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The Bay Area Gets Its Horn Barbecue Ribs Back

2024-12-18T12:18:43-08:00

Pitmaster Matt Horn reopens Horn Barbecue in a new location following a destructive fire that shut his flagship in Oakland

Horn Barbecue is back. And coming to Lafayette.

To be clear, it’s been “back” for a while — a devastating fire gutted pitmaster Matt Horn’s West Oakland flagship restaurant in November 2023, and it’s since moved in with sister restaurant Matty’s Old Fashioned as of April 2024. But now, for all intents and purposes, a new standalone location is opening at 3422 Mount Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette on Wednesday, December 18, the San Francisco Standard reports. Horn announced the news via Instagram, writing, “Horn Barbecue in Lafayette is not just a restaurant; it’s the result of hard work, dedication, and a commitment to make a difference. Our vision has always been to serve others, uplift our community, and build something that lasts.”

Universal Cafe becomes a “vinyl hi-fi restaurant”

San Francisco’s Universal Cafe held a 27-year tenure in the city that ended in 2021, but now Tablehopper has word on a new tenant entering the building. Side A is the new “vinyl hi-fi restaurant, American bistro, and cultural/community gathering place” hitting the Mission space, led by Caroline and Parker Brown, who’ve run the concept as a pop-up around San Francisco. Parker Brown is the former CDC at Aphotic, while Caroline Brown worked at Superfly, which produces concert festivals like Outside Lands and Bonnaroo. Tablehopper has more details on the upcoming spot, and the Browns are targeting a spring 2025 opening.

Piccino expands outside of Dogpatch

Dogpatch neighborhood favorite Piccino is expanding once again. But rather than pushing its neighborhood footprint even further — much like its recent-ish expansion with Bar Piccino in 2022 — instead, owners Margherita Sagan and Sheryl Rogat are taking the restaurant across town to the Presidio, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. In addition, the duo also plans to open another location in Mill Valley. Piccino will take over the Sessions at the Presidio location with hopes to open in February; the Mill Valley location is set for 242 Redwood Highway Frontage Road and is expected to open in late 2025 or early 2026, per the Chron.

Turtle Tower is a go

As an update to a previous story on how Turtle Tower is maybe (probably) coming back, it seems it’s the Turtle Tower returning. A print version of the original San Francisco Business Times story confirms that Arash Ghanadan is bringing the Vietnamese pho restaurant back to downtown San Francisco with business partner Hilwin Wong. It’s still unclear how involved the original owners of Turtle Tower are with this new project, but it’s an exciting confirmation nonetheless. We’ll update should we hear more.

8 Bay Area Restaurant and Bar Closures to Know in December

2024-12-17T15:19:18-08:00

Members Only and Finders Keepers | Kelly Puleio

A sultry Nob Hill drinking den closes after two years, and more notable restaurant closures

This is a curated list of the Bay Area’s most notable and permanent restaurant and bar closures, with new updates published once a week. See a closing we missed? Then drop us a line. For more news, check out our list of restaurants that closed earlier this fall.

December 17

SOMA — Mathilde French Bistro, a 30-year-old stalwart of the San Francisco restaurant scene, is closing as of Tuesday, December 31, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Owner Lina Yew says they decided to close due to “a wish to look into new possible projects” the Chronicle writes.

NOB HILL — Members Only and Finders Keepers, the 2-in-1 drinking den from bar veteran Phil Chen, is now closed to the public, the San Francisco Business Times reports. Although the bar and restaurant will remain open for a few private events, they’ll soon vacate and make way for an unidentified tenant — although a look at the new liquor license application seems to indicate that Meskie’s Ethiopia Restaurant in Berkeley may leap across the bridge to settle into the Nob Hill space.

OAKLAND — After seven years in Oakland’s Chinatown, the Kon-Tiki is set to close on Sunday, December 22. Co-owner Christ Aivaliotis told Eater SF that sales have been slow, and with debts accumulated since the onset of the pandemic, it was time to close up shop.

OAKLAND — Firebrand Artisan Breads is set to close its location at 2343 Broadway as of Friday, December 20, the San Francisco Chronicle confirms. The business’s 10-year lease is up, and owner Matt Kreutz tells the Chron that the staff will consolidate at their production facility and cafe in Alameda.

December 4

CASTRO — Chadwick’s, the spot for “boutique cinnamon buns” — or “fun buns” — closed on Sunday, November 24, after nearly three years in business, as reported by Hoodline. “We leave you with fond memories of our delicious offerings and hopefully can inspire the discovery of your next favorite treat,” wrote the Chadwick’s team in an Instagram post announcing the closure.

