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

From the team behind The Morris comes this seafood-focused spot, perfect for raw bar towers, plates of shrimp chorizo, duck-and-lobster mortadella charcuterie, cocktails on tap, and a wine list that’s fun to peruse. Whole roasted Petrale sole and super craggy fried chicken are the way to go, followed by a giant slice of chocolate cake.

Minimalist and almost monastic by design, Sushi Ai is where you’ll find beautifully prepared dishes made with ingredients from Japan and local purveyors. You might see things like braised ankimo (creamy monkfish liver) and ikura on a nori chip alongside pristine nigiri. Bonus: The in-house dry-aging fish program brings flavors to their peak.

This cozy 16-seater blends French, Japanese, and local flavors for fresh, light lunches and refined contemporary tasting menus at night. During the day, expect things like chicken cordon bleu or chirashi bowls; at night, the menu changes regularly, but you might see leek soup, trout with carrot salad and yuzu kosho, and pistachio cake with condensed milk ice cream.

The unique combination of Italian and Mexican flavors come alive in this swank and sparkling downtown spot. The two cuisines intertwine everywhere, from the focaccia with avocado butter to the birria lasagna. Classic cocktails and a few unique concoctions round things out.

The shiny new sister spot to the acclaimed (and beloved) Palm City Wines in the Sunset is Bar Jabroni, billed as “a restaurant disguised as a bar.” As you should expect from owners Monica Wong and Dennis Cantwell, the vibes are fun and casual, but the beverage offerings are top-tier and the food (pillowy soft gnudi with taleggio fonduta, beef tartare with pickled onion) will surprise and delight you. Go with someone you like enough to share bites with; or meet someone new at the fun bar.

It’s a new day for this iconic location in the Castro. Airy, streamlined, and more accessible than ever, you’ll find a seafood-focused menu with things like baked clams, smoked tuna tartare, and fried smelt. Plus, a fun wine list to pursue and some serious cocktail action.

Eight seats, 18 courses, and selections brought in by a preeminent fish broker who only sells directly to this one restaurant in the U.S.: No details are spared for this omakase experience, from the soy sauce to the vinegar used to season the rice. It’s no wonder the pop-up was so successful and destined to be a permanent fixture.

More casual than contemporary Indian sibling Rooh, Pippal is where you’ll find modern twists of regional Indian dishes, plus an array of uniquely fun and delicious cocktails.

Hidden below Liholiho Yacht Club is the Gen-Gen Room, which is newly reopened after a long hiatus. It’s now a private event space and the beautiful jewel box of a room can fit 10 to 20 diners. The price includes a seated, family-style menu, Tuesday through Saturday.

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.

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?

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.