The French Connection

the tablehopper | 11:23 am | June 25, 2008 | Foodie 411

Things are in the mix with Urban Tavern, the upcoming restaurant project at the San Francisco Hilton on O’Farrell Street. Donna Scala of Bistro Don Giovanni originally consulted on the project, helping to conceptualize and develop the high-end 240-seat gastropub for the hotel—but it ends up Laurent Manrique and Chris Condy of C&L Partners (Aqua, Fifth Floor, Café de la Presse, and Rouge & Blanc) are now leading the helm on the project, but Scala is still involved with the project. The opening is slated for early August, and the food will focus on Mediterranean-inspired cuisine under executive chef Patrick Kehler, who served as a chef de cuisine at Aqua, and also launched Circolo Restaurant in 2004. The restaurant will be open daily from 11:30am until late.

• 333 O’Farrell St. at Mason.

Also in Union Square, where Caffe Kuleto’s used to be is now Bar Norcini, a new salumi, cheese, and wine bar (Caffe Kuleto’s and the Villa Florence’s lobby wine bar have been combined into one space). The name Norcini is Umbrian for “pork butcher”—chef Bob Helstrom of neighboring Kuleto’s is well known for his love of salumi-making, using pigs from Devil’s Gulch that are actually fed kitchen scraps from Kuleto’s. In the morning, Bar Norcini will serve Illy coffee and pastries, and then after closing for half an hour, lunch will bring panini, pizzettas topped with salumi, salads, and cheese. The evening menu will offer pizzettas, salumi, and cheese. There will be some well-chosen Italian wines, and eight special cocktails, each featuring Italian liqueurs and ingredients.

• 225 Powell St. at Geary.

Marcia Gagliardi writes a popular weekly e-column about the SF dining scene, “the tablehopper.” Subscribe for free at www.tablehopper.com and get it in your inbox every Tuesday. Got news? Email Marcia at taste@sanfrancisco.travel.