Spring has sprung and now April is the month when several long-anticipated places are finally going to open. These are the five that your tummies should be most excited about right now!
Ichi Kakiya
The folks behind Ichi Sushi + NI Bar are just about ready to debut their new oyster and raw bar Ichi Kakiya (see photo above) in their old intimate location (3369 Mission Street). Partner Erin Archuleta says that they’re on track to be open within a week, but they haven’t yet set a firm date.
Aster
Another hot ticket this month is Aster (1001 Guerrero), which opened on March 31 from former Outerlands and Coi chef Brett Cooper and the Daniel Patterson Group. The opening menu features dishes averaging $14–33; some of the early highlights include a pork loin fried potato with umeboshi plum, rhubarb, and tatsoi rabe and a roasted lamb shoulder with vadouvan, cabbage, and wheatberries.
Aatxe
Remember Cafe Du Nord building? Well the space below the Swedish American Hall will be reborn as the 49-seat small plate Basque restaurant Aatxe (2174 Market Street) on April 17. While Chef Ryan Pollnow’s menu has not yet been announced, the website offers clues of what they’re working on, including housemade chorizo and a mussel and fava leaf bunuelo. Other dishes planned include octopus with kohlrabi, avocado, and salsa verde, mussels escabeche and morcilla chickpeas with braised pork cheek, snap peas, and pine nuts. Oh, and it’s pronounced “ahh-chay.”
Reverb Kitchen & Bar
The restaurant formerly known as Verbena is now called Reverb Kitchen & Bar (2323 Polk Street). It’s essentially a more approachable remix from the same owners, hence the nod to the Verbena name in the new moniker. New chef Ryan Shelton’s menu features entrees averaging around $12–28 and offers comfort staples like sourdough gnocchi chowder, fried chicken and waffles, and a Lucky Dog Ranch cheeseburger.
Octavia
Frances chef/owner Melissa Perello will open her second restaurant Octavia (1701 Octavia Street) in the former Baker & Banker space. Expect a similar design and refined, produce-forward food aesthetic to Frances, but with a 50-seat dining room and a large wine cellar, she’s got more room to play with for diners and has more ambitious plans in the kitchen and for the wine program. Even with more space, it’ll still be perpetually packed. Perello has not set an opening date, but has announced that it will be some time this month.
Ichi Kakiya photo by Alanna Hale
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