Max's on the Square Slated to Shut, Basque's Bask, and Souvlaki

Max's on the Square is readying to shutter. A reader alerted us to the fact that servers were given severance notices for the end of February. The restaurant confirmed they are closing, but the exact date remains unknown.

Tablehopper has been looking for a decent souvlaki place, and now she's heard there's a chain with its eyes on San Francisco: Souvla. Just one catch, owner Charles Billies is still seeking investors, so no souvlaki quite yet.

The Basque region cuisine is continuing its takeover of the City. SFGate reports Bask will be the latest basque restaurant to call S.F. home. Specifically, its home is that undefined area between the Financial District and North Beach. The restaurant from two husband-and-wife teams is moving into the former (not creepy at all) burger joint Clown Alley.

Also from SFGate, Thermidor is on the market. But this doesn't mean it's slated to close, not yet anyway. That all depends on the future owner's plans.

New face behind the bar: Inside Scoop confirms Quince and Cotogna's new winder director, Chris Baggetta, will start in February. He replaces David Lynch, who left to embark on his own restaurant venture.

Opening this week: LiveSOMA reports Dottie's True Blue Cafe remains on course to reopen tomorrow. Meanwhile, Tablehopper learns, via Gianni.TV, Geppetto, that the Italian deli next door to the owner's other restaurant (Trattoria Pinocchio), may open tomorrow as well.