News for Restaurants in San Francisco September 2009 Archive Search / Openings / Closings / Chef Shuffle / News Bytes / Sign up for our free, monthly newsletter / News Archive Want to know who's doing what in your city? Gayot has the restaurant news you want to read on openings, closings, special events, and more. Learn everything you need to know about the restaurants in San Francisco here. RESTAURANT NEWS Openings Chow reopened on September 25. The budget- and family-friendly spot is once again open for lunch, dinner and brunch having recovered from a fire. Chow, 215 Church St., San Francisco, CA 94114, 415-552-2469.   In a city with fewer good pizza options than one might imagine, the recent opening of Tony's Pizza Napoletana in North Beach is a pretty big deal. The spot at the corner of Stockton and Union (formerly La Felce) is more than a pizzeria---it's an International Pizza School, and owner and Castro Valley native Tony Gemignani is more than a pizzaiolo---he's a champion at the craft, possibly the best in the world. The two-roomed restaurant is dark and casual, with spacious booths and a friendly bar. No less than four ovens are used for the pies: domed-top brick, for Italian pizza; square brick ovens for American-style pies; a brick oven specifically for the thicker Sicilian-style; and a Neopolitan wood-burning oven. The results have been stunning so far, especially Gemignani's sweet, toothsome Neopolitan margherita, that won the gold at the 2007 World Pizza Cup---in Naples. Tony's Pizza Napoletana, 1570 Stockton St., San Francisco, CA 94133, 415-835-9888.   Say goodbye to the original Pacific Heights incarnation of Quince restaurant, which closed after dinner service on Saturday, September 19. But don't despair---chef Michael and Lindsay Tusk's fine dining destination reopened on October 1 at 470 Pacific Avenue at Montgomery, the historic, brick building in Jackson Square that formerly housed Myth. The space is larger, and the Tusks have also acquired an adjacent venue, prepped to become a casual café called Cotogna later in the year. Quince, 470 Pacific Ave., San Francisco, CA 94133, 415-775-8500.   News Bytes Lunch is Back Area restaurants are cautiously reopening their doors for lunch, and diners are reaping the benefits. Western Addition gem Poleng Lounge now serves lunch Tuesday-Friday. Old-school favorite Big 4 Restaurant is back open for lunch on Thursdays and Fridays (they stopped it for a bit). Aqua is once again serving weekday lunch after a rocky couple of months. Fish & Farm's Chad Newton is enjoying success with "American Box," a fresh daily assortment of gourmet take-out meals---yet another version of ubiquitous, grab-and-go street food. Similarly, TWO restaurant is offering "Two-go" boxed lunches weekdays from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.   Whisky Wednesdays at Fifth Floor Restaurant & Lounge Wednesdays are Whisky Wednesdays in the lounge of Fifth Floor Restaurant & Lounge. Starting at 5 p.m., guests can sample a flight of three whiskies that might range from blended and single malt Scotch, Canadian and Irish whiskies to American bourbons and ryes. Cocktails featuring whisky as the base ingredient (Manhattan, Sazerac, etc.) are also available for $7. Fifth Floor Restaurant & Lounge, Hotel Palomar, 12 Fourth St., San Francisco, CA 94103, 415-348-1555.   Perfect Pairings for Meals on Wheels Diners can benefit nonprofit food delivery service Meals on Wheels of San Francisco throughout the month of October simply by choosing a specially marked food-and-wine pairing. Called Perfect Pairings, the new program donates one dollar for each order marked with a fork-and-bottle logo on Bay Area menus. Participating restaurants include XYZ in the W San Francisco, La Folie, Jardinière, Seasons, South Food + Wine Bar, Aqua and Ducca. Visit www.perfectpairings.org for more details.   Prix-Fixe Menu with Pairings at Ozumo Oakland Ozumo restaurant in Oakland offers a $39 prix-fixe Japanese dinner menu on Saturday nights, inclusive of wine or saké pairings. The menu is available from 5 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Saturdays, in any of the dining rooms or at the venue's dramatic bar. Walk-ins are welcome, though reservations are recommended. Ozumo, 2251 Broadway Ave., Oakland, CA 94612, 510-286-9866.   Chef Shuffle After only a few short months, chef George Morrone has left Sutro's at The Cliff House. No word yet on where he'll go next. Sutro's, The Cliff House, 1090 Point Lobos Ave., San Francisco, CA 94121, 415-386-3330.   In 2007, Robbie Lewis left Jardinière to revamp bacar restaurant. Last year at this time, Lewis left bacar and Morgan Mueller took over. This month, Mueller leaves bacar to take over the kitchen at Jardinière. Mueller's replacement has yet to be named (perhaps someone from Jardinière?...). Jardinière, 300 Grove St., San Francisco, CA 94102, 415-861-5555.   Closings After 16 years, Eliza's closed its Potrero Hill location at 18th and Missouri on September 27. The California-influenced Chinese restaurant was a neighborhood favorite---luckily, its second location at 2877 California Street remains open.   Steakhouse El Raigon in North Beach closed on September 19. Opened in 2004, the restaurant was notable for its use of grass-fed Argentinean beef.   Casual comfort-food haven Chow in the Castro will be closed for several weeks due to a kitchen fire that started in the early morning on August 21. Reminder: Mourners can always travel to get their fix at Park Chow located at Ninth and Irving for the duration. Chow, 215 Church St., San Francisco, CA 94114, 415-552-2469.   CULINARY EVENTS Want to learn to cook? Try new dishes? Meet a foodie friend for fun? Check out our compilation of culinary events in your area. View our calendar of Wine Dinners & Tastings in San Francisco Discover the top restaurants in the San Francisco/Bay Area for various cuisines and categories like sushi, steakhouses, happy hours, romantic dining and even gourmet food trucks. Find the best restaurants in SF here!

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