It may not feel like fall with the September temperatures rising, but restaurant opening is upon us. A new roster of establishments from seasoned hospitality pros will make this fall an exciting one, including the return of a beloved San Francisco chef-couple and exciting new projects from the teams behind Che Fico and Rich Table.
Eric Wolfinger
Via Aurelia is the newest restaurant from chef David Nayfeld and partner Matt Brewer, the duo behind the popular restaurants Che Fico, Che Fico Pizzeria, and Bubbelah. Nayfeld’s latest verges into fine dining territory, pulling inspiration from the Tuscan region of Italy for the menu. Diners can expect Tuscan classics, highlighting produce, seafood, and pastas made in-house. Jon de la Cruz of design firm DLC-ID has teamed up once again with Nayfeld and Brewer, designing the 75-seat restaurant located in the Mission Rock area near Oracle Park. Reservations are currently available via OpenTable. 300 Toni Stone Xing, San Francisco
Annette Chu
Opening: Late September/early October
Chef Tommy Cleary of Hina Yakitori pairs up with Akikos chef Ray Lee, opening an izakaya-style restaurant in Union Square. The duo workshopped a menu in a series of test dinners earlier this year, serving dishes such as tsukune, a chicken meatball served with an egg yolk, and chawanmushi with shrimp and truffles. TBD (no, not that one) debuts at the original Bush Street location of Lee’s family restaurant, Akiko’s. The space received a “dark and moody” update by Consortium SF. 431 Bush Street, San Francisco
Albert Law
Carrie and Rupert Blease of Lord Stanley return to the restaurant scene after closing their Russian Hill fixture in May 2025. Joining them is Tommy Halvorson of the Fire Society, and together the trio will open Wolfsbane in the Dogpatch. Taking over the former Serpentine space, Wolfsbane features a nine-course tasting menu with dishes that “celebrate Northern California’s bounty with ingredients from the region’s best farms, fisheries, and fields,” per a release. An a la carte menu will be available at the restaurant bar. 2495 Third Street, San Francisco
Poppy & Claro
All-day restaurant and bar Poppy & Claro is set to debut in downtown San Jose’s 50 West building this fall. The owners looped in Cass Calder Smith Architecture + Interiors to design the restaurant, which takes its name from the poppy fabrics and claro walnut tree design touches. The menu will span a coffee and pastry program in the mornings, and a hearth will provide a live-fire touch to dishes at lunch and into the evening. 50 West San Fernando Street, San Jose
Dingles Public House
Chef George Dingle and partner Anissa Dingle bring their vision of a modern British gastropub to the Hayes Valley neighborhood this fall. British expats and Anglophiles will likely thrill at the promise of a proper Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding, and here the fries will be chubby chips alongside fresh, beer-battered cod. Anissa Dingle spearheads the wine list with options from England, France, and Italy, with a selection of English ales on tap and sturdy gin and tonics. 333 Fulton Street, San Francisco
The Westin St. Francis in Union Square welcomes not one, but two major projects under its roof this fall. Celeb chef Michael Mina brings his popular steakhouse restaurant Bourbon Steak to the hotel, his 12th location for the brand. Meanwhile, Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry may seem like a surprising name tied to the new bourbon bar, the Eighth Rule, but given that he owns bourbon brand Gentleman’s Cut, it’s a natural pairing. The 40-seat bar features a “curated selection of spirits as well as craft cocktails,” per a release, and Bourbon Steak’s central bar, Bourbon Lounge, will showcase live music. 335 Powell Street, San Francisco
RT Bistro
Opening: Late October/early November
Chefs Evan and Sarah Rich will open their latest restaurant, RT Bistro, with partner Jonny Gilbert, this fall. The new spot is their take on the classic bistro, with dishes centering on “wood-fire-grilled dishes highlighting market vegetables, locally caught seafood, and premium meats,” per a press release. Also in the mix is Rich Table’s off-menu burger, this time no longer sidelined, but rather front and center on the new menu. 205 Oak Street, San Francisco
Dining and Cooking