Let's play two
Eylan, Bob’s Donuts, Noe Valley listings, Jillian Knox, Rad Radish, Nudie Records, best Oracle Park dining, MORE
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Today, one FOUND subscriber PROMPT for which we seek your input:
Which restaurant should I go to when I’m dining alone?
Got answers or more questions? Hit reply or email found@itsfoundsf.com.
RESTAURANTS • First Word
Fire station
The Skinny: Opened January in Menlo Park, upscale Indian restaurant Eylan is the newest venture from chef Srijith “Sri” Gopinathan and entrepreneur Ayesha Thapar, who also own Palo Alto’s Ettan, the fast-casual Little Blue Door in Los Altos, and San Francisco’s gorgeous fine dining spot Copra.
The Vibe: Located on the ground floor of an apartment complex on a busy avenue connecting Palo Alto to Menlo Park, a heavy, intricate door leads to a dimly lit, bustling dining room with trees, upholstered seating, large tables conducive to group gatherings, and a show-stopping mural at the bar.
The Food: Gopinathan is known for his bold and regional approach to Indian food, which Eylan builds on with a live fire kitchen. A whole menu section is dedicated to the wood-fired grill, which yields standout dishes like a celeriac and pineapple kebab and nicely charred hispi cabbage served on a bed of tikka masala and (the unexpected yet welcome addition of) burrata. Also on the menu are breads like the Dungeness crab mutabar, light appetizers like taro root chaat, and desserts that range from a refreshing kesar mango ice with lime creme and grapefruit vinaigrette to the sweet masala chai sundae.
The Drinks: Eylan’s atmosphere is suited to cocktails, and the menu covers spirits of all stripes. Especially compelling are the Bombay Green featuring Darjeeling dry gin and dry spices, and the Bazaar Paloma with a hint of tamarind.
The Verdict: Eylan feels like a delightful surprise that’s fun to stumble upon, but its top-notch menu sends it into the echelon of Menlo Park’s destination dining. –Flora Tsapovsky
→ Eylan (Menlo Park) • 500 El Camino Real Ste 101• Tue-Sun 5-10p • Reserve.
SF RESTAURANT LINKS: Sierra Clark’s Bar Brucato set to open in the Mission • Ordering from Zuni’s secret menu • Al pastor specialist Leo’s launches on Great Highway today • Chef Stephanie Izard’s Valley Goat debuts in Sunnyvale • The unexpected, giddy rise of sparkling Riesling.
REAL ESTATE • On the Market
Valley fever
During the pandemic, at least 75 customers of Bernadette Melvin’s 17-year-old eponymous coffee shop in Noe Valley left town, she says. But the neighborhood (and her business) have both since roared back to life. “There are so many new people here,” she says, prompting new businesses to open along the 24th St. corridor, packing its sidewalks. That big return is reflected in the 104 home sales in the last year, with a median sales price of $2.598M, per Compass. Noe condos are booming, too, with 74 sales at a median of $1.587M in that same period. Here, three listings within walking distance of Bernie’s, and much more:
→ 155 Vicksburg St (Noe Valley) • 4BR/2.1BA, 2585 SF condo • Ask: $1.895M • Edwardian two-floor condo with revamped kitchen • Days on market: 35 • Agent: Isabelle Grotte, Compass.
→ 3817 22nd St (Noe Valley, above) • 3BR/2.1BA • 2418 SF house • Ask: $2.495M • John Anderson Victorian, views from Bernal to Diamond Heights • Days on market: 13 • Agent: Alec Mironov, Pacific Edge.
→ 586 Valley St (Noe Valley) • 5BR/4.1BA, 3400 SF house • Ask: $5.995M, down from $6.395 on 02/21 • new construction with retractable roof • Days on market: 40 • Agent: Lauren Lai Bellings, Compass.
SF WORK AND PLAY LINKS: Outside Lands announces full lineup • Billionaires' Row Jewett House sees first-ever sale • Korean food mall Jagalchi opens to huge crowd in Daly City • The first org chart, 150 years ago, ‘resembled a tree abundant with blossoms’ • Career apocalypse reports: Gen X and Gen Z • Is the future of watches unisex?
CULTURE & LEISURE • King of the World
Titanic • live SF Symphony score • Davies Symphony Hall (Civic Center) • Fri @ 730p • orchestra, $250 per
Nikki Glaser • Alive And Unwell Tour • San Jose Civic Center (San Jose) • Sat @ 7p • section 302, $75 per
Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets • Chase Center (Thrive City) • Sun @ 530p • section 224, $229 per
WORK • Wednesday Routine
Traveling brunch
JILLIAN KNOX • artist & stylist
Neighborhood you live in: The Mission
It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
It’s pretty low-key — a lot of maintenance with the studio, cleaning, organizing, checking orders, putting things back, coffee. Usually, I’m ordering a breakfast sandwich from Rad Radish.