BERKELEY — Berkeley has lost one of its pizza spots: Three One Four Pizzeria announced that it will temporarily suspend service as of Tuesday, December 3. It’s unclear what will happen with the space, but the owners state it’s not a goodbye, but a “see you later.” Stay tuned. Update: December 16, 2024, 9:30 a.m.: As of Thursday, December 12, the owners at Three One Four Pizzeria have reopened the restaurant following a “brief but necessary temporary closure.”

SAN ANSELMO — Bottle shop Souvenir is closing up at the end of December, the team announced in an Instagram post. While it’s sad news for fans of the (very cute) space, it seems the wine club will continue on with pickups at San Anselmo neighbor Voyage.

LOS GATOS — The San Francisco Chronicle caught the news that Los Gatos mainstay Steamer’s Grillhouse is closing after 45 years in business. Owner Paul Matulich told the paper that they couldn’t afford a remodel requested by landlord Federal Realty and opted to close instead. Fans of the seafood restaurant have until Tuesday, December 24, to visit.

Kick Off the New Year With Brunch at These San Francisco Restaurants

2024-12-17T12:09:49-08:00

Osito

Welcome 2025 with Filipino breakfast, afternoon tea, or elegant dim sum

On one hand, we all want to sleep in on New Year’s Day. On the other, we all have to eat ... and sometimes the thought of scrambling your own eggs (especially if you’ve decided to really tie one on the night before) is just too much. Fortunately, Bay Area diners have some excellent options for New Year’s Day brunch in the city, with anything from pho to dim sum and French toast up for grabs. Just be sure to make your reservations early as tables are already filling up fast. Here are 10 restaurants open for New Year’s Day brunch around San Francisco.

Here Are the Best Places to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in San Francisco

2024-12-16T16:05:49-08:00

Left Door | Erin Ng

Ring in the new year with multi-course dinners, porrons, a vegan-friendly meal option, and more

Whether you’re looking to kick 2024 to the curb in style, or you’re excited for the new year to come, there’s no need to celebrate New Year’s Eve at home. In fact, many of San Francisco’s restaurants are readying menus promising celebratory fare and perhaps a Champagne glass or two, to start things off on the right foot.

Events can get expensive quickly, so here are some options to fit different types of budgets and vibes. Whether you’re looking for a special dinner option, or you want a boozy midnight countdown, here are some options for your night out.

Radhaus

Beer hall Radhaus is here for your day party needs, whether it’s the main event or a pre-gaming moment to jumpstart your night. From noon to 5 p.m., there will be a DJ spinning, plus wine, beer, low-ABV options (including a $5 elderflower spritz special), plus bites to take advantage of before you hit your next destination. It’s a good gathering spot for the crew, with excellent views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

El Lopo

Spanish sherry bar El Lopo gets festive with a four-course tapas tasting menu available for an irresistible price of $89 per person, with extra a la carte dishes available for purchase. Those who enjoy a good porron experience can sign up for the bar’s porron competition at midnight. The lucky winner will receive a custom-etched person as the prize, plus free weekly refills at the bar for 2025. (There’s a $15 fee to participate, but as the organizers explain, it’s meant to cover the cost of wine and offers “a little assurance that you won’t flake.”) Tickets for the night are available via Tock.

Shuggie’s

Erin Ng

Shuggie’s

If your style is more San Francisco house party than a dressy affair, Shuggie’s in the Mission is a safe bet. There are two party options: House Party admission ($88) feeds partiers with passed apps and a cash bar for cocktails, wine, and beer, while a $208 ticket gets you those same apps plus drinks all night long. There will be live jazz from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. with a DJ spinning from 11 p.m. until 12:30 p.m. Tickets are available via Resy.

Left Door

If you prefer a caviar and Champagne party at your friend’s Marina apartment (but without the cleanup and mess after) Left Door will host a New Year’s Eve cocktail party perfect for that type of vibe. For $100, a ticket will get revelers a welcome cocktail, a charcuterie spread, caviar bumps, and a Champagne toast at midnight. Ready your cocktail attire and purchase tickets via Tock.

Mattina

For a more casual dinner without the need to do a big multi-course menu, Mattina will offer an a la carte menu with specials for the night. Think pesto risotto with tomato crema and stracciatella, or smoked brisket with cabbage slaw and lentils, for a dinner composed of exactly what you ordered. To reserve a spot for dinner, head to Resy. (And if you’re looking to stay home, the restaurant also offers a takeaway menu filled with options such as carbonara pasta pie and more, available for reservation on Resy with pickup from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.)

