The Playground Café returns May 1 to St. Stephen’s with a weekend-first menu, grab-and-go bowls and a kids’ play area. The relaunch emphasizes family-friendly outdoor dining.

Phin and Bowl took over the former Hoagie Steak Out at 304 S. Third St., bringing a Vietnamese café-and-bowl concept to downtown San Jose.

A Philadelphia brewer has revived San Francisco’s 21st Amendment, returning Hell or High Watermelon and Brew Free! to Bay Area shelves while searching for a new regional brewing home.

Smish Smash, a former Oakland pop‑up now at Saluhall, landed on Food & Wine’s list of top new burger spots after inventive specials like the Dac Biet and Mk’Rib. The owners say the mention feels surreal even as they wait to see if it brings more traffic to the downtown stall.

Clementina opened in the Inner Richmond as San Francisco’s first fully gluten‑free Italian restaurant. The Montesacro team says the menu aims to be neighborhood‑friendly while being celiac‑safe.

A local bakery family is taking over The Peasant’s Courtyard in Alamo and reopening it Monday as The Courtyard Restaurant, with a seasonal menu planned for May 4.

Falasteen, a Palestinian Kitchen + Bar in Noe Valley, centers family recipes, shared mezze and Palestinian wines — aiming to let culture, not conflict, guide the table.

The College Avenue Ike’s has shut and tipsters report several Berkeley eateries — including a juice shop, a Telegraph spot and a Thai kitchen — have been flagged closed. Online listings and ordering pages show mixed signals.

Chez TJ announced it's closing after 43 years in an Instagram post that gave no final date. The Mountain View tasting-menu staple leaves a lasting legacy as a training ground for top chefs.

A landlord dispute pushed a Fruitvale home kitchen into Aloha Club, where InNenasKitchen's kathiew now sells out on weekends.

The Melting Pot is targeting San Jose for a late‑2026 opening — a potential first Bay Area outpost in years. The chain is expanding after a major brand makeover.

Cà Phê Việt opened in downtown San Francisco with egg coffee, salted-cream drinks and banh mi. The owners plan a Union Square location in June.

Parkside Eats has taken over the former Lepe’s Taqueria in Santa Rosa and is drawing crowds for a $21 Parkside cheeseburger and a menu of Mexican‑leaning comfort food.