What’s on the agenda for today?
I’m working on a project that starts shooting on Monday. It was confirmed two days ago, and it’s a five-day shoot, which is nuts. But I’m excited about it because it’s a creative agency out of my hometown (Washington, DC), and I’ve been wanting to work with them for a long time. It involves lots of online ordering, all of which arrives at my house today through Sunday, which is going to be insane. My neighbors are going to be like, “What the fuck?”
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Yesterday, I went to the Museum of the African Diaspora for a talk, and then all my friends went to Minnie Bell’s in the Fillmore. They don’t really have that many vegan options, so I had some collard greens. My usual spot is El Chato in my neighborhood. I just love what they’re doing. They’re so community-oriented, the food is lovely and beautiful, and the wine selection is really good.
How about a little leisure or culture this week?
On Sunday I’m hosting Black Brunch Club. George McCallum started it years ago, and ever since it’s been a traveling brunch. I hosted it last year, and we had about 50 people show up, which is crazy in my apartment. This round, we’ll see, but that’s the adventure. It’s a potluck, so George assigns categories to people, and they all bring something sweet, savory, salad, or wine.
Any weekend getaways?
We love going to Mendocino for staycations up there. My friend has a place in Sea Ranch, so usually I can persuade him to let us stay. I usually just cook, because his house is so nice and cozy. I bring a ton of groceries, and I’m recipe testing, experimenting on new things.
What was your last great vacation?
We went to Michoacán for Day of the Dead, and that was amazing. My husband’s family is in Acuitzio, and that was the first time I got to see where his mom and dad grew up, and his grandmother’s house — all the homes are adobe. I highly recommend going to Pátzcuaro for Day of the Dead. It’s the most culturally rich experience. Everyone is decked out, there’s so much art, and so many vendors. I also really liked Tzintzuntzan; the historical cemeteries are there, and all the graves were decorated with so many marigolds. Even driving or walking around, you’d see truckloads of marigolds.
What store or service do you always recommend?
I love eBay, and I love vintage Gucci, so I’ve been keeping my eye on a couple of pairs of shoes. ShopRelove is also amazing — they have a lot of pre-owned, pre-loved, high-quality vintage.
There is also a record company that’s so cool called Nudie Records. They do vinyl, and everything gets pressed in Canada, but they record and master and all that locally. I found a few albums that I really like — a psychedelic rock album and two spaghetti western records. One of them has mariachi vibes.
Photo: Karen Santos Photography.
GETAWAYS LINKS: New FAA system lets private jet owners make identities private • After 4-year closure, Sequoia’s Crystal Cave reopening this summer • Yosemite reservation system revived • First U.S. One&Only now taking reservations for Big Sky, MT, opening in Nov • The Caribbean’s coolest new beach bar is on private island in Curaçao.
GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Bakery
Deep-fried nostalgia
In my youth, I swayed in line at the original Bob’s Donuts at two in the morning, debating whether or not to get a bacon-wrapped hot dog for the wait. As the Polk Street bars went dark, we stared at the racks of donuts glowing in the 24-hour donut shop’s window, shuffling in line through the golden shop. Do you have enough cash? A dollar or two could save the day. Do you know what you want? Maybe an old fashioned or maple bar, fresh and still warm from the deep fryer.
These days, I’m swinging by Bob’s in broad daylight for a bite of the best apple fritter in San Francisco. Established in 1953, the Ahn family bought Bob’s in 1977 and made it the legacy business it is today. Though they opened a second location on a sunny corner of Nopa in 2019, and a third in a cute cottage in Mill Valley in 2022, the original remained the heart of the business.
But in February, the bakery moved out of the spot it occupied since the 1950s to a fresh, glossy shop one block up. The far larger space has more of everything: fryers, donuts, seating, Apple Pay. It doesn’t have that deep-fried aroma of the ages, but it’s still Bob’s, with a classic blue store front, white cursive signage, and donut-themed knickknacks. Change can be hard, but it’s worth it. –Becky Duffett
→ Bob’s Donuts (Polk Gulch) • 1720 Polk Street • Wed-Sat 8a-2p.
CULTURE & LEISURE • The Nines
Dining, Oracle Park
The Nines are FOUND's distilled lists of the Bay Area’s best. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or found@itsfoundsf.com.
Tony's Pizza (Field Club), slices or pies of cheese, veggie, or pepperoni from pizza champ Tony Gemignani