Pudong Opens in Old Mecca Spot, Marlowe to Take Over Joey & Eddie's

By Jonathan Kauffman Wed., Dec. 15 2010 at 8:05 AM

Categories: Buzz Machine

The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco restaurant scene.

UrbanDaddy led the media swarm surrounding yesterday's opening of Pudong (2029 Market, 252-0700, www.pudongsf.com), in the expansive space that used to house Mecca. The pitch: French-Chinese food from pre-revolutionary Shanghai. The menu that Grub Street posted suggests that French and Shanghainese dishes are fluffed out with Chinese American standards as well.

Tablehopper brings word that the old Annie's Bistro space in Pacific Heights/Western Addition is going to become a burger place named, rather generically, Bistro SF Grill (2819 California, at Divis). The burgers, which skew local and sustainable, will be seasoned and cooked by Seni Felic, who runs an SF Grill farmers market stand. The soft opening will be December 23, with regular hours starting after January 1.

Inside Scoop gets the inside word from Marlowe partners Anna Weinberg and Jennifer Puccio that they're taking over the old Moose's/Joey & Eddie's space at 1652 Stockton in North Beach. Scoop's description of the concept: "A grown-up Marlowe," aka California comfort food. ETA: June 2011.

Its birth has been foretold elsewhere, but Tablehopper is the first to announce that Contraband Coffee Bar (1415 Larkin, 839-7388) has a semifirm opening date: Thursday, Dec. 16. The pitch: small-batch coffees custom-roasted in the East Bay, a Hydra espresso machine, and handheld eats (empanadas, hand pies, doughnuts).

A few last bits of gossip:

Tablehopper learns of the arrival of Flying Pig Bistro (433 S. Van Ness), but no details yet.
She also reports that Breaking Bread Sandwiches (100 Drumm) is taking over the Four Embarcadero branch of Birley Sandwiches, which is keeping its Pine Street location.
Scoop mentions the opening of Tope Lounge (1326 Grant, 793-2120) in North Beach.
Burrito Justice (via Grub Street) discovers SoCha (3235 Mission) may become a second location of Dell'Uva, a North Beach wine bar.