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Food news: New year, lots of openers: bLim’s, Healthy Spirits, Bamb? & more

Posted on by Sarah B.


Inside Cassava Bakery on Balboa. Photo by SF Chronicle

It’s a new year and that means there are a lot of adventurous entrepreneurs out there, bringing their cafes, restaurants and stores to the neighborhood. Here’s the latest roundup:

  • Congratulations to Cassava Bakery at 3519 Balboa. They ranked #16 (out of 105!) on the Chronicle’s Biggest Restaurant Openings in 2012. Well deserved – they have a great menu, stellar coffee, and their Friday night pop-up dinners are always sold out. If you haven’t stopped by yet, put it on your list!

  • The former LOL Cafe at 25th and Geary has been closed for awhile, but reader Ben reports that new life is emerging. Be on the lookout for Bambū Desserts & Drinks to open on January 27. Their website promises a “unique offering of fresh, healthy and colorful Vietnamese-inspired Chè, unique milk teas, deep espressos, blended coffees, and exotic smoothies. Our desserts and drinks are made with a combination of special Vietnamese blended coffee, organic teas, exotic fruits, and homemade jellies to create a refreshing dessert.”

  • Just up the block at 25th Avenue and Balboa, the former Natural World Market will soon be Avenue Sandwich Shop. The once white corner spot is now painted fire engine red.

  • The windows of the old Joe’s Ice Cream on the corner of 18th & Geary have been papered over for months. But about 8 weeks ago, the lights were on at night and people were bustling about inside. Looks like it will eventually open as Infini-tea, offering bubble teas. Thanks to Marc for the tip.

  • A second outpost of Healthy Spirits opened this week on the corner of 12th Avenue and Clement. The store is known for selling “rare and wonderful beers, bourbon and tubs of handcrafted hummus” according to blog Beer Samizdat, who interviewed Healthy Spirits proprietor Dave Hauslein. About choosing the Richmond for their second location, Hauslein said: “We chose [it] for two reasons. The first was convenience. We spent a very long time looking at real estate, and when it came down to it, the 12th and Clement storefront was one of the best options. Secondly, we get lots of customers at 15th and Castro telling us they wished we would open something in the Richmond or Sunset. It’s a part of the city that isn’t as covered in terms of craft beer as downtown. There are a few solid bottle shops and some great bars but nothing quite like Healthy Spirits.”

  • bLim’s opened recently on the corner of 11th Avenue and Clement, offering an Asian Fusion menu. We’re not quite sure what direction they’re headed with the pool table and TV screens inside (sports bar?), plus some typical bar food on the menu (some with an Asian twist like lemongrass french fries). But so far Yelpers seem to like it, with one exclaiming “we tried almost everything on their menu and EVERYTHING was good!”

  • Reader Jon C. reports via the comments that the former Quickly on Clement near 23rd Avenue re-opened last week as Honey Bee. “They did a wonderful job of cleaning up the old storefront, and I’m already seeing a lot of teens and others in there, enjoying bubble teas and snacks.”

Sarah B.

16 Comments

  1. Also! The former Quickly at the corner of Clement and 23rd (across the street from the 4 Star Theater) is now open again as the Honey Bee, which I believe opened this past week. They did a wonderful job of cleaning up the old storefront, and I’m already seeing a lot of teens and others in there, enjoying bubble teas and snacks. 🙂

  3. We really need a place that sells TACOS!!! But, glad the Richmond District is getting new restaurants and shops, albeit more Asian, as I hate to see empty storefronts.

  5. Hi Sarah, thanks for the link to the Healthy Spirits interview/article I did. There’s no one named Berr Zamizdat at that address, though it would be really cool if there was. The blog’s called Beer Samizdat, and it’s run by a fella named Jay.

  6. So what will the remodeled Video Cafe at 5700 Geary turn out to be? I walked by this afternoon and saw that there were now booths and tables inside and someone was cleaning the windows. Looks like a real makeover, but the sign is still empty on the corner. The tables were all rectangular or square and I didn’t see any round tables for 10 so I don’t think it’ll be a traditional Chinese restaurant. It looked like it had the makings of a counter so I’d bet it’s some kind of self-service (AKA somewhat fast food) place. Lunar New Year is coming up soon so if their food is of Asian persuasion they better open soon for Good Luck!

  7. I just stopped by Healthy Spirits and it has a pretty great selection! Better than Blackwell’s out on 20th if you’re looking for beer.

    Also it looks like the empty sushi boat place on Clement and 5th is getting filled by Shabu House.

  9. @Ben – Nice find. Already at 100+ likes on Facebook too.

    Sarah B.

  10. @Richmond resident – I was told that the old Video Cafe will be a Chinese place, featuring dim-sum during the day and fish specialties in the evening. We’ll have to wait and see.

  11. @Richmond Resident:

    The name of the restaurant that is filed with the Department of Health is “De Place.” As of January 9th, they received an alcoholic beverage license to serve beer and wine.

  13. Richmond Resident:
    I walked by this afternoon, and there is a large round table in the westernmost section of the restaurant. Lots of big screens as well and I think it has a separate room in the back, perhaps for private parties? It’s going to be interesting to see what kind of a concept this place has, is it a chinese restaurant, sports bar, wine-bar or club? :p

  15. What ever happened with Avenue Sandwiches? I was really looking forward to that opening near my house!

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