Just read on Grubstreet that Aziza, our beloved one-Michelin-star restaurant here in the neighborhood, is ditching us for a Financial District location.
Of course Grubstreet (and other foodies) are cheering for the news – no longer will they have to schlep all the way out to the Richmond District, god forbid, to enjoy the restaurant’s highly-rated dishes from Chef-owner Mourad Lahlou or the tasty desserts from pastry chef Melissa Chou. “Aziza to Finally Move Somewhere Convenient.” Ugh, really Grubstreet??!? A knife in my foggy heart.
Lahlou plans to move Aziza to 500 Jackson Street, the former location of Zinnia. He’s also working with designer Olle Lundberg (Slanted Door, Presidio Social Club) on a new layout for the space, which would move the front entrance to the other corner, making it’s official address 801 Montgomery. Construction is due to start in 60 days or so.
Apparently Lahlou is still deciding whether to keep the Aziza name or try something new. As for the fate of the current Aziza at 5800 Geary? Grubstreet says “Lahlou may end up holding on to the Geary Boulevard spot for a more rustic, casual Moroccan restaurant.”
More at SFGate.com
Sarah B.
Ahh, no more of those amazing cocktails that were a perk for living in our ‘hood. Well. On second thought, someone might pick up how they do it, and just open a separate “Muddled Fruits” cocktail bar there with a similar menu: http://www.aziza-sf.com/61637_cocktails.html
what’s the word for reverse gentrification? hope that’s not what’s happening to the Richmond.
I hope they don’t make it into a barn like The Slanted Door. You can’t hear yourself think in that restaurant. Never mind the constantly hovering crows and the factory like food.
Sure would be nice if we’d get some decent transit out here so that our hood would be a bit more convenient to get to.
I don’t like losing Aziza, but I very much like the idea of getting a “more rustic, casual Moroccan restaurant” – I’d probably go there once a month or more, and considering that I only go to Aziza every 2-3 months or so, this might actually end up being a good thing.
Ah, well. I wish them luck downtown. I’m sure their Richmond District fans will brave Muni and cabs to go to the new spot, too bad the downtown crowd couldn’t do the same.
Please, please, please…we need you here. Hope you open that casual Moroccan restaurant.
going to be a mistake moving to 500 Jackson…that spot doesn’t have enough foot traffic, etc, American KTK, Zinna, Scott Howard, etc have all failed.
IMHO they’ve been going downhill for some time. How i wish someone would open a lively, nice bistro in that location that had a bit of a BAR SCENE. You want a drink here a age 40, where do you go? Everything is really crappy and run down and filled with drunken 23-year olds. . I have to go over to the Sunset to inner Fog, etc to find that now. That Aziza location is pretty central – not far from 10th avenue or 30th…Seacliff, Lake. O’Shea’s was the heart and blood of the Richmond district. Great food, great music, everyone went there, from USF students to white-collar usinessmen to builders and painters. Created a huge void when it left that’s never been filled. that space could be a great place for brunch and a good local evening scene — offer solid basics that are well-prepared with just a bit of a twist. It CAN be done – Chapeau! had a ridiculously tiny little space and we had to wait outside in the freezing fog until the table was ready. but Philippe offered warmth and great food at a good price and he’s doing better than ever after some 15 years! That’s almost unheard of in S.F!