In Business: Pause delays reopening of historic Tadich Grill.
Fans of Tadich Grill, one of the country’s oldest restaurants, will have to wait a while longer to revisit its vintage dining room.
The 171yearold Financial District establishment recently started taking reservations for a reopening date of Nov. 9 in anticipation of San Francisco allowing 50% indoor capacity at restaurants. But on Friday, city officials announced they were pausing San Francisco’s
reopening plans due to rising coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.
“We have to abide by the law,” said Michael Buich, owner of Tadich Grill. “We’re just going to have to wait and see what happens.”
After dabbling in takeout and delivery during the pandemic, Tadich Grill closed in July with the goal of reopening when indoor dining returned. The Buich family had previously said that 25% capacity wouldn’t make financial
“It’s somewhat frustrating for our employees and all of us and our customers,” Michael Buich, owner of Tadich Grill
sense for the restaurant, though, so they’ll keep waiting for 50%.
Tadich Grill had already lined up “a whole bunch of reservations” through online system Tock, Buich said. It was the first time the restaurant had ever taken reservations. Those dates are now being canceled.
For Buich, the rules have “been shifting all along, back and forth, and so it’s somewhat frustrating for our employees and all of us and our customers,” he said.
Laurie Thomas, executive director of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, said she’s been busy emailing restaurant owners over the change in plans.
“We’re disappointed on behalf of all our members, particularly those who were waiting for this 50% to reopen again, like Tadich Grill,” she said.
It’s unfortunate, she said, but at the same time, “We don’t want to get into a full additional wave and have to close down everything inside again.”
Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle. bitker @ sfchronicle. com Twitter: @ janellebitker