Hoodline Editors' Picks: The Best Spicy Food, By Neighborhood
Need a burst of endorphins after this past week? Our editors share their neighborhood favorites for spicy eats.
SF Eats: The Detour plans menu revamp, Tartine re-opens and Juice Portal debuts
A juice bar opens in West Portal, a restaurant/bar/arcade changes up its food menu, and a popular bakery opens after being shut down by the health department.
Castro arcade bar The Detour hits pause button, temporarily shutters pending COVID vaccine
"We made the tough decision to shift The Detour into hibernation mode for the next few months until a vaccine is released," said co-owner Shawn Vergara.
French restaurant & wine bar Aquitaine opens along Church St. after delay
French bistro and wine bar Aquitaine has opened at 216 Church St. after a months-long delay due to shelter-in-place restrictions. Aquitaine's first day of business was on Election Day Tuesday, November 3.
Mexican restaurant Santeria, from Tacorgasmico team, headed to former Finn Town space
In some rare good news about an upcoming restaurant opening the Castro, Hoodline has learned that Santería, a new Mexican restaurant and cocktail bar, is headed to the former Finn Town Tavern space at 2251 Market Street.
LA-based deli Heroic Italian opens pop-up in Castro with delicious sandwiches and salads
Los Angeles-based sandwich outfit Heroic Italian recently got its feet wet in the Bay Area, launching a pop-up in mid-December inside wine and spirits shop Swirl on Castro (572 Castro Street). With online ordering available, it's a quick and delicious lunch or dinner option — and if you pick it up yourself rather than opting for DoorDash delivery, you can snag a bottle of wine too.
Castro Mexican restaurant & margarita bar Santeria now open
Over the weekend, the Castro's newest Mexican restaurant and margarita bar Santeria (2251 Market St.) softly opened in the former Finn Town space — and it's the sister restaurant to Tacorgasmico a block away.
Nine Super Bowl-themed takeout and delivery options for you to enjoy at home this Sunday
The 55th Super Bowl kicks off this Sunday with the Kansas City Chiefs aiming to defend their title against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Looking for some food and libation options to enjoy while watching the game at home? From hearty brisket slider kits to Spanish-influenced snack packages, we’ve got you covered.
Castro neighborhood bar Pilsner Inn reopens with patio seating after nearly one-year hiatus
Castro neighborhood bar Pilsner Inn (225 Church St.) reopened last week after a nearly one-year hiatus caused by shelter-in-place restrictions. The Pilsner's first day of outdoor drinks and food was February 5, much to the delight of customers, employees, and the bar's owners.
Owners of Castro's Fable Restaurant talk about surviving pandemic losses, and doubling down on their back patio
Fable co-owners Ramsey Garcia and Jon Vargas tell Hoodline about their pivot to takeout, getting a too-small PPP loan, and spending part of last year renovating their garden patio.
Team with Saison ties set to open Mexican restaurant Comodo in the Castro
Hoodline has learned that two people who are part of the restaurant group behind two-Michelin-starred Saison are set to open a new Mexican restaurant at 2223 Market St., formerly Nomica and before that neighborhood favorite 2223 Restaurant.
Chef Melissa Perello on the reopening of Octavia and Frances: 'It's like opening two brand new restaurants'
It's been a long 14 months of total closure for a pair of acclaimed neighborhood restaurants, Octavia and Frances, both of which were opened by chef Melissa Perello in the last decade. And she says that the team is taking the task of reopening them one step at a time, with Octavia happening first.
Mission Bay coffee truck Spro Coffee expanding to the Castro this summer
Castro residents will soon have another cafe option in the neighborhood. Mission Bay-based mobile cafe Spro Coffee Lab will be opening its second location at 500 Church St., formerly Mauerpark.
Game On: Castro arcade bar The Detour hits the restart button
Castro arcade bar and restaurant The Detour is set to reopen Monday, July 5, after hitting the pause button in October and temporarily closing due in part to COVID-19.
Multiple Castro bars & restaurants temporarily close due to Omicron surge [Updated]
Over the holiday weekend, multiple Castro neighborhood bars and restaurants announced they would be temporarily closed due to the recent surge of Covid-19 infections brought on by the Omicron variant.
Castro business briefs: Nash Hot Chicken & Ramen opens, Thailand restaurant quietly bows out, more
In this edition: a hot chicken and ramen restaurant and pet grooming store open in the Castro, a designer clothing store extends its stay, and a longtime Thai restaurant closes its doors.
