Here's the latest in SF food news. In this edition: Chinatown loses a favorite spot for mochi waffles, a FiDI favorite expands, and a SoMa café celebrates its anniversary by turning back the clock on prices.
Closing
Chinatown
Enter the Café (1401 Powell St.)
After two years in the neighborhood, Chinatown coffee shop Enter the Cafe is closing on Sunday, July 28. Hoodline tipster Michael C. sent us a photo of a sign in the cafe's window, indicating that its lease is up and the owners have chosen not to renew it.
"The challenges have been great and small, but the connections we have made and the experiences we have had are invaluable," the note reads. "We hope to still see you around our neighborhood."
The cafe was a first-time business venture from husband-and-wife team Jessica Moy and Aurelio Pérez, alongside Moy's brother, Daniel Moy. Until Sunday, fans can drop by for one last Intelligentsia coffee, mochi waffle or breakfast banh mi sandwich.
Special
SoMa
Rocco’s Café (1131 Folsom St.)
SoMa's Rocco’s Café is coming up on its 30-year anniversary, and owner Don Dial has decided to celebrate with a special deal.
Next Tuesday, Dial will offer the cafe's full breakfast and lunch menu from 1990 — at the exact same prices as when it opened. Breakfast dishes, like ham and cheese omelettes and vegetarian frittatas, will run $4-7. For lunch, diners can enjoy eggplant parmigiana, linguini with clams and other Italian-American favorites for $7-9. (Dinner will remain at regular price, so be sure to come during the day.)
In a statement, Dial said he chose the date to coincide with the end of the month. "Just before their insanely high rent prices come due, I want to give my amazing customers a gift."
Looking back over the decades, he notes that staying in business hasn't been easy — pointing to his own high rent prices, and staff shortages caused by the housing crisis.
Opening
FiDi
Homage Ltd. (214 California St.)
Hoodline tipster Al M. alerted us that Homage Ltd. is now welcoming customers. A sequel to Homage (also in the FiDi, at 88 Hardie Pl.), it shares its sibling's focus on breakfast, lunch, and light after-work bites, with an emphasis on seasonality and the offerings of local farms.
At 38 seats, Homage Ltd. is slightly smaller than the original Homage, according to Eater SF. But it still has a robust menu, with dishes like overnight oatmeal, a breakfast burrito or avocado toast in the morning. Lunch options include a fresh burrata, English pea, and quinoa bowl; or a chicory and stone fruit salad with toasted cashews, feta cheese, and a fresh mint-lemon vinaigrette.
After-work visitors can enjoy low-ABV cocktails, beer, cider, and vermouth, alongside a selection of "twilight" snacks like baked oysters, chicken wings and cheese and charcuterie boards.
Thanks to our tipsters Michael C. and Al M.! Have you noticed a new addition to (or subtraction from) San Francisco's food landscape? Text a tip and a horizontal photo to 510-757-9959, and we'll look into it.
