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Q Restaurant closing June 29 after 16 years of serving “funky comfort food”

Late last week, Q Restaurant hung a banner above their front door announcing their upcoming shutdown on June 29. The restaurant has been a Clement Street institution for 16 years, serving up “funky comfort food” ranging from tater tots to duck confit.

Owners Brinn and Andrew wrote a long letter to their customers (full text below), explaining that they are calling it quits after “years of disabling back problems, it is time to give Andrew the opportunity to focus on his health”.

In a neighborhood full of ethnic restaurants, Q was one of the few spots where you could always get a good hamburger, mac and cheese and other American comfort foods. Guy Fieri featured Q on an episode of his “Diners, Drive-ins & Dives” show on the Food Network.

Owner Brinn says that the closing is “definitely a sad thing for us”, but after 16 years she feels good about “the comfort that we brought, the friendliness that we brought to the neighborhood.”

“I’m sad to see that end. It’s an end of an era. It was Andrew’s dream, he worked on this for his whole life. His mom taught him to cook. This was his passion,” Brinn told us.

Much of Q’s staff are long-timers as well. The first employee is still working at Q, and a lot of the kitchen staff have been there over 6 years.

“It is so rare to find such a dedicated, hardworking, and friendly staff anywhere. We became a family. We took care of each other. We are so grateful for the love and tremendous efforts by our amazing staff,” they wrote in their farewell letter.

Brinn said they never dreamed that Q would last as long as it did. “We had no idea we’d be there for 16 years. We were stoked we made it through 2 or 3,” she told us.

And while Q didn’t change much in its 16 years, Clement Street has.

“The street has changed so much in 16 years. We started at same time as April in Paris. Busvan for Bargains Furniture store was open when we first opened! There’s still a lot of diversity, maybe it’s even more diverse now,” Brinn said.

Brinn had no specifics on what their next chapter or venture would be, other than to say that Q is definitely closing and will not be coming back. She says she thinks another restaurant may open in the Q space but doesn’t know more than that.

Q’s last day of business will be on Sunday, June 29.

“We’re hoping people will come in one more time, let’s have one more meal together,” Brinn said.

Sarah B.

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Q’S LETTER TO ITS CUSTOMERS:

Farewell San Francisco
It is with a heavy heart that after almost 16 years of great food, delicious wine, wonderful people, fun times, hard work, ups and downs, (and a few Hokey Pokeys thrown into the mix), Q owners Andrew and Brinn have decided it’s time to move on to the next life adventure. After years of disabling back problems, it is time to give Andrew the opportunity to focus on his health. This has been a very difficult and emotional decision and we are so sad to say goodbye, but health takes priority.

Q gave us all a place to feel at home. It was the site of first dates, marriage proposals, graduation celebrations, wedding rehearsal dinners, children growing up, epic parties, Q Balls, Crab and Champagne Feasts, Sunday brunch with friends, and many other completely routine and sometimes totally extraordinary moments. Q was the friend you knew would be there when you needed them. Q was comforting. Q was a welcoming, smiling face. Q was home.

Q is greater than the sum of its parts. To make a list of the regular customers would be a 1000 page book. Thank you to all of our customers. We loved taking care of you, and thank you for taking care of us too. The spirit of Q is something we all can keep alive by maintaining the connections of the people we met and grew to love there. Have crab and champagne feasts in your homes at Thanksgiving, say hello when you pass people on the street, share wine with your neighbors. You have the power to keep the spirit alive.

There are no words that clearly express the love and gratitude we feel for our staff that worked so hard to keep the vision alive. Restaurant work is not easy. It takes commitment, thick skin, and a really good sense of humor. It is so rare to find such a dedicated, hardworking, and friendly staff anywhere. We became a family. We took care of each other. We are so grateful for the love and tremendous efforts by our amazing staff. We wish everyone the best of luck in whatever path they chose in their future and look forward to lifelong friendships with you.

Deep gratitude and credit goes to Andrew for creating and developing a vision that supported ours and many other families while serving up over a million delicious plates of Funky American Comfort food. The flavors you created made all of our taste buds dance. Thank you Andrew for the heart, body and soul you poured into Q.

This corner of San Francisco has something special – warm and welcoming neighbors, support for individuality, a comfortable place to nurture ones dreams, dedicated small business owners and a safe neighborhood for families to grow. It has truly been an honor to live and serve here. We sincerely hope the strong sense of community in the Inner Richmond continues and thrives forever.

Q’s last day will be Sunday, June 29, 2014. Please come see us over the next month to get a last few Q meals, share stories, write on our memory wall, and say goodbye.

Thank you for 16 wonderful years San Francisco, we will miss you tremendously. Now, go out and save the world!

27 Comments

  1. In addition to the Guy Fieri episode, “Eyewitness Travel Top 10 San Francisco”, a tourist pocket guidebook published mostly annually, notes the Q Restaurant as one the “Top Ten Places To Eat” in the “Oceanfront” area of San Francisco, a general area (as defined in this guide) composed of both the Richmond and the Sunset. The Q Restaurant is included in the company of other venerable eateries in the Richmond such as The Cliff House, The Beach Chalet, and Louis’.

  2. Oh no! This is certainly sad news…Q has been my favorite place to go on the weekends since we moved to the neighborhood in ’09. We will definitely miss the Q family and their ridiculously tasty brunch menu!! 🙁

    Best wishes to the Q owners and the extended family…they’ve been one of the best and friendliest places to go in our hood.

