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After so many restaurant closures last year, there are many exciting new eateries ready to open.
If ever there was a year to pay attention to new local businesses, it is 2021. Typically, every January or February, our food writers and colleagues around the Bay Area set their sights on the most highly anticipated new restaurants coming to the region. These are the hot spots, up-and-coming chefs and ones to watch. Somehow, this year, during an unprecedented time of loss that the National Restaurant Association estimates at 110,000 restaurants, or 1 in 6, gone, restaurateurs in Northern California are still making headlines for their forthcoming new destinations, from San Jose to Tiburon and everywhere in between.
Some restaurants were in the works before the pandemic and were delayed because of the shelter-in-place mandates. Others are lifelong dreams or permanent pivots, fine dining establishments put to rest in favor of takeout-friendly, fine-casual fare. Here are 12 we’ll be keeping our eyes on. You should, too.
Bar Quiote, Livermore
You know mezcal. But what about sotol, bacanora and raicilla? These Mexican artisanal spirits — plus one killer hot dog — will be the focus of this cocktail bar and eatery from a team that includes the co-founders of Range Life in Livermore.
Bar Quiote, owned and operated by Waine Longwell (co-founder and former bar director of Range Life), Lauren Heanes-longwell (co-founder and former creative director of Range Life) and Christian Schaal (former bar manager of Zebulon in Los Angeles), will offer their version of a traditional Sonoran hot dog with bacon, beans, pico de gallo, salsa verde and cotija, alongside a selection of other Southwest-inspired bar fare.
In addition to craft cocktails, Bar Quiote will serve flights of rare and artisanal Mexican spirits on ceramics from Oaxaca. The interior space features lime-washed walls and a custom, horseshoe-shaped bar made from hickory wood.
DETAILS » Bar Quiote is projected to open in mid-march at 112 Maple St., Livermore; www.facebook.com/barquiote.
Be.stéak.ă, Campbell
This fine dining steakhouse from chef Jeffrey Stout of Orchard City Kitchen technically opened in December with a seven-course tasting menu for curbside pickup only. Yeah, we didn’t go for that, either.
But as of Feb. 12, Stout is now open for outdoor dining with a menu of small plates, steak cuts, pastas and side dishes in an alfresco-centric setting, with two heated patios that seat up to 60 people.
Among the signature offerings are beef fat popovers, prosciutto di Parma with gnocco fritto, gnudi pomodori, roasted pumpkin cappellacci, bistecca alla Fiorentina, griddled polenta cake and Salzburger nockerl. The beverage program features a wine list of 300 bottles with an emphasis on Italy and elegant, palate-cleansing cocktails, like the Velvet Cummerbund, made with gin, fino sherry, anisette, falernum and basil.
Inside, when seating is permitted, you’ll find Chitarra artwork
and a color scheme of neutral whites, blues, gray and burnt orange, complemented by light walnut stained tabletops adorned with white linen tablecloths. Definitely a showstopper and one to watch in the South Bay.
DETAILS » Open for outdoor dining from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday at 1887 S. Bascom Ave., in the Pruneyard Shopping Center, Campbell; besteaka.com.
5 Tacos & Beers, Walnut Creek
Lito Saldana, the chef-owner behind 5 Tacos & Beers in Albany and El Cerrito, is bringing the Mexican beer garden concept to the former Tender Greens space in downtown Walnut Creek. They’ll serve five different daily tacos, such as beef short ribs marinated in barbacoa adobo, made with organic meats and produce and handmade tortillas, along with 30 to 40 local craft beers from the custom keg room. Also, look for a weekend taco brunch with live music.
DETAILS » 5 Tacos & Beers is projected to open this summer at 1352 Locust St., Walnut Creek; www.5tacos.com.
Eataly, Santa Clara
The “shop, eat, learn” culinary experience known as Eataly is still on track to make its Silicon Valley debut later this year.
Construction is underway on the 51,000-square-foot, three-floor marketplace and restaurant complex — the first in Northern California — at Westfield Valley Fair as part of the Santa Clara center’s $1 billion expansion.