Former Café Flore customer takes over the famed Castro cafe and will reopen it as something new
Café Flore was an LGBTQ+ haven in the Castro neighborhood for over 45 years. Now, the space will finally come alive again later this year under a new owner, who was a former customer.
Specialty market The Epicurean Trader opening Castro location
The Epicurean Trader was just announced as the ground floor retail tenant at the new residential condo building 2238 Market — a.k.a. the development on the former Sullivan's Funeral Home property.
Frances chef-owner Melissa Perello talks about the new prix-fixe format, and the process of relaunching the 13-year-old neighborhood restaurant
"Ultimately this was a decision rooted in wanting to offer the best possible dining experience with the resources at our fingertips while maintaining as much of the original Frances character as possible," Perello says.
Salvadoran restaurant Los Amigos headed to former Castro Republic / Bagdad Café space
The long-vacant Castro storefront at 2295 Market Street (at Noe), will soon be occupied by Salvadoran restaurant Los Amigos, which opened a Mission District location in 2019.
Castro favorite Hot Cookie celebrates 25th Anniversary with rollback pricing & month-long festivities
Popular Castro cookie shop Hot Cookie (407 Castro St.) is celebrating its 25th anniversary with festivities all month long including rollback pricing and a customer appreciation party. Festivities kicked off Tuesday and will last throughout the entire month.
Going out with a bang: Castro restaurant & bar Harvey's set to host one final marathon event
Fans of longtime Castro dining, drinking, and event venue Harvey's (500 Castro St.) who were surprised by Sunday's sudden announcement of its closure after 27 years in the neighborhood will have one last chance to say goodbye.
Q Bar to swing back open on Castro Street this spring
At long last, one of the Castro's staple dance bars, Q Bar (456 Castro Street), is readying to reopen after a lengthy closure. After completing some renovations, owner Cip Cipriano says that the bar will be back open sometime this spring, at a date to be determined.
Castro Business Briefs: Castro Restaurant & Brewhouse changes concepts, U-niq Cuts opens, Niji Sushi shutters
Here's a brief roundup of recent changes to Castro area businesses. In this edition: an American and Asian-Indian fusion restaurant changes concepts, a barbershop opens, and a sushi restaurant shutters.
Salvadoran restaurant Los Amigos now open and serving late-night in former Castro Republic space
The Castro's new Salvadoran restaurant Los Amigos on Castro is now open in the long-vacant storefront at 2295 Market St. (at Noe and 16th). Los Amigos quietly opened on Sunday for brunch.
California-Italian Fusion Restaurant The Rustic Opening in Former Chow/Cook Shoppe space
A new restaurant is heading to the Church and Market corridor. California-Italian fusion restaurant The Rustic is set to take over 215 Church Street, the space that was most recently home Cook Shoppe, but which has sat empty for four years.
Planning Commission approves Castro specialty market Muuu Meat
Last week, the San Francisco Planning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit for specialty market Muuu Meat at 3998 18th Street (at Noe), formerly home to a 7-Eleven.
Reopening of Castro's Cafe Flore Delayed as Construction Begins
The reopening of the Castro's historic neighborhood restaurant Cafe Flore (2298 Market St.), now to be called Fisch & Flore, has been delayed as construction officially kicked off two weeks ago.
Beaux Management Team Set to Open New Bar & Nightclub in Former Harvey's Space at Castro & 18th
A new ownership group with decades of combined Castro nightlife experience will soon be opening a bar and nightclub in the former Harvey's space at 500 Castro St.
California-Italian Restaurant The Rustic, From a Chez Panisse Alum, Now Open in Former Chow Space
Church and Market's newest Cal-Italian fusion restaurant, The Rustic, is now open at 215 Church Street, formerly the space that housed Chow and, briefly, Cook Shoppe.
Castro Seafood Restaurant Anchor Oyster Bar Temporarily Closes for Long Overdue Seismic Retrofit [Updated]
Popular Castro seafood restaurant Anchor Oyster Bar (579 Castro Street) will temporarily close on Tuesday as it undergoes a long overdue mandatory soft-story retrofit.
New Castro Bar Pink Swallow Receives Planning Commission Approval
On Thursday, the San Francisco Planning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit for the new Castro bar and nightclub now called Pink Swallow at 500 Castro Street (at 18th), formerly home to restaurant and bar Harvey's.