  3. I am sad that my fav inner richmond spot is closing, but wish the owners best of luck. First went in 2001, and loved the duck. been a fan of the mac and tots for years. Thanks for all the years, and i wish you all the best

  4. Does anyone think writing to Guy Fieri would help? Maybe with his connections he can spread the word and get someone to save Q or take over somehow! Worth a shot?

  5. This is indeed sad news. This is one of the few restaurants that valued the diverse and funky aesthetic San Franciscans once cherished. I am sure whatever goes in it’s place will be a sterile, “well-designed” space with reclaimed wood and some hand-painted, vintage sign in an effort to “honor” blue-color values all while catering to an audience that knows nothing of the sort.

    Thanks and hats off to the owners for keeping it real.

  6. This is so sad. Some of the best food, best service in the city and some of my favorite memories. Best wishes to the whole team.

    Please god do not replace Q with another Shabu Shabu.- Amen

  7. There’s no “saving” necessary, C. The new owners of the building will decide out what to put in there; it’s zoned for a restaurant, and they are consulting with Andrew and Brinn informally about their experience in that location, and I’m sure they’ll come up with something. Then the market will decide it they chose wisely.

    We’re definitely Q fans and will miss it, but as a friend of Andrew and Brinn, I can say this will bring them a much-needed and -deserved break. So get yer tots while they’re hot! And thanks for all the memories, A&B!

  8. So sad! I hope they pass on some of their recipes. Best mac and cheese in the Bay Area, and that’s saying something! Would be a shame to deprive the world of it! But congrats to Andrew and Brinn — thanks for the years of incredible food!

  9. Oh, man, this is truly a loss. So sorry for them leaving, but happy it’s on their terms.

  10. Nooooo! What will I do without my perfect burger? *sob*

  11. Say it isn’t so! My husband loves their burgers and tots, and I will miss the journey grill and chilaquiles, as well as the excellent wine list. Q has been our place for celebrating birthdays, dining with friends in the neighborhood, and also where we bring our out-of-town guests. We will miss it!

    Best of luck to the owners who deserve some rest. Thank you for being such a great part of the community.

  12. This is sad news! When I first moved to the neighboorhood 6 years ago, this was one of the first places I ever ate at, and its been a brunch staple every since, even living well out by Ocean Beach now. While I love all of the Asian-influenced dining options in the outer Richmond, there is not much variety outside of that and Q’s solved that issue for us every time we wanted a burger or great breakfast! Q’s will be greatly missed 🙁 Even my friends from outside the city who would come visit us request to go there, this is a big neighborhood loss!

  13. So so sorry that you’re leaving us. I hope your “replacement” understands the need of a good burger, Mac and cheese, and Brunch for us American Born White People. We love our Tot’s.

  14. Oh no!! Truly sad news. It’s a great place for a tasty draft beer and yummy food. I am in mourning.

  15. I am so sad to hear that Q is closing its doors for good, but I understand that the owners need to be putting their energy and focus into taking care of their well being. Thank you for all of the memories! Your wonderful, wonderful staff and delicious comfort food (I will miss you most of all, duck confit and polenta…) and super cozy atmosphere will be remembered by so many. My husband and I went here during our SF stop on our road trip minimoon days after we got married. We went here for our last night in San Francisco before moving out of the state. We have shared meals here with so many of our loved ones. Thank you for being a welcoming place to enjoy food and celebrate a lovely neighborhood and be with people we care about.

  16. We’ve known Brinn and Andrew since before they opened the restaurant. Before Q was a Fish & Chips spot that I was sad to see go as I grew up eating that guys Fish and Burgers. When I found out B & A had opened a restaurant there I was a little hesitant…Then I ate there and was more than pleasantly surprised..So tasty and comforting my wife and I hired them to cater our wedding. When B & A asked what we would like on the menu we told them whatever you want to cook! We knew the food would be killer and it was. Things in life change…I just wish Q’s closing wasn’t one of those changes. Best of luck to you both and to the kids. Love you guys!
    –Rich and Jen Balmy

  17. Your pals at Green Apple will miss you greatly, AND we are happy you’re all moving on to mellower times. Thanks for all the comfort and friendship!

  18. Thank you for all the wonderful meals over they years. You will be missed greatly and it is indeed sad to say goodbye to such a wonderful restaurant in the Richmond District. All my best to you!

  19. Ya’ll should make a cookbook featuring that cornbread and confit chicken wings though.

  20. my last few times eating there sucked, I assumed or heard the place was sold to new owners. I also heard it was flipped because the owners are having marital issues. whatever, I wish them luck but for me I’ve seen a rapid degeneration/slide in the food. also, this was one of THE most loud places to eat ever!

  21. Overpriced. Overly loud customers. Clique-ish and easy to feel out of place. Brought a friend once who was sensitive to spice and there was nothing for her to eat, poor thing. I ended up eating most of her food.

  22. @Amy “Brunch for us American Born White People” wtf

    yeah see, no.

  23. Raz mah razz, I don’t think selling after 16 successful years in one location qualifies as “flipping”.

  24. Good luck to the owners in their new chapter. You operated a great and welcoming restaurant that will be missed. Thank you for your contributions to our neighborhood.

  25. I’m so sad to hear you’re closing; Q has been one of my favorite restaurants since moving to the Outer Richmond seven years ago. The food has always been uniformly excellent and I’ve had innumerable wonderful times there. Thanks very much to Andrew and Brinn, and best wishes for whatever you take on next.

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