The Bay Area’s Newest Restaurant Openings, Now on Resy

At this new oyster bar, chef Melissa Perfit whips up lovingly-made seafood, from homages to the city (Wharf-style shrimp cocktails, crab rolls, Louie salads) to more creative interpretations, like caviar-laden seafood platters and grilled oysters topped with sausage, orange, and charred spring onions. Bonus: Its location on the corner of Chestnut and Steiner makes for excellent people watching.

Geoff Davis’ long-awaited Oakland spot is fueled by family history, stories, and spirit — from both the chef and the team. You feel that light everywhere, from the mural outside to the church pews inside, and most of all, the personal interpretations of soul food on the plates. Expect dishes like chicken liver mousse with maple vinaigrette and a cornmeal waffle; okra stew with sesame; and pork neck chop with chanterelles, peach jam, and mustards.

Read more about Burdell here.

Chef Adam Tortosa’s contemporary omakase is a perfect fit for the Peninsula crowd. Like the original Hayes Valley outpost, it’s less about the bounty of Japan for the menu, and more about top-tier ingredients available here. The customized menu fits any price and preference; just make sure to sit back and enjoy the show.

The beloved and critically acclaimed Hopscotch has been reborn as Good Luck Gato. Billed as an “izakaya cantina,” the new concept celebrates the cultures of its talented team — Kyle Itani, who you will will remember from the space’s prior incarnation, and Matthew Meyer and Daniel Paez, who are the folks behind Low Bar.

The former Locanda/Ancora has been reborn as Barberio Osteria, thanks to the team behind AltoVino. Here, chef Nick Kelly is showcasing his talent with rustic Italian fare, and let’s just say you won’t want miss the pasta magic happening.

Chef Anthony Salguero’s wood-fired papusas are worth traipsing around Oakland for, but we, along with just about everyone, are happy to know they’re in one place now. After years of pop-ups, Popoca has its own digs in the Old Oakland neighborhood, where the papusas, chicken with fermented pineapple sauce, and other Cali-Salvadoran specialties are happily devoured.

The blend of Persian and Mexican influences permeates the entire space, from the boldly rich colors in the dining room to the menu. Think pomegranate paired with adobo, and saffron-infused Tequila on the cocktail side. Even the brunch menu’s in on it — yes to huevos rancheros with refried garbanzos, Aleppo salsa macha and eggs.

The sea is a subtle context in this light and bright modern Pacific Heights spot. From the same team behind neighborhood favorite Snug, this is the place for oysters, a salad, and a spritz during the day. At night, it’s miso bone marrow-baked oysters, whole roasted branzino, and more. Caviar is anytime, of course, and the low-ABV drinks and low-intervention wine list make going with the flow pretty easy.

Fire pits, low-slung sofas, al fresco cocktails on the rooftop, and sweeping views of Mt. Tam are worth a Marin County outing. The food, from oysters and crudo to chicken souvlaki, is snackable and shareable. Even locals feel like they’re on vacation here.

Fully plant-based at this Danville spot means no fake meat products, just fresh, seasonal produce and locally-sourced ingredients. The pretty space is full of blue patterns and hues, with lots of plants (decorative and possibly edible) around. Even the wines are vegan (and some cocktails zero-proof). 

Prominent Malaysian chef Azalina Eusope takes you on a spin through night markets and home kitchens with her prix fixe menu at her colorful Tenderloin spot. You’ll find soulful dishes, like roti jala, a lacy crêpe served with curry, plus wine and mocktails for pairing.

You know life is back in order when you can get a beer boot and bratwurst at Leopold’s. The friendly neighborhood gasthaus has a few nips and tucks, and a fresh coat of paint, but the lively atmosphere remains. As does the schnitzel, and really, isn’t that all that matters?

With a group of friends who met at SingleThread behind the banner here, there’s no doubt the Healdsburg spot hits a lot of great notes. The room is muted but lively, the food seasonal, fresh, and elevated, and the wine list impeccably curated. Local halibut crudo with chili oil, gnocchi with porcini cream, squash blossom pizza — it’s hard to find a miss.

An offshoot of the OG Flour + Water, the light and airy room, complete with buzzing open kitchen, is just the kind of place you want for diving into saucy, pillow-crusted pies; mozzarella sticks; and beautiful seasonal chopped salads. For dessert, pick your soft serve flavors and toppings. The salted caramel ice cream with brown butter cereal crunch is a tough one to beat.

Doesn’t matter what coast or waterfront view, chef Helene Henderson’s farm-fresh dishes are quintessentially Californian. The Marin outpost has all the favorites: watermelon cocktails, lobster sliders, roasted chicken with cauliflower mash, and more.

The team behind the stellar Ungrafted has unveiled a new wine bar right next door to Chase Center. As at Ungrafted, expect top-tier wine and food options to mix and match as you wish. A crew of master sommeliers handles the wine, while chef David Aviles has built the menu around Mediterranean flavors.

A boulangerie and cafe by day and a full-scale restaurant by night, Troubador already has Healdsburg abuzz. You’ll want to grab a Resy for the evening affair, wherein the team produces a French-inspired, six-course prix fixe menu that blends classic and modern.

Now that Cassava has opened in North Beach, Yuka Iori and Kris Toliao have resurrected their beloved Richmond restaurant space as a wine bar, appropriately titled Wine Bar by Cassava. You’ll find a rotating menu of fun wines, plus a short-but-smart menu of snacks.

Once you find this spot, hidden on the former naval station in Alameda, you’re rewarded with French-American classics with a heavy California focus and cocktails as good as anything you’d find in busier locales. Have a few bites, like smoked trout rillettes and an excellent clam chowder, or go big with a meaty burger or green curry salmon. Freezer martinis and Manhattans are a nice touch.

After one bite of chef Paul Iglesias’ posta negra — a beef short rib braised in cola and panela — you’ll realize how glad you are to have a new local spot for Colombian food. Contemporary but rooted in tradition, Parche packs a wallop of flavor and vibes in a colorful space that feels like a party. And it kind of is, especially when dining with a group, so you can share everything on the menu.

After hitting with Khamsa in the Mission, the same family extends its reach with the Morocco-meets-California flavors L’Mida. The decorative space is transportative, as is the food: flatbreads from the oven, aromatic tagine, and grilled whole fish with homemade harissa. Order a lot, bring friends, and commiserate over mint tea.

Like its sibling Kaiyo, it’s hard to focus on anything other than the stunning wrap-around views from Cavaña’s 17-story perch. But the cocktails and dishes, all tinged with Latin and South American influences, will pull your attention away for a few moments. Think: flaky pastels stuffed with Brazilian braised beef, cool aguachiles, low-intervention wines from Mexico, and a milk punch made with Bolivian brandy and hoja santa.

The menu at this cozy corner Nob Hill charmer belies its modest decor. Taking cues from his Emilia-Romagna upbringing, chef GianMarco Cosmi creates ethereal pasta dishes, like ravioli carbonara with pecorino foam and passatelli with porcini mushrooms, among a smattering of antipasti. Don’t leave without at least one bite of panna cotta.

From the same team behind Novato’s Boca Pizzeria, Mamita celebrates the flavors of Oaxaca, from the chiles and spices for the mole coloradito to the wood-fired carne asada and vegetables tucked into tacos and tortas. Craving a margarita? A Tequila cart will bring the spirits right to your table.

The Pacific Heights corner of Fillmore and California is now home to Pinsa Rossa, which specializes in — you guessed it — pinsa, the Roman-style pizza sweeping San Francisco.