Winter Restaurant Rush
George’s Donuts & Merriment, Klein Epstein Parker, Brucato Amaro, Merchant Roots, Silver Terrace listings, MORE
RESTAURANTS • First Word
Doctor’s orders
The Skinny: Newly opened in West Portal, George’s Donuts & Merriment snagged SF Mayor Daniel Lurie (on his second day in office) for its ribbon-cutting, at which guests waited in a block-long line for doughnuts. Its owners are first-time restaurateurs Lea and Andrew Dudum, the latter of whom is also founder and CEO of Hims & Hers. (Yes, the DTC brands that flood your feeds with ads for GLP-1, as well as erectile dysfunction and hair loss drugs.)
The Vibe: “We’re trying to create the Ghirardelli Square experience,” I overheard Lea Dudum (herself a seasoned tech executive) saying during a recent visit, and it shows: Its interior design is spare-no-expense glitzy and made for the ‘gram, with gold accents setting off beigy pastels, a gorgeous and huge skylight, round counter seating, and a front-and-center pastry case. Multitudes of friendly staff bustle around in matching striped uniforms, shoving in cane cafe chairs and refilling drinks. A red velvet rope, suspended between two gold posts, hangs in front of the door. If Disney did their take on a Parisian cafe, this might be it.
The Food: The prospect of chef Janina O’Leary, formerly the corporate pastry chef for Bachus (Spruce, Selby’s, The Village Pub), driving a doughnut ship is a thrilling one, but scoring her work is a challenge. Waits for the doughnuts tallied over an hour opening weekend, and a staffer expected that to continue for a couple weeks. All sweets (sans the gluten-free, vegan varieties) have been selling out two hours after opening; the owners are clearly still working out systems and processes for their first-ever food venture. The doughnuts I was able to snag on a second, to-go visit were great, especially the key lime pie brioche and the vanilla bean glazed cruller. I’ll definitely return when the wait is more manageable.
The cafe dishes, a concise list of salads and sandwiches on house-made focaccia, are fine if unremarkable; an order of golden and crispy fries, presented on a pedestal, hint at a level of fun that I hope spreads to the rest of the food offerings. But maybe it doesn’t matter. “We’re not here for the savory,” as a diner next to me put it. “We sat down because it’s so pretty in here.”
The Drink: There’s a nice wine list heavy on bubbles, but the showy spritzes served in water-balloon-sized goblets are the move. Coffee drinks come from Four Barrel beans, a brand many in SF still avoid, but here, their roast demonstrates the right level of acidity to pair with the sweets.
The Verdict: The Dudums deserve abundant credit for putting their wealth toward a playful, welcoming restaurant in the area where they live. They’d be wise to allow some seasoned pros to more firmly take the wheel to help the restaurant find its footing, so when the novelty wears off (or when everyone’s Hims & Hers-supplied Ozempic kicks in), a potentially rough landing will go more smoothly. There’s enormous potential for George’s, a unique addition to an already-great San Francisco neighborhood, to be a true destination. –Eve Batey
→ George’s Donuts & Merriment (West Portal) • 163 West Portal Ave • Tues-Sun 9a-3p • Walk-in only.
SF RESTAURANT LINKS: Mid-Market’s Saluhall gets less vegan with Smish Smash residency • The Madrigal closes on Van Ness • China Live spinoff headed to Santa Clara • Copra team opens new Indian restaurant Eylan in Menlo Park • Bay Area breweries embrace NA trend • Local spots fundraise for LA’s recovery.
GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Shop
Well suited
While a custom suit has always been available to men who understand the power of bespoke tailoring, a one-stop shop for made-to-order denim, shirts, shoes, leisure wear, and suits is a rare find. Los Angeles import Klein Epstein Parker spent 11 years in Hayes Valley before moving last winter into a former flower shop in the Castro, where it offers just that.
For around $400, and after a six- to eight-week wait, you could have a pair of jeans sized and tailored perfectly for your body, with added embellishments of your choice. Custom two-piece suits start around $1,000 — prices vary based on fabric choice and suit style — with a broad array of options including personalized buttons or embroidery. (Appointments are recommended.)
Want a sleek tweed winter look for the office, or a matching corduroy jean-style jacket and pants in dusty pink? You can dream it up, or the warm, skilled staff can guide your hand. Whatever it is, it’s guaranteed to fit better — and feel better — than anything off the rack. Finally, while men may make up much of the clientele, they do custom suiting and jeans for women too, with a specialty in lesbian wedding wear. Custom clothes, exactly how you like them, might be the ultimate universal reward. –Jay Barmann
→ Klein Epstein Parker (Castro) • 2331 Market St • Tues (apt only), Wed-Sat 11a-6p, Sun 11a-5p.
