1233 Polk Street, Nob Hill
415 885 1233
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Fedoras. Whiskey in the office. Roman Polanski. File it all under: what's old is new again. Which is why you'll want to get reacquainted with Mayes, the newly resurrected oyster house from 1867, opening in Polk Gulch on Wednesday. Scour the dive-y block for the original neon sign and duck inside. You'll find what looks like a modern seafarer's club room—where Captain Edgar Wakeman might have knocked back a few single malt whiskeys and aphorisms with pal Mark Twain at the original brushed copper bar, before they headed off to sail from the San Francisco Port on a steam liner headed to New York (a guy knew how to live back then).
Clift, 495 Geary Street, Union Square
415 775 4700
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Widely acclaimed for its lush interior and innovative cocktails. A historical landmark, it has been restored and revamped nicely with some help from mr. Starck. Sound biased? Poke your head in and decide for yourself.
301 Mission Street, SOMA
415-543-7474
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It's the beginning of an, er, fruitful partnership. Not just the one between Raj Parr and Jason Berthold—the former a Mina Group wine director, the latter a French Laundry alum. No, we mean the one between you and your new favorite vino spot. Raise a glass to RN74, a Burgundy-inspired wine bar and restaurant nestled into the base of the new Millennium Tower.
1746 Post St, Japantown
415 345 1975
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Aside from Sundance and a few prized sushi joints, let's face it: Japantown hasn't really been much of a destination after Japantown Bowl closed. But something's just come up that's likely to change all of that. Introducing a curiously intriguing den of Japanese culture, New People—a microcosm of Tokyo pop culture wrapped in a modern layered megaplex dedicated to everything Japanese from high-tech gadgets to movies and art—opening Saturday in the three-story glass building across from Benihana (another pure example of Japanese culture…).
1500 Irving Street, Sunset
415 742 5122
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Ramen has long been your go-to bowl on cold, wet days. And while you're well aware of its many steaming charms, we're here today to make sure you're well-acquainted with its powers in the hangover remedy department... Which is why we're happy to tell you about ramen-equipped Izakaya Sozai, your new Japanese tapas bar in the Inner Sunset, ready to ply you with both hangover-inducing and hangover-preventing fare. Owned by a former Blowfish Sushi chef and his wife, Izakaya Sozai is a mom-and-pop you'd frequent for traditional Japanese pub food, ample beer, sake and shochu—all capped off with some of the best ramen in the city.
220 California Street, Financial District
415 955 1919
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The first week back after the holidays is notoriously rough. We venture to say you've just barely made it. So we wouldn't normally rush to bring up Monday, except we managed to find something worth looking forward to. Welcome Barbacco Eno Trattoria, the casual trattoria version of Perbacco conveniently located next door to its dapper elder FiDi sibling, opening for lunch the day you may need it most. Barbacco is your solution for house-cured salumi and meatball cravings midday—and it hits that hard-to-find lunch sweet spot between expense-account Perbacco and the corner deli.
3870 17th Street, Castro
415 621 3870
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Chances are you had a bit of family time over the weekend—maybe a bit too much. So the last place on earth you probably want to go right now is grandma's place. And yet, that's exactly where we're taking you. Don't worry: it's someone else's grandma. And she brought booze. Introducing Frances, a new corner eatery serving up French and Mediterranean cuisine—not to mention some unusual takes on wine—now open in the Castro. Look, we're not insulting your grandmother—we're just saying that this is another place to get a good, hearty meal, only the chef won't ask prying questions about your date.
1799 McAllister Street, Western Addition
415 674 8699
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There are days when the efficacy of caffeine versus alcohol in your life is a toss-up. You no longer have to make these unnecessary, difficult choices with the brilliance of Matching Half, the latest Western Addition coffee-bar meets drinking-bar, offering you all sorts of essential liquids (in a potent trifecta of artisan coffee, wine and beer)—and it's now open on the corner of McAllister and Baker. Step up to the bar-style counter to order your morning drip—whether that's an individually brewed Ethiopian from Santa Cruz-based Verve, or, in the next few months, Sightglass coffee via Blue Bottle and Four Barrel vets (we suddenly feel warm and safe knowing this).
680 Second Street, SOMA
415 896 1127
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True, the Giants' hopes for a postseason wild card were dashed yesterday in LA. Normally that means you're boycotting anything within a mile radius of AT&T until the season picks back up. But we've just come across an inviting little hangout where you can get a quick bite and a brew just about any time of day, all year round, that might have you rethinking your boycott. Introducing Ironside, a new all-day café/eatery/bar serving the restaurant-starved block of Second and Townsend.
Clift, 495 Geary Street, Union Square
415 929 2300
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It might sound like an odd fusion, but it works: tuna tartare on wonton chips with coconut, coffee-smoked baby back ribs, excellent mojitos and key-lime martinis, sky-high ceilings and velvet curtains provide drama.
55 Webster Street, Oakland
510 444 1233
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Whether or not you made it to Oakland's Eat Real this weekend, you're no stranger to the buzz about Jack London Square's waterfront revitalization. And the buzz is about to rise to a roar this week with the unveiling of the first wave of openings. Welcome Bocanova, a new waterfront restaurant dishing out cuisine that spans the Americas from Argentinean-style grilled meats to Costa Rican suds. Brought to you by a husband-wife duo with Chez Panisse and MarketBar pedigree, Bocanova (literally "new mouth" in Portuguese) takes the translation a little more figuratively and creates new flavors incorporating recipes from across the hemispheres (sort of like the NATO of food).
1519 Grant Avenue
415 982 5726
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We deserve an Indian summer. Instead, we get thunderstorms. But that doesn't mean we've lost faith. That being said, these unseasonable showers got us to thinking that it might just be time to gear up for fall. Welcome Hollander & Lexer, a line of sharply crafted shirts and jackets with a lived-in, Holden Caulfield, Ivy League sensibility, making its exclusive West Coast debut at A-B Fits in North Beach now.
350 Kansas Street
415 252 3500
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From California cheeses to Portuguese wines and Venezuelan chocolates, Horatius Bistro and Market Gallery showcases the most delectable of all international flavors. Housed in a renovated warehouse, Horatius has an authentic barn-like feel that helps to highlight its artisan products and cuisine. Stop to shop, eat, or take culinary classes, which are offered Monday and Tuesday evenings. Carpe Diem!