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.
July 17
OAKLAND — El Barrio is a new sports bar that opened in Old Oakland on Tuesday, July
14. But with the typical accoutrements that come with a typical sports bar — TVs and drinks, for instance — El Barrio has one surprise element, namely live-fire cooking. The bar comes from the team behind Xingones Cantina, and they’ve put together a menu of tacos, burritos, wings, and more, with many of the meats getting a turn over the mesquite grill, per a press release. 736 Washington Street, Oakland
OAKLAND — The South Korean chain Jjamppong Zizon expands into the Bay Area with the opening of its new restaurant in Oakland, East Bay Nosh reports. The restaurant has over 100 locations in South Korea, and the chain is known for its Korean Chinese dishes, as well as its use of a special sun-dried chile powder, used in the Hell Jjajangmyeon and Hell Jjamppong. (For what it’s worth, there are four levels of spice to choose from.) The only other California location is in Los Angeles, but another restaurant is set to open soon in Hayward, per Nosh. 3905 Broadway, Oakland
OAKLAND — East Bay Nosh also shares news of the opening of Bar Skula, a new restaurant from the team behind Luka’s in downtown Oakland. The beloved Luka’s was forced to close in January 2022 after they couldn’t lock down a new lease with their landlord, but now the team has taken up the former Sidebar location near Lake Merritt. Opening Wednesday, July 1, Owners Maria Alderete and Rick Mitchell call the new restaurant a “Luka’s remix” with a mix of hit dishes and drinks from both Luka’s and Sidebar. Sidebar bar manager Jared Hirsch consulted on the cocktail menu, with reworked drinks such as the Caged Heat cocktail, but he’s also added in new options, such as specialty gin and tonics. Meanwhile, Luka’s fries and burger make a comeback on the food side, along with new vegetarian items, aguachile, and more. 542 Grand Avenue, Oakland
SONOMA — The team behind the Girl & the Fig adds another restaurant to their repertoire with the opening of Dead Letter, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Located in a former post office off Sonoma Plaza, close to Girl & the Fig, Dead Letter utilizes a Spanish charcoal grill for much of its menu, including vegetables, bone-in strip steak, and Ora King salmon. For drinks, the restaurant stocks a mostly international wine list, per the Chronicle, and there is a cocktail program in place with drinks like Misspeled, a cocktail that mixes bourbon, Cardamaro, Amaro Averna, and sherry. 101 East Napa Street, Sonoma
REDWOOD CITY — New Mediterranean restaurant Reef Zaman has opened in Redwood City, taking over a former Sizzler location on Veterans Boulevard, Palo Alto Online reports. Led by chef Mohammed Al-Omari, previously of Mazra, diners can expect dishes such as fattoush salad, wraps, charcoal-grilled lamb chops and branzino, and more. Already, owner Faris Alqabass plans to expand the restaurant to Walnut Creek alongside an expansion of his other restaurant, Mandi House, to Sacramento. 1011 Veterans Boulevard, Redwood City
July 8
SOMA — Mid-Market food hall Saluhall has seen a number of vendors exit over the last year, but now two new businesses enter the arena as of Tuesday, July 7. Oklava is a new restaurant serving Turkish and Mediterranean food on the ground floor, offering Turkish coffee alongside baklava, avocado toast, lahmacun, and other dishes. Spirited at Saluhall is the new bar activation on both floors, taking over the former bar spaces at the food hall. That venture is led by Spirited Beverage Co., part of the Always Fishing Hospitality Group. The bars pack in newly developed cocktails alongside local beer, wine, and spirits. 945 Market Street, San Francisco
NOE VALLEY — Bonita Taqueria y Rotisserie is hitting its stride, opening its third location in Noe Valley. Opening in the former Tacolicious location at 4063 24th Street, Bonita brings rotisserie chicken and other taqueria classics to the neighborhood, such as chilaquiles, several styles of tacos, such as mahi mahi and quesabirria options, plus tortas and more. The new restaurant is open as of Wednesday, July 8, joining sister locations in the Marina and Russian Hill. 4063 24th Street, San Francisco