Hi Tops Alum Opening New Castro Restaurant & Bar at Long-Troubled Former Bagdad Café Space
A new Castro restaurant and bar is headed for the long-troubled former Bagdad Café space at 2295 Market Street (at Noe), more recently known as Los Amigos Diner.
Inside Fisch & Flore — Castro's New Seafood Restaurant Softly Opening Wednesday In Former Cafe Flore
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.
Castro Spanish/Mexican-Inspired Restaurant Copas Closing After Less Than 3 Years
After less than three years, Castro casual Mexican/Spanish-influenced restaurant Copas (2223 Market) has announced its closure. Copas' last day in business is Saturday, April 20.
French Bistro ChouChou Expanding to Castro, Taking Over Former Catch Restaurant Space
It didn't take long to fill one prominent restaurant space in the Castro! French bistro ChouChou will soon open in the former Catch restaurant space at 2262 Market, which Catch vacated in March after 22 years in the Castro.
Castro Restaurant & Bar 'Bar 49' Opens Tuesday at Long-Troubled Former Bagdad Café Space
The Castro's newest restaurant and bar from Hi Tops alum Colm O'Brien opens tonight (Tuesday, June 18) at the former Los Amigos / Bagdad Cafe space at 2295 Market Street (at Noe).
Castro Grocery Store Mollie Stone's Temporarily Closed by Health Department [Updated]
Castro grocery store Mollie Stone's at 4201 18th Street (at Collingwood) has been closed by the San Francisco Department of Public Health, which placed a notice on the store's front door on Thursday citing a "vermin infestation."
Castro Restaurant From Petaluma's Angela's Ice Cream Previous Owners Set to Take Over Former Vico Cavone / Firewood Space [Updated]
A new restaurant is on the way at 4248 18th Street, formerly Italian restaurant Vico Cavone and longtime Castro staple Firewood Cafe.
Castro Women's Sports Bar Rikki's Headed For Former Copas & 2223 Space
We now know the home of San Francisco's first women's sports bar. Rikki's, a new sports bar celebrating women's sports will open in the Castro at 2223 Market Street, formerly Copas.
Castro Business Briefs: Upgrades, Remodels, Grand Reopening & More
With January traditionally being a slower month for local businesses and restaurants, a handful of Castro area shops took advantage of the time to upgrade their storefronts.
Proposed Castro Bar & Restaurant Pink Swallow Scrapped; Team Takes on Partial Ownership of Beaux
An ambitious plan to open a new Castro bar & restaurant in the former Harvey's (500 Castro Street) space, along with an adjacent space, has been scrapped.
Castro Seafood Restaurant Fisch & Flore Closes After 1 Year; Pivots to Cafe Concept
After just a year, Castro’s Fisch & Flore has shuttered and will soon transform into a new café concept. The historic Market Street space is entering another chapter.
Double Scoop: Angela's Ice Cream Opens Noe Valley Scoop Shop & Another Planned For Castro's Former 7-Eleven
San Francisco will soon be getting a double scoop of Angela's Organic Ice Cream, with a shop already open in Noe Valley, and one coming to the Castro.
Fat Cat Wine Club Pop-Up Opens at Castro's Former Fisch & Flore Space
Castro residents walking by former seafood restaurant Fisch & Flore (2298 Market Street) over the weekend might have noticed the outdoor firepits have come back on, and seen customers inside the space.
Castro Beer Garden & Restaurant Willkommen Calls It Quits After 6 Years
After a little more than six years in the Castro, indoor/outdoor beer garden and restaurant Willkommen (2198 Market St. at Sanchez) has announced it will close.
After 54 Years, Castro & Duboce Triangle Family-Run Grocer Courtney's Produce Announces Closure
Castro and Duboce Triangle neighborhood favorite corner store Courtney's Produce has announced that it will close after 54 years in business. Courtney's last day will be Friday, December 5.
New Castro Mediterranean Restaurant 'Parasol at Flore' Takes Over Former Cafe Flore Space
A new California-Mediterranean restaurant called Parasol at Flore will be opening this spring in the space formerly occupied by historic neighborhood restaurant Cafe Flore (2298 Market Street).
Owners of The Café In Castro Set to Open Restaurant & Bar in Long Vacant Street-Level Space
The owners of Castro nightclub The Café are set to open a restaurant and bar in the long-vacant ground-floor space at 2367 Market Street.














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