“We need it, but it’s not enough.” So goes the familiar refrain of Bay Area residents whenever water starts falling from the sky. Rainy weeks like this one bring on cravings for comfort food, something this week’s batch of new restaurants are more than able to provide. Over near SFMOMA, there’s a fresh dim sum spot with a full tea menu to warm you up.
Village Tea House quietly opened a couple of blocks south of Montgomery BART at the end of November. The diminutive kitchen prepares everything in-house, from the dumpling wrappers to the Dan Dan noodles and soy milk. As the name suggests, Village Tea House also offers a bevy of hot beverages served in black sand pots.
Village Tea House
Yerba Buena
Also new to the Bay this week, Berkeley’s Boochman Kombucha just opened an all-day cafe in SoMa specializing in fermented foods. Oakland’s status as an East African culinary destination is now further solidified with the arrival of Admas, an Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurant near Lake Merritt. And two Italian spots just landed in SF, one pizzeria from veteran dough twirler John McCloskey in the Mission and a posh wine bar in North Beach.
1. Boochmania
SoMa
Berkeley kombucha microbrewery Boochman debuted a cafe on the west side of the Bay, and unsurprisingly, it’s all about gut health. Boasting a fermented element in every dish, Boochmania’s lunch offerings skew Mediterranean: shakshuka with yogurt, bulgur pilaf and fermented hummus are daily staples. And of course, the taps flow freely with currant, lavender and genmaicha (or brown rice tea) kombuchas.
2. Admas
Oakland
Though there’s no clear connection between the jazz fusion band from the 1980s of the same name and this new Eritrean and Ethiopian joint, it’s a delightful addition to the neighborhood just east of Lake Merritt. Along with the customary meat and veggie combos served with sour, spongy injera, Admas also serves East African breakfasts, like ful, a vegan fava bean dish prepared with lemon juice, garlic, olive oil and tomatoes, along with traditional Jebena coffee.
3. Angie’s Pizza
The Mission
Just off his tenure at Outer Richmond pizza parlor Pizzetta 211, chef John McCloskey has struck out on his own with Angie’s Pizza, which opened in the previous Firepie location last Friday. McCloskey’s wood-fired pies are topped with inventive surprises like dates and garlic chili honey. The ice cream menu is a collaboration with paused pop-up Good Children—also slated to return to SF soon.
4. Convivium Enoteca
North Beach
📍516 Green St., SF
☎️ (415) 814-2112
🔗 conviviumenoteca.com
Sofia Scarpone, a native San Franciscan with roots in Italian Wine Country and a degree from a Roman university, officially unveiled her wine bar in North Beach last Friday. With other recent additions to the neighborhood like Keys Jazz Bistro and Cassava, North Beach is in the midst of a culinary revival, and Convivium Enoteca’s cellar of Italian varietals and modernized dishes— the roasted octopus with romesco sauce pairs well savory cannoli and truffle pearls. “Not yo mama’s sip n paint” events are also forthcoming.