Prelude

If you’ve yet to visit Prelude, the beautiful new restaurant from chef Celtin Hendrickson-Jones serving Southern grandma fare gone fine dining, New Year’s Eve might be the time to do it. The restaurant offers an earlier dinner option starting at 5 p.m. with a five-course dinner menu ($155 per person), which wraps by 10 p.m., but there’s another option for those looking to party until midnight. A more luxurious option includes an 8-course meal ($195) with promise of oysters, plus caviar- and truffle-laden dishes, and (optional) access to the Jay Hotel’s NYE party at sister restaurant the Third Floor ($245). There, revelers can take advantage of the outdoor patio, dance to music, and take part in a midnight Moet & Chandon Champagne toast. Reservations are available via OpenTable.

Besharam x Lion Dance Cafe

Besharam

Oakland’s Lion Dance Cafe was renowned for its vegan fare before the restaurant closed in April 2024, but now chefs C-Y Chia and Shane Stanbridge will join Besharam chef Heena Patel for a dinner meant for the vegans and vegan-curious. Starting at $175 per person, the three-course, family-style menu will be filled with hits from both restaurants, such as samosas, rendang, and a chutney and sambal sampler, among other dishes. There is an optional wine pairing for $45 per person, with seatings available for 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., and a DJ playing Bollywood pop, Southeast Asian, Chinese, and European tunes, plus ’90s dance hits throughout the night. Reservations can be found on Resy.

7 Adams

Chefs David and Serena Fisher have a special dinner planned for those looking to celebrate New Year’s Eve at their acclaimed, one-Michelin-star restaurant 7 Adams. For $175 per person, diners can expect a five-course dinner with dishes such as an aged ribeye with Jerusalem artichokes and leeks. The last seating is at 9:30 p.m., where diners can take part in a complimentary Champagne toast at midnight. Reservations are available via Resy.

Wayfare Tavern

Chef Tyler Florence is pulling out all the stops at Wayfare Tavern, where the party will spread out amongst the restaurant’s four floors. Each floor will have its own theme (and accompanying bar), with a band jazzing things up by the first-floor fireplace, seafood towers and billiards on the second floor, a martini fountain and lounge singers on the third floor, and a disco dance floor on the fourth-floor Sequoia Room. Tickets run for $300 until Christmas Day (and get steeper after that), and visitors can expect free bites, a complimentary cocktail from each floor’s bar, and a Champagne toast at midnight. Tickets and more details are available via Eventbrite.

12 Notable Bay Area Restaurant Openings to Know This December

2024-12-16T12:12:49-08:00

MadLab Gelato & Kakigori | Carly Hackbarth

Tracking the latest restaurant debuts around San Francisco and beyond

This is a list of the Bay Area’s most notable restaurant and bar openings, with new updates published once a week. Did we miss something great? Please, drop us a line.

December 16

FiDi — Dessert gets the main character treatment at the new MadLab Gelato & Kakigori, which opened within the Transamerica Redwood Park. The San Francisco Standard has the details, and as the name suggests, sweet tooths can expect mountains of fluffy kakigori, or Japanese shave ice desserts, plus milkshakes, ice cream, gelato, and sorbet options, with a variety of toppings to keep things fanciful and fun.

MISSION — Aurora Centro makes the leap from downtown to the Mission, bringing with it a menu of sandwiches and pantry items, plus a name change to Aurora Studio, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

HAIGHT — Magnolia Brewing returns to its local roots with a reopening on Thursday, December 5, Tablehopper reports. Kevin Kynoch, Brandon Phillips, and Brian Reccow lead the comeback, with former Magnolia brewer Jon Taylor returning to run the basement brewery onsite. Chef Tony Alcala consulted on the new menu, which features “elevated pub fare” like garlic-miso wings with Calabrian chimichurri and chive crema, and the space itself was given an update to provide better access to the bar, per the report.

BERKELEY — If a mashup of books and wine sounds like an ideal time, it might be worth checking out Berkeley’s new bookstore and wine bar, Book Society. Opening on Saturday, December 7, the San Francisco Chronicle reports the space uses a self-serve wine dispenser with a choice between a glass, half glass, or taste, with the promise of a monthly rotating lineup (plus a small snack menu if desired). On the book side, patrons can expect a mix of fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, and travel, with an emphasis on showcasing local authors.