WORK • Wednesday Routine
Pitch perfect
SIERRA CLARK • co-founder/CEO • Brucato Amaro (distillery, bar, and restaurant opening spring 2025 in the Mission)
Neighborhood you live in: The Castro
It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I'm sitting barefoot at my kitchen table with my husband/co-founder, our director of operations, and our new national sales director who’s visiting from Southern California for an onboarding session. Later today, I'll put on solid shoes and visit our distillery. I expect the floors of our production space will be cleared, with sealant drying. Walls will undergo sanding and painting, and the flooring team will be cutting and installing material behind the bar and in the kitchen. Everyone will be in a good mood, saying hi and showing off progress, but still feeling the pressure of the delays and construction complications that plague any project at this scale.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Today we're discussing our sales goals for 2025, and in particular, exploring our timing and strategy for launching new products. I also need to edit and send to print our business cards, as we finally have our management team in place. I'll review and confirm a photography plan for our merchandise. I also want to finalize the landscaping plan today so that I can place an order for the trees and bushes we’ll plant in our courtyard.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Tonight I'm going to my daughters' winter concert. Our five-year-old will sing, and our nine-year-old will play the guitar, each with their respective classes. Tomorrow we'll celebrate my husband's birthday with a family meal at Che Fico. And then we have a larger party with a bunch of friends at Prubechu Friday night.
How about a little leisure or culture?
Saturday morning, my daughters and husband have piano lessons, and we’re attending the Smuin Ballet matinee as a family. Sunday, we hope to relax, go for a walk, and that evening, we’re visiting the Filoli gardens to see the amazing lights with friends.
Any weekend getaways that have been memorable lately?
We’ve been fortunate to get away to Big Sur a few weekends recently. While there, we whale watch, go for walks, explore the beaches, cook, and relax. It's always heaven.
What was your last great vacation?
Last great vacation was Thailand, for a friend's wedding. We visited an eco lodge on an island, explored, and soaked up the beautiful chaos of Bangkok, stayed at an elephant preserve, and visited northern cities with spectacular temples and rich culture. The food was divine!
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
Our fish tank. I was reluctant to get it, but it brings such joy to our family. Plus, my husband agreed to a "maintenance package," which means a pro comes periodically to test the water, clean the tank, and make suggestions. It's amazing.
What store or service do you always recommend to people?
Rainbow Grocery. Despite everyone knowing about it, most people in my circle don't often go, and thus, forget how incredible it is. I also love Citizenry (and Coyuchi). I dream about outfitting a little house in the country someday, and the color scheme and natural materials from Citizenry calm me.
GETAWAYS LINKS: Ice cream destination Meadowlark Dairy expands to Livermore • Bottlerock Napa announces 2025 lineup w/ Green Day, Noah Kahan • Lodi’s Wine & Roses Hotel adding Charlie Palmer-led restaurant Maison Lodi • Marriott expands in Spokane • 2025 hospitality trends to know, including new European visas.
REAL ESTATE • On the Market
Shine bright
Tucked between the Bayview and Portola, the south-east neighborhood of Silver Terrace is notable for its sunny weather, easy freeway access, and single-family homes, oft-untouched and brimming with potential. With one of the highest concentrations of SF-born-and-raised residents in the city, it’s also known for multi-generation residents with strong community spirit: knocks on the door to remind you about street sweeping or helpful interceptions of deliveries are a feature, not a bug.
According to Compass, 17 homes have changed hands there in the past year, at a median price of $1.15M. Here, three listings (some in need of some polish) to consider:
→ 1726 Revere Ave (Silver Terrace, above) • 2BR/1BA • 922 SF house • Ask: $850K • Sunny 1908 build with Bay Bridge view • Days on market: 7 • Agent: Pauline Silva-Re, eXp.
→ 1684 Palou Ave (Silver Terrace) • 5BR/4BA, 1828 SF house • Ask: $1.098M • 1928 single-family with option to divide into multi-unit • Days on market: 175 • Agent: Hao Hong Ng.
→ 106 Scotia Ave (Silver Terrace) • 3BR/2BA, 1300 SF multi-family • Ask: $1.299M • 1940-built semi-detached with backyard storage • Days on market: 7 • Agent: Ying He, Jenny He Realty Associates.
SF WORK AND PLAY LINKS: 850-foot tower mulled for Caltrain railyard redevelopment • Competition drops in SF housing market • Free Our Feeds seeks to loosen Silicon Valley’s social media grasp • MacKenzie Scott underwrites nonprofit purchase of former tech company HQ in San Jose • Are offices the new neckties?
RESTAURANTS • The Nines
Restaurant Rush, winter 2025
The Nines are FOUND's distilled lists of the Bay Area’s best. Here, the season’s most notable restaurant openings. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or found@itsfoundsf.com.
Aji Kiji (Fillmore), hot-ticket sushi takeout from Bansang chef, intel here