We've either heard about or dug in ourselves to various food and drink happenings in the FiDi and North Beach this week. Here's a quick recap:
In the FiDi...
Globe, 290 Pacific Ave., has closed after 18 years. According to Tablehopper, the final night was May 30th. The place was one of the few restaurants open late in the area and used to attract food and beverage industry folks after their shifts were done. It also was a local hangout for residents of the Gateway Apartments and others in the northeast waterfront.
Last time we spoke to the owner, Joseph Manzare, he complained business was hurting because word had gotten out that a developer was hoping to tear the building down and build market-rate condos on the site and the adjacent parking lot. This is true; the developer has held several community meetings to get input on the project. However, although Inside Scoop reports that Manzare said the landlord already had sold the building to developers, this is apparently not quite true.
On Friday, we spoke to Dorothy Berndt, an attorney for the building's owner, who said, "The lease would expire at the end of September, so they have the right to remain there until that time. The building has not been sold. It's under contract with contingencies" and if it is purchased, wouldn't change hands until March 1st, 2016, at the earliest. Nevertheless, as of Friday, the restaurant was being cleared out.
Globe is being cleared out.
In other news, Fora Think Space quietly opened on April 1st at 150 Broadway St. at Battery, combining a cafe in front and a separate conference room in back behind a secret door. The menu includes a smattering of gourmet sandwiches, empanadas, salads and specialty coffee.
Fora Think Space
A new bar called The Treasury is opening in late fall in the FiDi at 115 Sansome at Bush, according to Inside Scoop. Behind it are Arnold Eric Wong, Carlos Yturria, Phil West—all big food and beverage names in town who worked at Bacar—and Steven Werney. Bacar was an early hotspot in SoMa from 2000–2010 known for a big, blingy, bustling dining room and swanky downstairs jazz bar. Expect a blow-your-mind drink scene at the Treasury.
On top of that, The Barrel Room recently relocated to the FiDi from the Tenderloin, and Fish & Farm moved from the Union Square/Tenderloin border to the FiDi as well, with both opening in May. Could we be seeing a boom in happening eating and drinking destinations in the formerly fusty FiDi?
Fish & Farm.
In North Beach ...
North Beach is getting a new Irish pub, Bar Nua, in the former Trattoria Volare Cafe at 561 Columbus Ave. We ran into Vivian Michael Walsh, who confirmed it and said details would be forthcoming, so keep posted on Hoodline for a full article. Walsh also owns Durty Nelly's in the Sunset and Martin Mack's in the Haight. He's listed on the California Alcoholic Beverage Control license as a managing member of Bar Nua along with Brendan John Brannon and Seosamh Padraig Obriain.
The former Volare
Tablehopper reports Pete Mrabe of Pisto's Tacos and Chubby Noodle has purchased Amante at 570 Green St. Hoodline earlier reported Chubby Noodle, a pop-up in Amante, is moving to the former Pisto's Tacos space at 1310 Grant Ave. on June 15th. If the ABC license is to be believed, Mrabe's new restaurant will be called Pete's On Green.
Finally, SFGate reports that LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, in town for the NBA playoffs with the Golden State Warriors, dined in an upstairs private room at Park Tavern in North Beach on June 2nd. The team is staying in the FiDi at the Four Seasons, the article also said.