The concept has been called a Disneyland for Italian food lovers, with pasta, cheeses, sauces, gelato, wine, espresso — and loads of inspiration for the home cook — under one roof.
Entrepreneur Oscar Farinetti opened his first Eataly in Turin, Italy, in 2007, and the company now operates 41 stores globally. There are several in North America, including New York (two), Toronto, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The latest, a Dallas location, opened in 2020.
DETAILS » 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd., Santa Clara; www. eataly.com/us_en.
Dela Cura and Sundo, Oakland
Chef Chikara Ono will reinvent his former Swan’s Market izakaya, B-dama, as two casual concepts inspired by Japan’s department store food halls. Dela Curo will specialize in Japanese black curry, while Sundo’s focus will be on Japan’s famously thick, sweet milk bread fruit sandwiches. Both are takeout friendly and have been popping up on the menu at the Berkeley Bowl West Cafe, where chef Ono is operating during the pandemic.
DETAILS » Dela Cura and Sundo are slated to open this spring at 901 Washington St., Oakland; www.delacuro.com and www. instagram.com/sundo_oakland.
Momosan Ramen & Sake, San Jose
Yes, Masaharu Morimoto is still coming to town.
A year ago, the famed Iron Chef announced plans to bring his casual restaurant, Momosan, to Santana Row. “San Jose is a city with traditional culture, including traditions that are adapted from Japan, as well as the most advanced technology as the center of Silicon Valley,” Morimoto said in a statement at the time. “I am very excited to explore the challenges and opportunities such a unique place offers me.”
Morimoto envisions Momosan as a fun, casual environment for enjoying ramen, yakitori, sake and beer. For a sneak preview of what’s coming, check out the menu for the Waikiki, Seattle or New York City locations: Pork gyoza, soft-shell bao, chicken karaage and sushi mingle on the menu with a halfdozen ramen bowls.
Look for an early fall opening in the prime corner spot formerly occupied by Pasta Pomodoro, a spokeswoman for Santana Row said.
DETAILS » Santana Row Plaza and Olsen Drive, San Jose; www. momosanramen.com.
La Cocina Municipal Marketplace, San Francisco
Delayed by the pandemic, this highly anticipated womenled food hall — the first in the country — will open with six female food entrepreneurs. They are: Estrellita Snack’s, a Salvadoran spot for pupusas and tamales; chef-owner Tiffany Carter’s Boug Cali, known for gumbo and po’boys; Dilsa Lugo’s Los Cilantros Mexican fare; Kayma, an Algerian spot from Wafa and Mounir Bahloul; Mi Morena, a tacos de guisado kiosk from Guadalupe Moreno; and Nafy Flatley’s baobab-centric Senegalese juice business.
When it opens, the Municipal Marketplace will offer economic opportunity for low-income and immigrant women and a safe and accessible space for Tenderloin residents, according to its La Cocina founders. After a six-week pause on construction last March due to shelter-in-place mandates, construction resumed, and inspections were passed in December.
DETAILS » The marketplace is slated to open for takeout in early spring at 101 Hyde St., San Francisco; lacocinasf.org.
Square Pie Guys, Oakland
The crazy-popular San Francisco pizzeria known for Detroit-style artisanal pizzas will make its second home in Oakland this spring. Co-owners Marc Schechter and Danny Stoller will offer a similar menu to their Soma location: Signature cheddar cheese-edge and mozzarella pizzas, including the Bacon My Heart, the Big Von with ricotta cream and Mike’s Hot Honey, and the new Jlin Pie, a collaboration with basketball icon Jeremy Lin. In addition, they’re bringing Hetchy’s Hots, the restaurant’s online-only Nashville hot chicken sandwich shop, to Oakland as well.
DETAILS » Square Pie Guys is set to open in March at 499 Ninth St., Oakland, with the eatery opening at 11 a.m. daily; squarepieguys.com.
Headlands Brewing Co., Lafayette
The restaurant designers behind Drake’s Dealership and Arthur Mac’s Tap & Snack are responsible for this state-ofthe art brewery and taproom build-out, which will feature a 20-tap floating draft tower, two outdoor patios with fire pits and a beer garden.
