News for Restaurants in San Francisco November 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 Executive chef Nicolaus Balla has left O Izakaya Lounge to head up the kitchen of Nombe restaurant, a new izakaya (Japanese pub) venture from Mari Takahashi and Gil Payne (Sozai Restaurant & Sake Lounge). The 80-seat space features relaxed, festive appeal, and is divided into two dining rooms---one stylish and subdued, the other livelier with a retro vibe, comfortable banquettes, a six-seat wooden bar and 20-seat communal table. On offer: Japanese libations and chef-driven small plates to share, including an extensive sake, Japanese beer and wine list (with some local American names thrown in). Balla's flavorful cuisine was addictive at O Izakaya---look for even more seasonal sashimi, tempura- and deep-fried nibbles, and yakimono, or grilled meat and produce choices at this new venture. Dinner Wed.-Sun. Nombe, 2491 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94110, 415-681-7150.   Gather, a restaurant, café and organic bar, has opened in the notable David Brower Center, a green arts and community action space on Oxford Street near UC Berkeley. Featuring a team composed of veterans from Millennium Restaurant, Gary Danko, Trattoria Corso and other local destinations, the eatery features sustainable meats, seafood, farm-fresh produce, and a strong vegan menu. Half the offerings are vegetarian. The full bar focuses on organic spirits and organic and biodynamic wines. Gather, David Brower Center, 2200 Oxford St., Berkeley, CA 94704, 510-809-0400.   There have been so many exciting openings in Oakland lately; now Berkeley is following suit. New American venture eVe Restaurant on University Avenue features micro-seasonal, locally sourced ingredients in high-end creative cuisine from husband-and-wife team executive chef Christopher Laramie (Georges Blanc, Blue Door in Miami Beach) and pastry chef Veronica Laramie (Charlie Trotter's). The couple recently relocated to the Bay Area from Colorado. The 28-seat restaurant employs an exclusively prix-fixe menu style (three courses for $33, five for $55 and seven for $77). The wine list features mostly California varietals. Lunch Mon.-Sat., Dinner Tues.-Sat. eVe, 1960 University Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704, 510-868-0735.   The Sunny Side Café has opened one block away from the BART station in downtown Berkeley. The menu features breakfast and lunch selections prepared with primarily locally-sourced, seasonal, sustainable and organic ingredients. A pancetta and heirloom squash-seed Benedict, Fuyu persimmon and pear pancakes, and the Alameda (a savory French toast style sandwich) are just a few of the items diners might find on the menu. The Sunny Side Café, 2136 Oxford St., Berkeley, CA 94704, 510-845-9900.   News Bytes Wine Deal at Wexler’s On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. until closing, diners that sit at the bar at Wexler's can order bottles of wine for half price. Wexler's, 568 Sacramento St., San Francisco, CA 94111, 415-983-0102.   Chef Shuffle SPQR isn't suffering, despite Nate Appleman's transition to New York. New executive chef Matthew Accarrino (Per Se, Craft Los Angeles) has taken confident helm of the notable Italian restaurant, and further changes have made it more popular than ever. The bold, slightly rustic, predominantly Roman menu remains ingredient-focused, microseasonal and changes daily, but prices are now under $20 across the board. Accarrino's specialties include hand-rolled pastas with innovative fillings and sauces, such as chestnut agnolotti with burnt orange and guanciale sauce; ricotta raviolo with lamb's quarters; and squash and prune tortellini with almonds and brown butter. Look for new additions to the spuntini menu, or snacks to share, such as crispy pig's ear with house-pickled peppers. Online reservations are a welcome new feature via OpenTable or www.spqrsf.com. SPQR, 1911 Fillmore St., San Francisco, CA 94115, 415-771-7779.   Piazza D'Angelo in Mill Valley has a new executive chef. Originally from Calabria in southern Italy, Massimo Covello is a veteran of the Hotel Cortina and Grand Hotel Baglioni in his native country, and has worked locally with Gary Rulli of Emporio Rulli Gran Caffè and Duilio Valenti at Frantoio. Look for new monthly farmers dinners under his helm. Piazza D'Angelo, 22 Miller Ave., Mill Valley, CA 94941, 415-388-2000.   Closings Traci Des Jardins' Acme Chophouse, a once popular choice for high-end steaks, chops and burgers near the ballpark, closed at the end of 2009 in favor of a more casual concept under the same team. After a complete remodel, staff plans to reopen the space in mid-March 2010 in time for the Giants baseball season. Acme Chophouse, SBC Park, 24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco, CA 94107, 415-644-0240.   Update on TWO restaurant: The restaurant closed on Friday, November 20, and will remain open for private events only through the end of 2009. TWO, 22 Hawthorne St., San Francisco, CA 94105, 415-777-9779.   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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