Following a cold and wet winter cozied up at home, a break in the weather means it’s finally time to start racking up those restaurant reservations. There are plenty of tempting options thanks to a fresh crop of openings across the Bay Area.
In downtown San Francisco, there’s a new affordable Thai spot setting out cute trays of curries, as well as a cool blue bar for cebiche taquitos and spicy mango cocktails. Plus, fan-favorite dumplings have dropped with a soup splat in the East Bay, and a very veggie and slightly swanky new restaurant is open on the Peninsula. Ready, set, book: Here are five fresh spots to try this spring.
Hed Verythai (Financial District)
This new Thai spot opened downtown in January. After a quiet first few months, it’s trending on TikTok, where fans are calling it an “affordable hidden gem.” Owner Naruephon Wannajaro, who goes by Billie, hopes to bring slightly different regional flavors to the curry scene in San Francisco. She’s offering set menus in the khao gaeng style, which looks like six small bowls filled with rice, stir-fries, and curries such as roasted duck or fried cod in thick red sauce. Pudding is the only dessert at Hed, but it comes in exciting options such as mango, Thai tea, or coconut pandan. All those arrive on a tray starting at $19.95 for lunch or $23.95 for dinner making this a fun tasting experience in SF.
Dumpling Time (San Ramon)
It’s always time for dumplings somewhere in the Bay Area now that the Omakase Restaurant Group has expanded its most popular concept to five locations (and counting). The latest opened in Bishop Ranch shopping center in downtown San Ramon in December. Expect the same colorful and creative dumplings, including shrimp toast, lobster siu mai, wagyu gyoza, and pork belly XLB. Hot tip: the Bishop Ranch location is only one of two Dumpling Time outposts serving happy hour specials including a selection of wine, beer, and cocktails.
Twelvemonth (Burlingame)
There’s a very veggie and slightly swanky new destination on the Peninsula. Owner Bob Trahan was a director of engineering at Facebook before jumping on the line for stints at Prairie and Al’s Place in San Francisco. He’s now behind a vegan restaurant in charming downtown Burlingame alongside chef de cuisine Leo Batoyon, a buddy from Al’s Place. Dig into pickled trumpet mushroom chawanmushi, creamed baby kale with sunchoke chips, and Japanese curry featuring sweet potato croquettes. The stylish restaurant boasts black-and-white floors, soaring ceilings inside, and fire pits and leafy trees in the outdoor courtyard.
La Mar Bar (Embarcadero)
Peruvian favorite La Mar still serves pristine cebiche right on the waterfront, but as of March the Embarcadero staple also has a renovated bar area for a chill night out. The refreshed space boasts ocean-blue tiles, wild wallpaper, and a lampshade that resembles a giant squid swimming over the couches. New cocktails include mango picante with a spicy tajin rim and mariposa with a butterfly on the foamy drink. Sip those alongside scallop nigiri, oxtail empanadas, and four taquitos folding up tuna, hamachi, and Dungeness crab-like sushi handrolls. Reservations aren’t required at the bar, but diners can book a table in the adjacent dining room.
Mili Wine Bar (SoMa)
There’s a quaffable new wine bar tucked into the glittering highrises of the East Cut. Owner Shubhra Sarkar previously worked in tech and traveled and tasted wine extensively around the world. Mili Wine Bar opened at the base of a spiraling skyscraper in February with a global wine list pouring French bubbles, Greek whites, Portuguese reds, and more. Should drinkers work up an appetite, there’s a snacky menu of charcuterie and cheese, paté en croute, caviar blini, and sweet seasonal tartlets. Cheers to that.
Becky Duffett is a food writer living and eating in San Francisco. Follow her on Instagram at @beckyduffett.
