UNION STREET SCOOP
Rebountiful
The doors to Café des Amis are about to open, and for us here on Union Street, I don’t think there has been a more anticipated opening. Three years in the making, less about two of those in legal problems, Perry Butler and his steadfast partners from Bacchus Group (owners of Spruce, Village Pub, etc.) have finally done it. The corner of Webster and Union is about to come alive. The Parisian-style brasserie (which will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner) is precisely what the doctor ordered for the continuing renaissance of our street. The food itself will be French with an innovative Northern Californian influence and will incorporate a combination of classic and contemporary dishes. And the decor? Ooh la la, what a transformation. This well-conceived and beautifully constructed restaurant (including the hand-selected exterior plantings and trees) is at once elegant, casual and chic. The multiple floor-to-ceiling French doors open to the street as tables spill out, creating a true Parisian setting, while the superb lighting, decor, and bar complete the European mood inside. It is exciting to say the least, an invigorating makeover that beautifully anchors the very center of Union Street.
At the same time, the long-closed Bayside Grill at 1787 Union has undergone its own transformation to emerge as Brick Yard Bar and Restaurant. No simple facelift here – more like an extreme makeover that includes beautiful skylights, custom wine displays, tile and hardwood floors, a private lounge, and an outdoor patio. Not just bar buzz this time, this full-on restaurant will be dishing out creative seasonal comfort and healthful food choices. Owned and operated by six local partners, The Brick Yard is set to establish themselves as a pure neighborhood bar and restaurant; not so much trendy as it is an easy place to drop in, meet friends, and perhaps watch a sporting event from one of the flat-screen HDTVs, all while having a great bite to eat. Choices from the menu include chopped-chicken lettuce cups, seared Ahi tuna, and thin-crust pizzas, along with signature cocktails
such as the Blood Caesar (a twist on the Bloody Mary).
As if the Brick Yard opening isn’t enough to jump start this end of Union, right next door at 1785 Union, Artisan Roam Burgers is about to kick off their own new restaurant, a casual, family-style high-end burger spot. No McAnything here. Instead, you might wrap your lips around a Pacific Blue cheeseburger with caramelized onions, or one with pepper jack and jalapeno relish. Perhaps you’ll wash it down with a Straus Family Creamery organic milkshake, a house-made soda, or a local brew. All of it will be served in a modern rustic setting with family-style seating, along with a great burger bar. And in case anyone is wondering, I am definitely open to any taste tests.
The restaurant news only gets better with the opening of Marengo on Union at 1980 Union Street. The long empty space that was once U Street Lounge (above Bar None) will soon be cookin’ again, and this time it will be primarily sliders – and no, I don’t mean low and inside fast balls, or some guys in a luge. These are the tasty, miniaturized burgers and burger-style sandwiches that have been all the rage, only unlike several places that have one or two on their menu, Marengo is all about sliders. Beef, pork, chicken, seafood, and vegetarian, their varied choices serve as both small bites and main meals. Owners James Gruether, wine educator Kevin Toomajian, and Kevin’s wife Reyna (who happens to be the chef) have joined forces in their first venture to create this restaurant. All have culinary and wine backgrounds and plan on incorporating their knowledge to enhance the eating and drinking experience. Aside from the sliders, they have an extensive and affordable wine list and a distinctive whiskey bar with product from around the world presented in a wonderfully open, skylit back room. The dark wood floors, marble bar and tabletops, warm colors, and great fixtures combine to make this redo a welcome one.
All of the new restaurants are slated to open on or around June 5 in conjunction with the 33rd annual Union Street Fair, the two-day event that ushers in the summer season. It’s the festival we love and hate, the one that brings thousands to our neighborhood each year, and the one that has been transitioning to an eco-urban festival for the past three years. Joe from Artisans of San Francisco spearheaded the evolution, along with producer Steven Restivo Event Services who keeps the green end growing. This year, two of the six blocks of the fair are dedicated to recycled and sustainable products. There will also be more than 100 artists and craftspeople, two stages of live music, and great food and outdoor dining possibilities. The exciting new restaurant openings are a testament to the importance of the festival, in terms of the amount of people and revenue it brings to our area. But even more, they are a testament to the continued revival of our street and to the entrepreneurial spirit that each one of these new owners brings to the table (literally and figuratively).
At the same time, the long-closed Bayside Grill at 1787 Union has undergone its own transformation to emerge as Brick Yard Bar and Restaurant. No simple facelift here – more like an extreme makeover that includes beautiful skylights, custom wine displays, tile and hardwood floors, a private lounge, and an outdoor patio. Not just bar buzz this time, this full-on restaurant will be dishing out creative seasonal comfort and healthful food choices. Owned and operated by six local partners, The Brick Yard is set to establish themselves as a pure neighborhood bar and restaurant; not so much trendy as it is an easy place to drop in, meet friends, and perhaps watch a sporting event from one of the flat-screen HDTVs, all while having a great bite to eat. Choices from the menu include chopped-chicken lettuce cups, seared Ahi tuna, and thin-crust pizzas, along with signature cocktails
such as the Blood Caesar (a twist on the Bloody Mary).
As if the Brick Yard opening isn’t enough to jump start this end of Union, right next door at 1785 Union, Artisan Roam Burgers is about to kick off their own new restaurant, a casual, family-style high-end burger spot. No McAnything here. Instead, you might wrap your lips around a Pacific Blue cheeseburger with caramelized onions, or one with pepper jack and jalapeno relish. Perhaps you’ll wash it down with a Straus Family Creamery organic milkshake, a house-made soda, or a local brew. All of it will be served in a modern rustic setting with family-style seating, along with a great burger bar. And in case anyone is wondering, I am definitely open to any taste tests.
The restaurant news only gets better with the opening of Marengo on Union at 1980 Union Street. The long empty space that was once U Street Lounge (above Bar None) will soon be cookin’ again, and this time it will be primarily sliders – and no, I don’t mean low and inside fast balls, or some guys in a luge. These are the tasty, miniaturized burgers and burger-style sandwiches that have been all the rage, only unlike several places that have one or two on their menu, Marengo is all about sliders. Beef, pork, chicken, seafood, and vegetarian, their varied choices serve as both small bites and main meals. Owners James Gruether, wine educator Kevin Toomajian, and Kevin’s wife Reyna (who happens to be the chef) have joined forces in their first venture to create this restaurant. All have culinary and wine backgrounds and plan on incorporating their knowledge to enhance the eating and drinking experience. Aside from the sliders, they have an extensive and affordable wine list and a distinctive whiskey bar with product from around the world presented in a wonderfully open, skylit back room. The dark wood floors, marble bar and tabletops, warm colors, and great fixtures combine to make this redo a welcome one.
All of the new restaurants are slated to open on or around June 5 in conjunction with the 33rd annual Union Street Fair, the two-day event that ushers in the summer season. It’s the festival we love and hate, the one that brings thousands to our neighborhood each year, and the one that has been transitioning to an eco-urban festival for the past three years. Joe from Artisans of San Francisco spearheaded the evolution, along with producer Steven Restivo Event Services who keeps the green end growing. This year, two of the six blocks of the fair are dedicated to recycled and sustainable products. There will also be more than 100 artists and craftspeople, two stages of live music, and great food and outdoor dining possibilities. The exciting new restaurant openings are a testament to the importance of the festival, in terms of the amount of people and revenue it brings to our area. But even more, they are a testament to the continued revival of our street and to the entrepreneurial spirit that each one of these new owners brings to the table (literally and figuratively).
Leslie Drapkin is a co-owner of Jest Jewels on Union Street. E-mail: [email protected]
