Benihana celebrated a ribbon-cutting at Bridgepointe Shopping Center in San Mateo on April 21, unveiling a new 7,000+ sq ft restaurant with 18 teppanyaki tables.

Carlos Altamirano will open Casa Sofia in May at 701 2nd St, a Latin American–meets–California restaurant set to serve fans and neighbors near Oracle Park.

Hong Kong Clay Pot Restaurant — a SF Chinatown institution since 1998 with a 7.8 from The Infatuation — has been closed after an April 7 inspection found cockroaches along the ceiling conduit, a cockroach egg on the dish shelf, Raid under the counter, and what appeared to be rodent poison on the floor under the dish machine. The ware washing machine was also producing no sanitizer.

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.

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.

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.

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.

PopUp Bagels is converting Lafayette's former Taco Bell into its first Bay Area shop this fall, promising hot whole bagels and rotating schmears.