Mason Pacific To Reopen Soon, With New Chef Post-Fire

Mason Pacific To Reopen Soon, With New Chef Post-FirePhoto: Nathan Falstreau/Hoodline
Rose Garrett
Published on May 09, 2016

Good news for fans of Mason Pacific, the three-year-old restaurant that's quickly become a neighborhood favorite at the intersection of Nob Hill, Russian Hill and Chinatown. Though a March 7th fire temporarily shuttered the space, it's well on its way towards reopening—and will do so with a new chef aboard.

Today, the restaurant announced that Max Mackinnon, a chef whose Burlington, Vermont restaurant Pistou was nominated for James Beard Awards' “Best New Restaurant” in 2012, is on his way in, taking over from opening chef Sean McTiernan.

According to a press release:

"After three years of opening and building Mason Pacific's neighborhood following, Chef Sean McTiernan was able to take his first real break during the fire related closure, and the time off made him realize he was ready to find a new creative challenge. He is relocating to the Florida Keys to pursue his next food related adventure."

Mackinnon, who at age 29 seems to be something of a wunderkind, has had stints at Restaurant Relae in Copenhagen, Fish and Game in Hudson, New York, and Rose’s Luxury in Washington DC since leaving Pistou. “I want to create a neighborhood restaurant that’s worth traveling for," Mackinnon said of his new role at Mason Pacific, which will continue to serve its brand of seasonal bistro-inspired fare once it reopens.

And when will that be? Back in March, Shannon Thomson, who owns the restaurant along with husband Jay Thomson, told us that the restaurant would be "closed for a few weeks" but that she hoped to open again as soon as possible. Repairs are continuing, and new paint is going up as of today; look for the restaurant to open up sometime early this summer.