OAKLAND — Malibu’s Burgers has returned, bringing its popular brand of vegan burgers back to Oakland, East Bay Nosh reports. This time around the business has settled into Uptown Oakland at 326 23rd Street, a year after owner Darren Preston closed the Piedmont Avenue location.

ALBANY — East Bay Nosh also caught the opening of wine bar Best Friends, located at the corner of Solano and San Pablo avenues. The space is part retail shop for wine and provisions but also doubles as a bar for locals to drink wine and craft beer, with a selection of snack plates to fight off any hunger pangs while there.

SAN ANSELMO — Bubbala’s, a “Jewish-inspired deli, bakery, and cafe,” has opened in San Anselmo, just in time for the holidays, the Marin Independent Journal reports. Run by father-daughter duo Greg Bernson and Janelle Loiselle, customers can expect a mix of deli classics, such as bagels and schmears, breakfast, omelets, pastrami and Reuben sandwiches, and more.

December 3

NOPA — Geoffrey Lee, the chef behind Handroll Project and Michelin Guide-listed Ju-ni, debuts his next restaurant Hamburger Project on Wednesday, December 4, the San Francisco Standard reports. Located at 808 Divisadero, expect three styles of smash burger, a classic version with American cheese and housemade HP sauce, an Oklahoma-style onion burger with Peppadew peppers, and a Wisconsin butter burger. There are fries, of course, but the menu also gets punched up with the addition of yuzu-Tabasco sauce and a Tsar Nicoulai caviar upgrade.

OAKLAND — After a couple of months serving “Pakistani party food,” Oakland’s Gold Palm will debut the second part of the restaurant — “secret bar” Moonglow — on Wednesday, December 4. Owners Shirin Raza and Daniel Gahr also own nearby hi-fi listening bar, Bar Shiru, so expect a worthy sound system pumping music through the space alongside solid cocktails such as a 50/50 gin martini. Head to Gold Palm and find the door with a golden doorbell for entry; be warned, however, guests are prohibited from taking photos and videos inside.

OAKLAND — New “mezcal and espresso bar” Mixé is now embedded in the former Calavera space in Oakland and opens on Friday, December 6, East Bay Nosh reports. Pronounced “mee-hay,” the name references a group of indigenous people of Oaxaca. Nosh reports that during the restaurant’s first week, they’ll be open for dinner only before expanding to lunch service as of Friday, December 13.

OAKLAND — Bird-themed bar Little Bird opened in November at 435 13th Street, previously the home of Radio Bar, the Mercury News reports. Expect bold colors for the bar redesign and, surprisingly, a strong pickle selection thanks to Golden State Pickle Works. The new bar comes from Jennifer Seidman, who also owns Acme Bar & Company in Berkeley.

EMERYVILLE — Ramen Hiroshi opened its latest location at the Emeryville Public Market as of Friday, November 15, the E’ville Eye reports. It’s the restaurant’s fifth location in the Bay Area, serving Hakata-style ramen and other items.

Turtle Tower Is Maybe (Probably) Coming Back, Fingers Crossed

2024-12-13T14:40:04-08:00

Turtle Tower

Turtle Tower hive, tell Eater SF what you know

Just as the year is winding down and the weather is going all rainy and cold, the San Francisco Business Times has some (potential) news to warm our hearts: Turtle Tower may return to the city.

As Turtle Tower pho ga fans already know, the family behind the restaurants closed their final location in November 2023, down from four outposts at the height of its popularity. The news of Turtle Tower’s return is based on permits and liquor license applications for “Turtle Tower Bistro.” This new business will be situated at 220 California Street, the former location of Barbacco, but rather than former Turtle Tower owner Steven Nghia Pham’s name on the permits, it seems there’s another person involved. The Business Times reports that Arash Ghanadan, an investor in Madarae, Dahlia, Novela, and Barbarossa Lounge, is listed on the permits for the new restaurant. It’s not necessarily far-fetched that Turtle Tower may be reborn with the Pham family involved, as the owner did tell the San Francisco Chronicle last year that he’d be open to a partnership to bring the business back. But, as of now, it remains unconfirmed by Ghanadan or Pham (and Eater SF is reaching out), but if anyone has word on the project, you know where our tipline is.

