Fat Cat x The Mantis has quietly turned into Mission-Bernal’s buzziest new hangout, pairing Jess Bell’s playful wine program with chef Kevin Tang’s Southern Vietnamese cooking. The room keeps the bubblegum-pink energy of its former life but trades pinball machines for disco balls, shelves of easy-drinking bottles, and a nine-course tasting menu that is surprisingly affordable by San Francisco standards. Service leans bar-first, so grabbing a stool is still the quickest way to see what the kitchen is firing that night.
As reported by The San Francisco Standard, the collaboration centers on approachable, easy-drinking wines that play nicely with that nine-course menu, which the outlet describes as unusually affordable for the city. The Standard also notes Bell’s fondness for aromatic chilled reds, Lambrusco, and skin-contact Gewürztraminers, bottles chosen to meet curious drinkers where they are rather than intimidate them with a giant list.
A roommate concept for the times
Fat Cat and Claws of Mantis moved into the former Outer Orbit space and chose to share rent and overhead as a practical path to a permanent home, according to Mission Local. The partnership grew out of a run of pop-ups, with Bell hosting wine nights while Tang guest-cooked, and the pair ultimately decided that a shared address was the only way the economics of a full-time spot really worked.
Food, price and hours
Kevin Tang has shifted Mantis from its earlier prix-fixe format to a more casual a la carte setup, with appetizers in roughly the 12 to 27 dollar range, entrees running about 29 to 58 dollars, and two desserts on offer, per SFGATE. SFGATE also reports that Fat Cat opened in April and that Tang marked a May 22 grand opening for Mantis. The Mantis serves dinner Friday through Monday, while the wine bar pours on additional nights.
Wine program and philosophy
Fat Cat’s website frames the bar as an extension of the Fat Cat Wine Club, with a focus on under-represented producers and low-intervention bottles, plus by-the-glass options and various membership tiers, per Fat Cat. That setup gives the team room to pour idiosyncratic but affordable wines alongside Tang’s playful, regionally inspired Vietnamese dishes, keeping the whole experience short of full-on splurge territory.
Vibe and what to try
Reviewers highlight the candy-colored decor, the staff’s easy banter, and a lively regular crowd as a big part of the draw, and they suggest snagging a bar seat early to chase standouts like a strawberry-topped trout crudo or soy-filled crispy tofu, according to The Infatuation. The nine-course tasting is still on the table for anyone in the mood for a more theatrical night out, but plenty of guests seem content to linger over bottles, cheese, and small plates while the soundtrack does its work.
For now, Fat Cat x The Mantis feels like a practical and joyful response to the cost of opening in San Francisco, two small operators sharing one storefront so guests get more nights, more bottles, and more food options. Check hours and bookings on the wine bar’s site before you go, since the team’s schedule can shift with special dinners and pop-ups, per Fat Cat.
