PLYWOOD REPORT: A mini-boom of anticipated restaurant openings is just around the corner, including the return of an old favorite, a baller’s downtown spot, and an intriguing expansion. Here, a dozen places to get excited about as spring approaches:
→ Izzy’s (Marina), classic Marina steakhouse dating to 1987, shuttered for major remodel since last summer, reopening today, reserve.
→ The Farmacy (South Park), fast-casual soups, salads, bowls for the lunch crowd, 2/24.
→ Turtle Tower (FiDi), owner Steven Pham’s glossy Hind Building relaunch of internationally known northern-style pho mini-chain, dormant since 2023, mid-Feb.
→ Cache (Inner Sunset, above), daily lunch and dinner plus weekend brunch from two French expats who met working at Bordeaux’s La Grande Maison, Feb.
→ Meski (Lower Nob Hill), upscale Afro-Latin/Ethiopian from Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green and chefs Nelson German (alaMar, Top Chef) and Guma Fassil with late night hours, 3/7.
→ Side A (Mission), hi-fi bar w/ American bistro menu from former Aphotic chef, March.
→ Nopa Fish (Ferry Building), seafood restaurant/fishmarket collab from Nopa and Water2Table teams, spring.
→ Name TBA (Ferry Building), Sorrel team plans new coastal-CA cuisine restaurant in former Slanted Door space, spring.
→ Bar Bibi (Nob Hill), pop-up Habibi Bar evolves into Parisian cave à manger with low-intervention wines and French small plates & mains, early May.
→ Happy Crane (Hayes Valley), former Benu chef James Yeun Leong Parry’s Cantonese pop-up moves into former Monsieur Benjamin’s address, summer.
→ JouJou (Design District), Old World white tablecloth (dinner omelets, seafood towers) from Lazy Bear team, inside a grand, “sleazy '70s”-design dining room, summer.
→ Breadbelly (Pier 70), carry-out kaya bun destination currently in build-out for exhibition-style bakery and restaurant in historic waterfront Building 12, TBD.