Safeway’s closure is back on

In January 2024, news broke that the Safeway at 1335 Webster Street was set to close, following a sale of the land to private developer Align Real Estate, which planned to install market-rate housing. What happened instead was a plan to keep Safeway open until the developer broke ground on the project, and the supermarket has remained during this time, preventing the area from becoming a food desert in the meantime. Now, the San Francisco Standard reports that a date has been set to shut down the long-running store, but rather than attributing the closure to solidified construction plans, instead the outlet says Safeway will allegedly shutter due to rampant shoplifting. While one interviewee pushed back on that narrative, calling the issue overblown, the fact remains that the store is set to close on or around February 7, 2025, according to ABC 7 News. For what it’s worth, Align plans to install ground-floor retail, although it’s not known if that will include another supermarket.

Here comes SantaCon, here comes SantaCon

Look, love it or hate it, SantaCon is happening this weekend. We don’t know your business, so whether you’re planning to join in or avoid it, it does help to know where the ~~chaos~~ fun is happening. The first of two events happens at 8 p.m. on Friday, December 13, at the bar Mistletoe at 580 Sutter Street for a SantaCon costume contest, KTVU reports. The pub crawl, however, launches from Union Square at noon and runs until 10 p.m. It’s an unscientific crawl route, but typically Santas spread out from there, heading toward Polk Street or other spots, so join in (or not), and good luck. As for tips on attending, SFGATE warns that buying tickets is not required, but also you should donate toys to the San Francisco Firefighters Toy Program as is the SantaCon way. (And here’s a SantaCon primer for those who need it.)

The Anchovy Bar returns

San Francisco favorite, the Anchovy Bar, is back as of Friday, December 13, following a temporary closure for renovations that began in September. Reservations are available once again to snag a table, and the announcement post on Instagram reassures that “yes, our local anchovy toast will be on the menu.”

Pour One Out for Another Oakland Bar: The Kon-Tiki Is Closing

2024-12-12T16:06:18-08:00

Patricia Chang

The Kon-Tiki’s last day of operation is Sunday, December 22

After seven years at the corner of 14th and Webster streets in Oakland, the Kon-Tiki will close its doors on Sunday, December 22, co-owner Christ Aivaliotis confirms.

Aivaliotis, who runs the bar with business partner Matthew Reagan, says that despite a swell of support from customers in September after sharing the Kon-Tiki was on the verge of closure, it wasn’t enough to push past the bar’s financial problems. “What’s been happening is that the revenue is down so much, sales are down so low,” Aivaliotis says. “Matt and I are just at our wits’ end with the struggle. More than anything else, it’s been this boondoggle that costs us more than it’s worth to keep going, so we have decided that we can’t do it anymore. It’s not worth the fight because I don’t see it getting better here anytime soon.”

Aivaliotis is measured enough to not blame the city outright for the bar’s issues, but the draws to the neighborhood have shifted in the time since the Kon-Tiki took up residence at 347 14th Street. Ticking off a list of neighboring businesses that have called it quits over the years — among them nightclub New Karibbean City, Halftime Sports Bar, and the Gallery Art Bar — Aivaliotis says the neighborhood has lost a lot of its appeal to customers. “Trying as hard as you can to offer a quality experience where the drinks are really thought through, the service is as good as it needs to be, and the food is really carefully done... it’s not enough anymore,” he says.

The bar had its struggles through the pandemic, like most, but the problems have compounded, he says. There’s no denying issues of break-ins, or unhoused people sleeping in the Kon-Tiki parklet, but Aivaliotis is careful to say the problems are much more nuanced than “too much crime,” as is often the refrain. Pointing to underserved residents of Oakland, he says the type of solutions that need to happen won’t pay off for another generation. “Oakland is emblematic of the problem, but it’s also not the problem,” he says. “The problem isn’t the crime. The problem is the things that led to people doing the crime. So for me to have that sort of myopic view that ‘Oakland’s a shitshow,’ it doesn’t solve any problems.” Instead, he says the city’s issue is that there isn’t enough infrastructure to be a partner with small businesses when other basic city services are pressing, and there are not enough resources to help them continue.

Following the outpouring of support in September, Aivaliotis, Reagan, and their team have ramped up events at the Kon-Tiki to draw in customers. The bar was always imagined to be a place to host events and to create community, and the new events were an example of them “throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks,” he says. But even that has proven to be less of a draw than before, and although business picked up at times, it ultimately wasn’t enough to overcome not just the lower revenue, but to also put a ding in the sales tax and insurance debt the bar has accumulated over these last years since the onset of the pandemic.

For now, the Kon-Tiki team just hopes locals, longtime customers or not, will drop into the space and keep them busy for the staff’s last weeks. Drink a zombie, have a delicious cheeseburger, and raise a tiki glass one last time.

Patricia Chang