Rice Paper Scissors Ends Lunch Service At Brick & Mortar TodayRice Paper Scissors' makeshift dining room at Brick & Mortar. (Photos: Brittany Hopkins/Hoodline)
Brittany Hopkins
Published on November 20, 2015

Rice Paper Scissors, the Vietnamese restaurant that first popped up on Divisadero four years ago, is ending lunch service at Brick & Mortar (1710 Mission St.) after today.

Co-owner Katie Kwan said the decision to end Rice Paper Scissors' two-year run at Brick & Mortar allows them to focus on building their business plan to open their own restaurant.

Starting Dec. 1st, Kwan said her business partner Valerie Luu will work out of the commissary kitchen at 555 Golden Gate Ave. — the former Stars Restaurant. They're good friends with the folks behind the kitchen's current tenants, Fine & Rare and Stag Dining, and are batting around ideas for hosting a ticketed dinner series in the space as early as January or February, she said. They'll continue their Thursday night pop-ups at Mojo Bicycle Cafe on Divisadero as well.

While Kwan said the time was right to grow their business and establish their own home base, they will miss the neighborhood they're departing — especially their loyal customers. Brick & Mortar is surrounded by city departments like Planning and Health and Human Services, and they were surprised to find a following of city workers, whom Kwan describes as "so appreciative and extremely loyal." Many came in three to four times a week, she said, and they hope that their future events will help retain that crowd while the business transitions.

Kwan setting up for RPS' last lunch service at Brick & Mortar.

As for a permanent space, Kwan said they love Divisadero, but are well aware that "rent is a beast" in that area. Being bike-accessible has always been a priority, so they're also considering flat areas like the Lower Haight, Mission, Outer Mission and Potrero corridor.

In the meantime, their temporary downtown location "will be a learning experience," Kwan added. She and Luu are regulars at the Heart of the City Farmers Market on Sundays, where Southeast Asian veggies are plentiful, and look forward to being on the edge of Little Saigon and surrounded by Vietnamese culture.

Rice Paper Scissors' lunch service at Brick & Mortar closes for the last time at 2pm today. After that, look for future events at 555 Golden Gate Ave. or stop by Mojo Cafe on Thursday evenings as usual.