OAKLAND — A new restaurant touting Japanese-style hamburg steak has opened in Oakland. Say hello to Twin Flame, a Korean-Japanese robata restaurant; the new eatery held a soft opening Wednesday, July 1, and Thursday, July 2, with plans for a grand opening set for Thursday, July 9. Diners can expect hamburg steak grilled on binchotan charcoal served with various sauces, while sides lean more toward Korean dishes, such as gamja jeon, crispy potato pancakes that comes with truffle aioli sauce. 230 West MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland
OAKLAND — A new barbecue spot rolls into Oakland with the opening of Saints Smokehouse, a new restaurant from chef Rashad Armstead. A former Chopped contestant, Armstead threw open the doors to the space on Saturday, July 4; he started as a weekend pop-up, building up word of mouth for his brisket, ribs, and smoked gouda mac and cheese leading up to the opening. 218 13th Street, Oakland
July 2
MISSION BAY — San Francisco Brewing Co. expands its footprint in the city with the opening of a new brewery and restaurant on Friday, June 26, debuting in the former Seven Stills location. It’s part production brewery, part casual restaurant, with the latter featuring seasonal items such as a little gem Caesar or heirloom tomatoes with stone fruit, as well as staples like pepperoni Sicilian pizzas, meatballs, and IPA pulled pork tacos. There will be plenty of beer to go around, naturally, but there are also cocktails on draft, such as vodka espresso martinis. 100 Hooper Street, San Francisco
LOWER HAIGHT — Chef Susan Dunn is the partner at Pearl 6101, but now she’s starting her new solo venture, Esme, a French bistro nestled inside the Metro Hotel, Tablehopper reports. Taking over the former Ragazza space, Dunn’s serving French bistro classics alongside a hefty, French-leaning wine list. 311 Divisadero Street, San Francisco
HAIGHT — Nightlife favorite Club Deluxe is reborn as the DeLuxe, retaking its throne as a live jazz destination on Haight Street, seven nights a week. Reopened by Christian Beaulieu, a musician and former Club Deluxe bartender, and Jay Bordeleau, owner of Mr. Tipple’s Jazz Club, the duo have refurbished the space, adding in special touches such as a mural highlighting the club’s history. The drinks menu features updated, classic cocktails, such as the Perfect Martinez, with gin, vermouths, bitters, and maraschino, along with a selection of beer and wine. 1511 Haight Street, San Francisco
OAKLAND — Vegan restaurant Millennium closed on Saturday, May 16, after 30 years in business, but now the restaurant is back, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The restaurant reopened as of Wednesday, June 17, and this time there is a new format: namely, there is a tasting menu served on the patio. It’s a move meant to control costs and reduce waste, the Chronicle states, although there is a smaller a la carte menu available in the main dining room as well. 5912 College Ave, Oakland
BERKELEY — Nearly two years after opening as a bottle shop and wine bar, Mile Limit has evolved into its final form as of Wednesday, July 1: a vinyl lounge with cheese boards, crudo, conservas made in-house, and more, all made to pair with the bar’s natural wine selections. Visitors can order dishes such as lamb kefta or oxtail grilled cheese sandwiches, along with dishes like Salt Spring mussels in escabeche, or partake in a $1 oyster happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays. The space comes from the team behind La Marcha, located just a few doors down. 2040 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley
POINT REYES STATION — Bar Auklet is a new restaurant opening on Thursday, July 2, inside the former Station House Cafe, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The restaurant is led by chef Anthony Paone, formerly of Campanella, and the menu highlights local seafood, such as oysters, Dungeness crab, and anchovies. A wood-fired grill adds another element to the menu with items such as squid with lemon ketchup and fermented cayenne. Drink options include a wine list focused on European wines, vermouth cocktails, plus craft beers and sodas made in-house. 11180 Highway 1, Point Reyes Station
