly chef de cuisine under Michael Tusk at Quince, and has also cooked at Bouley, Sumile in both Tokyo and New York City, and The Stage House Inn. Coi, 373 Broadway St., San Francisco, CA 94133, 415-393-9000.
Restaurant Michael Mina has announced a new executive pastry chef. Catherine Schimenti, who won accolades for her desserts at Craft Los Angeles, moved to the Bay Area this year with longtime partner Matthew Accarrino (SPQR), also formerly with Craft. Both chefs also worked at Per Se, and Schimenti also has Balthazar Restaurant and Gramercy Tavern on her résumé. Look for Schimenti's innovative, refined desserts and pastries to blend seamlessly with Michael Mina's modern sophistication. Michael Mina, The Westin St. Francis, 335 Powell St., San Francisco, CA 94102, 415-397-9222.
Two more notable restaurants have closed. The Poleng Lounge, an eclectic combination tea room/nightspot/restaurant, helped spearhead local interest in Asian street food under talented chef Timothy Luym. Café Maritime on Lombard Street combined neighborhood sensibilities with high-quality, crafted seafood (and some fine happy hours). Both restaurants ended service on January 17.
As 2009 closed, unfortunately so did a generous handful of notable Bay Area restaurants. Zinnia in Jackson Square and seven-year-old Côté Sud in the Castro both closed their doors for good after service on New Year's Eve. Even the trendiest spots aren't immune: South Food + Wine Bar closed in late December, and Laïola closed after service on December 31, though both will reopen as new concepts under same ownership in early 2010---South's new incarnation to-be-revealed, and Laïola as Tacolicious, the restaurant's fresh street food concept made popular at the Ferry Building Farmers Market. Also closed in December: the recently restyled Metro Café (formerly Metro Kathmandu), venerable Carnelian Room and Acme Chophouse. Look for that restaurant to reopen in April, still under Traci Des Jardins, as two separate concepts: Public House, a sports-oriented pub appropriate for the ballpark location, and a second Mijita, Des Jardins' taqueria.
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RESTAURANT AWARDS
Just published! Our annual restaurant issue features the Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S., including San Francisco's Gary Danko, Masa's, Michael Mina and more!
A SEASON OF LOVE
Set the mood for love by reserving a table at one of the Best Romantic Restaurants in San Francisco, or view our list of Valentines Restaurants to find out which restaurants are offering unique menus just for February 14. Also, see who sets the standard for seductive dining across the country with our Top 10 Romantic Restaurants in the U.S. list.
