Photo by Tea Travellers Societea
Katia’s served dinner Wednesday’s through Sunday’s, and specialized in Russian cuisine. The restaurant’s website is still up, but their social media accounts have been shut down. Reviews on Yelp were strong, with 4 stars from 256 reviews.
The tea room, located on the corner of 5th Avenue and Balboa, is another casualty of the commercial vacancies crisis that plagues inner Balboa, and the Richmonnd District at large.
Based on reports from readers as part of the #FewerVacancies campaign in April, there were 29 empty storefronts on the blocks of Balboa between 2nd and 8th Avenues. Katia’s closure brings it to 30.
UPDATE: We received this update from Katia via email:
“After 24 years, I decided to retire! I had a few interested buyers and then my daughter Helen Simmons decided that she wanted to take over the location. She is in the process of doing a spruce-up and any day now will open a daytime cafe offering light fare. I will continue the catering aspect of my business operating from the cafe kitchen. I’m also eager to focus on the cookbook I’m writing which many of my customers are eagerly awaiting.”
Sarah B.
It sounds like it’s going to re-open with a different focus?
https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Katia-s-Russian-Tea-Room-will-live-on-thanks-12851313.php
Thanks for the link, Doug. We heard back from Katia as well and added an update to the story. It should be re-opening soon!
This is truly sad–Katia’s (and Katia herself) was wonderful. She had talked about retiring for a long time, but I guess she finally did it. She talked about having potential buyers, but I don’t know if any of that worked out.
Katia’s has been around for at least 20 years, which is as long as I’ve lived in the district, and possibly longer.
Ah…posted that before the update. So glad it’s going to remain around in some form. And really looking forward to that cookbook.
Sorry to nitpick, but the plural of Wednesday does not require an apostrophe. 😉
Closed. Re-opened. Or as Roseanne Roseannadanna used to say, “Never mind!”
Oops I meant Emily Litella. My bad!
the mta is doing it again. they are having two open houses re the geary brt tonight and on saturday. neither was publicized. just saw a posting adjacent rossi park this morning.
the mta is scum
Tastebuds. Soft opened. Grand opening Saturday, July 21, 10am, bottomless mimosa.
Tastebuds is great. Just opened. Grand opening Saturday the 21rst with bottomless mimosas.
It actually is a great idea for allowing a broader group to nejoy all day long though i was sad to see katia’s close. Has there been any movement on the 3 vacancies on the corner of balboa and 6th? Seems so unfair. Those vacancies have been around for so many years!!!