San Francisco's beloved Emmy's Spaghetti Shack remains a staple in Bernal Heights, even as it waves goodbye to its original owner and welcomes a new face at the helm, Michael Irish, who has been pouring drinks and steering the cocktail program at the restaurant for the past three years. In news that surfaced last Wednesday, Emmy Kaplan, the founder who's nurtured the eatery since its inception, passed the torch to Irish, enabling the shack to maintain its cherished quirkiness and neighborhood charm, according to Eater SF.

Irish, an import from Brooklyn, brings more than just a knack for bartending to the spaghetti table; he becomes the proprietor of a spot that's woven into the fabric of the community, so much so that he has vowed to keep the spirit of Emmy's intact while introducing subtle touches of his own, including a refresh of the drinks menu and a tempting Monday night deal that boasts a full meal and wine for sixty bucks. According to Eater SF, Irish seeks to provide customers with both reasonable prices and the lively atmosphere they've come to love.

The transition from Kaplan to Irish might come as a shock to some devoted patrons, but both parties are approaching the change with a sense of reverence for what Emmy's represents. As detailed in an Instagram post by Emmy's Spaghetti Shack, Kaplan expressed her excitement for Irish and his family's new role while acknowledging the emotional weight of letting go of something so integral to her life. "Mike has seriously been my right hand man the last 2 years, revitalizing our cocktail program and helping me to keep things afloat during slow times with menu ideas," Kaplan conveyed, delineating Irish's readiness to take over.

While the iconic unicorn mural may have been replaced with what Irish described as old-school, 1950s wood paneling, he's determined to preserve the essence that made Emmy's Spaghetti Shack an endearing haunt for locals and visitors alike—and yes, the Dolly Parton booth isn't going anywhere. "Especially here and in Brooklyn, all these bigger cities, places just leave all the time," Irish mentioned in a comment to Eater SF.