THIS IS WHAT’S MOVING INTO THE FORMER CASSAVA SPACE IN NORTH BEACH

Cassava sadly closed the doors to its North Beach restaurant in November, and now the space has been snapped up for the next business to move in. The San Francisco Business Times reports that the Florese family of the Mona Lisa restaurants at 353 and 414 Columbus Avenue have taken over the location. Co-owner Osilio Florese has not revealed the name of the new restaurant yet but tells the Times that the restaurant will be a “very traditional trattoria” featuring pasta and a Neapolitan pizza oven.

The Times goes on to add that the Florese family is in the process of forming a restaurant group and is “entertaining chain restaurant possibilities” with plans to possibly expand to the Marina and Sausalito. Meanwhile, Kris Toliao and Yuka Ioroi of Cassava have moved on to a new space in Jackson Square.

Vegan burger business expands to San Rafael

It’s a location that’s been in the works for quite a while, but now it’s finally here: Malibu’s Burgers has opened its San Rafael location as of Saturday, January 4, the Marin Independent Journal reports. The brand became a favorite of vegan and vegetarian diners as owner Darren Preston turned out vegan-ized versions of fast-food burgers while putting his own (plant-based) spin on the items. A second location at 326 23rd Street in Oakland also recently opened in November.

Dry January who?

All due respect to those participating in Dry January, but you’re missing out on some pretty good (out-of-town) cocktails as a result. Not only is 2023 World’s 50 Best Bar winner Sips in town for a three-day stint at Empress by Boon at the end of the month, but now comes word that New York’s Sip & Guzzle will participate in a two-bar takeover of True Laurel and Trick Dog on Monday, January 13, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The bi-level Greenwich Village bar (well, technically bars, plural) will be split among the two San Francisco locations, with Ben Yabrow of the more intimate five-seat Sip doing a guest shift at True Laurel, while S&G co-owner Steve Schneider helms the more casual Guzzle pop-up at Trick Dog.

2025-01-10T00:38:32Z