Esme, a French-style bistro with a California soul, set to open in May 2026 on Divisadero.
Chef Susan Dunn – known in the Richmond for Pearl 6101 – has built Esme around a simple but winning idea: French technique, local ingredients, and the kind of warmth that turns first-time guests into regulars. Think rillettes, steak frites, galettes, moelleux au chocolat, and a strawberry mascarpone tart that Dunn is reviving from her Pearl days.
The room will sit around 30 guests, with a redwood-bench patio offering al fresco dining. Art deco details, burgundy leather banquettes, globe pendant lights, and a salon wall featuring Bay Area artists complete the picture. The kind of place where you go after a long day at work, feel right at home, and know the names of all the staff by the second visit.
“French at heart, California in practice.” Absolutely what MerciSF is all about.
Esme, inside the Metro Hotel, 311 Divisadero St, San Francisco. Opening May 2026
This article was adapted from early press releases about Esme. The MerciSF team looks forward to visiting the restaurant soon.
Picture credits: Esme
Dining and Cooking