The Castro's newest seafood restaurant Fisch & Flore (2298 Market Street) softly opens Wednesday inside the former longtime home of historic neighborhood restaurant Cafe Flore.
On Monday, a shoring wall, with a mural of late drag icon and nightlife promoter Heklina by muralist Josh Katz, was removed, revealing the remodeled restaurant.
New owner Serhat Zorlu tells Hoodline that the sustainable seafood restaurant reopens Wednesday — just in time for the relaunch of the weekly Castro Farmer's Market.
"We'll be ready to welcome guests after 4 p.m.," said Zorlu. "The event will be a casual gathering throughout our dining room and patio, with complimentary bites from our kitchen, and drinks available to purchase at our bar."
Fisch & Flore softly opens on Wednesday. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
"I'm happy we're opening," added Zorlu. "I'm happy when I hear people say they can't wait for Fisch & Flore to open."
Fisch & Flore will source its seafood from different certified sustainable wholesalers. A menu was not available at press time.
"We are concentrated on sustainable seafood," Zorlu previously told Hoodline. "We want to be one of the pioneers in the industry where we're going to be transparent about all the seafood we're going to sell."
During its first month, Fisch & Flore will only be open for dinner, allowing staff to get up to speed. Fisch & Flore will be open from Wednesday to Sunday. Next month the restaurant will open for lunch and dinner.
Construction workers removing the shoring wall. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
The now 51-year-old restaurant space has sat vacant for over four years after Flore closed in late 2019. Previous owners Terrance Alan and Luke Bruner attempted to switch to an events-only concept but that idea was quickly squashed by the onset of the pandemic.
Alan and Bruner successfully opened sister business Flore Dispensary (formerly Flore Store) across the street from the restaurant.
Zorlu took over the space in 2022 with plans of opening it by year's end, however those plans were quickly delayed multiple times due to construction and permitting issues.
Now open, Zorlu says he's excited to introduce Castro residents and visitors to Fisch & Flore.
Fisch & Flore's bar area. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
Fisch & Flore's remodeled and expanded kitchen. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
The interior and exterior patio spaces have been completely overhauled, including expanding the kitchen, remodeling the indoor and outdoor dining area, adding an ADA bathroom, repairing the restaurant's fence, and installing a fire suppression system.
Zorlu has also poured a new concrete slab for the patio and added two fire pits.
Public records indicate construction costs are estimated at $471,000.
Coffee, tea, and other non-alcoholic drinks will also be available from a coffee cart near the restaurant Noe's Street entrance.
The liquor license was transferred from Alan and Bruner however public records indicate longtime owner JD Petras remains on the license.
Inside Fisch & Flore's dining room area. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
According to Zorlu, an off-site prep kitchen behind what is now Flore Dispensary will still be used by Fisch & Flore.
The opening of Fisch & Flore comes after a handful of new Castro businesses have opened, including Chinese restaurant Joyful Garden.
Two more restaurants are on the way including Tacos El Tucán and Bar 49, a new restaurant and bar that Hi Tops alum Colm O'Brien is opening soon across the street from Fisch & Flore.
