News for Restaurants in San Francisco January 2016 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 The East Bay's destination property the Claremont Hotel is now Claremont Club & Spa, A Fairmont Hotel, the newest addition to the Fairmont family that includes the Fairmont San Francisco, The Plaza in New York, Fairmont Banff Springs and London's The Savoy. The new ownership comes with a revealing of updates and careful restoration to the 100-year-old property, including new guest bathrooms and other updates to the 276 guestrooms, new carpets, furnishings and art, and a new brasserie called Antoinette featuring Dominique Crenn as consultant. Crenn's restaurant joins the hotel's three other restaurant and lounge properties, so Meritage at the Claremont remains. Antoinette, 41 Tunnel Rd., Berkeley, CA 94705, 510-843-3000, 800-551-7266.   The East Bay is seeing a flurry of casual-yet-notable spring openings that together mark an uptick in attractive offerings for this region. In Berkeley, locals are counting the days until New York City's Mediterranean joint The Halal Guys takes over the historic 2126 Center Street downtown location that formerly housed Le Regal (though also expanding soon to San Francisco, an opening date for Berkeley has yet to be announced). Keeping to the Med theme, easy-order Yalla Mediterranean is a rapidly growing franchise with its newest outpost at 38799 Paseo Padre Parkway in Fremont. In Albany, the folks behind Little Star Pizza have opened the appealing restaurant Cafe Eugene, serving dishes inspired by the Pacific Northwest. And in Emeryville, new options inside the renovated Public Market have foodies taking notice, including Shiba Ramen, Koja Kitchen and the upcoming We Sushi, as well as future grocery store New Seasons Market.   Look for Okane, a new izakaya and sushi spot, near the Design District in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood. The petite Townsend Street restaurant and four-seat sushi bar aims to offer an authentic, traditional and welcoming Japanese izakaya experience, complete with ingredients flown in from Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market. It comes from the owner of Omakase, Kash Feng, and consulting chef Shin Aoki of Kaigetsu in Menlo Park. Japanese saké and beer and a small, select wine list will comprise drinks. Okane, 669 Townsend St., San Francisco, CA 94103, 415-865-9788.   Fogo de Chão's 40th international location brings traditional Brazilian “churrasco” style dining to San Francisco’s SoMa district. A horde of Brazilian-trained gaucho chefs artfully twirl between tables, carving sizzling cuts of fire-roasted meats onto the plates of eager diners. Fogo de Chão   David Kinch (Manresa) has opened New Orleans-inspired restaurant and bar The Bywater. Located just down the street from Manresa in Los Gatos, the small, casual dining enclave features the cuisine of chef David Morgan (New Orleans' Restaurant August, Cyrus). The Bywater, 532 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos, CA 95030, 408-560-9639.   News Bytes Left Bank Chef de Cuisine Marcon Named a Maître Cuisinier Congratulations to chef de cuisine Fabrice Marcon of Left Bank brasserie in Larkspur for being named a Maître Cuisinier de France, an international honor referencing the winner's efforts to "preserve and spread the French culinary arts." Marcon joins two other chefs connected with Left Bank brasserie in the distinction: Roland Passot and Joel Guillon. Additional Bay Area Maîtres include Laurent Manrique and Xavier Salomon (Navio). Left Bank, Blue Rock Inn, 507 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur, CA 94939, 415-927-3331.   Alfred's Steakhouse Taken Over by Daniel Patterson Group A San Francisco classic since 1928, Alfred's Steakhouse is about to get a makeover. Currently closed for renovations, the steakhouse --- owned by the Petri family since the '70s --- has been taken over by the ever-growing Daniel Patterson Group; its properties include Alta CA, Haven, Coi and Aster, among others. The new owners hope to preserve the iconic steakhouse's historic look and feel. Look for an early 2016 reopening. Alfred's Steakhouse, 659 Merchant St., San Francisco, CA 94111, 415-781-7058.   Celebrate California Restaurant Month in January During January, restaurants throughout The Golden State will be participating in California Restaurant Month. Promotions include Napa Valley Restaurant Week (January 24-31), Berkeley Restaurant Week (January 21-31) and SF Restaurant Week (January 20-31). For more information, check out Visit California's website.   Chef Shuffle Farallon has a new executive chef in Jason Ryczek, a Waterbar vet originally from southern California, who also counts Artisan House and Red Pearl Kitchen among the kitchens on his résumé. Alongside chef-owner Mark Franz, Ryczek aims to up the level of cuisine at this landmark Union Square restaurant, which, despite its haute-seafood niche and dramatic, fine dining atmosphere, has undergone ups and downs since its opening in 1997. Along with nightly dinner, Farallon's nightly happy hours and elaborate raw bar will remain. Farallon, 450 Post St., San Francisco, CA 94102, 415-956-6969.   Daniel Patterson has stepped down as executive chef of Coi, relinquishing the role to Matthew Kirkley (L2O). The North Beach destination for transformational California cuisine will continue to be owned by DPG. Coi, 373 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133, 415-393-9000.   Closings LarkCreekSteak inside the Westfield San Francisco Centre has closed. The fine steakhouse dining experiment located on the upper level of the shopping center was a surprisingly worthy destination for years after its opening in 2006, but a recent lull in business led to its closure. We have good memories from there and are sad to see it go. LarkCreekSteak, Westfield San Francisco Centre, 845 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94103, no phone.   Local Mission Eatery closed after almost six years of business. Local Mission Eatery, 3111 24th St., San Francisco, CA 94110, no phone.   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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