5 New Restaurants to Book in San Francisco

RH San Francisco (formerly known as Restoration Hardware) spent years refurbishing the historic, 80,000-square-foot Bethlehem Steel building on Pier 70 before opening doors in May. Before or after browsing the store’s stunning home furnishings collection, ascend the columned staircase to the atrium for a glass of sparkling wine, French omelet with boursin and herbs, or wagyu ribeye with truffle fries. The gold marble accents, glittering chandeliers, and towering Medjool date palms serve a visual feast.

This beloved neighborhood tavern, which reopened in June, was recently treated to a deep polish. Lori Baker and Jeffrey Banker—the duo behind the dearly departed Baker & Banker—grabbed the keys as the new owners, though they haven’t sacrificed Maybeck’s distinct brand of clubby comfort. There’s a fresh coat of moody blue and burnished copper paint, plus a totally reimagined menu starring Banker’s fresh pasta and crudo and Baker’s tall, elegant cakes. The one throwback, by popular demand, Welly Wednesday—a beef Wellington special—is slated to return in August, so book accordingly.

Cocktail lovers mourned the mysterious passing of the Saratoga, a beloved spirit-driven spot, circa 2020. Thankfully, a new team, led by Phil Chen (owner of the Alchemist and the Woodbury in SoMa) is now shaking martinis and cracking oysters in the swanky lounge space, which opened with a new identity in May. Snag a reservation upstairs for supper at Members Only, then head downstairs for drinks at Finders Keepers, the clandestine bar-within-a-bar.

This iconic Italian food emporium, with locations in New York City, Chicago, and more, officially landed in Silicon Valley this June, offering more pasta and pizza than one could possibly crave—plus an array of over 10,000 imported products. Though there are plenty of casual cafes and counters, Terra is the rooftop restaurant where it’s worth nabbing a sit-down reservation. Expect handmade pastas, tomahawk steaks, and a grill that fires smoky calamari and assorted skewers. Bonus points for the gelato cart and extra-large wine list.

Animo might be an unexpected mashup, serving up both Korean and Basque flavors. The cultural balancing act is a testament to the restaurant’s chef/owner: Joshua Smookler was born in Korea and adopted and raised Jewish in New York. He served as a ramen chef in NYC before moving cross-country and opening Animo, a renovated taqueria in wine country, with his wife, Heidi He. Smookler’s kimchi-pastrami fried rice, one of the star players on his inventive menu, has been charming locals and critics alike.