Located next to Bonehead’s Texas BBQ and Locanda Positano, Headlands — which has been brewing its Hawk Hill Hefeweizen and Pt. Bonita Pilsner since 2013 — will offer smallbatch ales only available at the brewery, as well as guest beers, local wines, ciders and a light food program.
DETAILS » Headlands is slated to open this spring at 3420 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. Follow the taproom’s progress at headlandsbrewing.com.
Sweet Maple, Palo Alto
Hoyul Steven Choi’s San Francisco-based restaurant empire is expanding. And he’s bringing his wildly popular Millionaire’s Bacon with him.
The restaurateur, known for both Korean-thai comfort food and brunches that feature the decadent sweet-and-spicy bacon, opened his first eatery in San Francisco in 2002 with his wife, Jiyeon. That was followed by other S.F. and East Bay locations of his Kitchen Story, U:dessert Story and Sweet Maple concepts.
Construction is underway on this newest Sweet Maple, Choi’s first foray into the Peninsula/south Bay. Like the original, this will be a breakfast and lunch affair, with souffle skillets, Benedicts, morning pizzas, melts, burgers and a full menu of mimosas.
DETAILS » A late summer opening is projected at 150 University Ave. at High Street, Palo Alto; www.sweetmaplesf.com.
Bungalow Kitchen, Tiburon
Acclaimed chef Michael Mina and partner Brent Bolthouse, a Hollywood entrepreneur, have taken over the former Guaymas property — with its stunning views of San Francisco Bay and the city — and hope to create another destination restaurant.
Their new concept emphasizes the social side of dining with a community clubhouse and shared plates. The first Bungalow Kitchen will open in early March in Long Beach, with the Tiburon outpost slated to open later this spring.
Menu highlights will include Mina’s signature lobster pot pie along with new offerings such as a garden “punch” bowl with gazpacho shooters, vegetables and dipping sauces, and a carbonara pizza topped with crispy guanciale, Yukon Gold potatoes, pecorino Romano and a poached farm egg.
This will be the second pandemic-era launch for the Mina Group. His Wit & Wisdom Tavern opened in October in Sonoma County but is currently on hiatus.
DETAILS » Bungalow Kitchen may open as early as this spring at 5 Main St., Tiburon; www.bungalowkitchen.com.
Shepherd & Sims, Los Gatos
Silicon Valley restaurateurs Jim and Angelique Stump, the owners of The Table in San Jose’s Willow Glen and both Forthright Oyster Bar & Kitchen and The Vesper in Campbell, are behind this new farm-to-table concept that’s opening inside the former Viva Los Gatos restaurant space.
The Table regulars will recognize chef Jim Stump’s flair for elegant comfort food, with menu items like roasted cauliflower served al pastor style with pickled pineapple, smoked pico de gallo and lime crema; potato beignets with Spanish romesco; and tempura-batter broccoli with Mornay sauce and crispy prosciutto.
The restaurant’s interior design, courtesy of Angelique, will pay homage to Los Gatos’ history with a mural and to the town’s landscape with a mixture of natural woods and organic materials.
DETAILS » Shepherd & Sims is slated to open in late spring or early summer at 15970 Los Gatos Blvd., Los Gatos; www. sandslosgatos.com.
La Perla Puerto Rican Cuisine, Oakland
Set for a soft opening this week, La Perla is the highly anticipated brick-and-mortar restaurant from father-and-son duo Cheo and Gabriel Ortiz, who for the past three years have been slinging their mofongo — fried green plantains that are mashed, seasoned and topped with different meats — and other Puerto Rican specialties from a takeout counter inside Two Star Market in Oakland’s Dimond District.
Now their bodega days are over. With the eatery opening around the corner in a former Subway shop, the bright-walled La Perla will be the only stand-alone Puerto Rican restaurant in the East Bay. Expect long lines for the family recipes of chicharron de pollo, beef empanadilla and pernil, or slowroasted marinated pork. Grand opening details coming soon.
DETAILS » During the soft opening, La Perla’s takeout and outdoor seating will open at noon Tuesday-sunday at 3409 Fruitvale Ave., Oakland; www.findlaperla.com.