Latest news with #PaoloBicchieri
Eater
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
Jimmy Butler's Coffee Pop-Up Is Sceney as Hell
is the associate editor for the Northern California and Pacific Northwest region writing about restaurant and bar trends, coffee and cafes, and pop-ups. Golden State Warriors' Jimmy Butler III has, at long last, taken his coffee brand BIGFACE to his adopted home of San Francisco. The temporary residency runs from Thursday, July 10, through Sunday, July 27, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. On opening day, the sun was shining, and expectations could not have been higher. How's the coffee? Would you get one of the T-shirts? Will Butler be there, working the bar like a common barista? From the jump: Jimmy Butler III was not on-site at BIGFACE's opening, sorry to say. Whether or not he pulls any shots by the end of this installation is anyone's guess; with loads of these hype pop-ups, the details are intentionally scarce. This scene report should alleviate a bit of the mystery. Here's what to know before pulling up to BIGFACE on 22nd Street in the Mission. Paolo Bicchieri The Wait Eater SF arrived on the scene before opening at 9 a.m. A line crawled around the corner, onto San Jose Avenue. Clocking in at about 8:50 a.m. (sans coffee!), the wait took about 30 minutes. The line was fast moving, though, all things considered; once inside the BIGFACE cafe, there didn't seem to be any time limit on how long one could mill about, order coffee, and buy merch. A worker for the pop-up brought three flavors of iced BIGFACE coffee in a grocery basket to attendees. For free! But this was opening day — a smart guest should anticipate a much shorter wait on weekdays going forward, and big, explosive lines on upcoming sunny Saturdays and Sundays. Paolo Bicchieri The Vibe Imagine all the minimalism and preciousness of a third-wave specialty cafe. Now, picture the exact opposite. From the line through to the La Marzoco, vibes at BIGFACE skew much more toward hype culture and a meet and greet at ComicCon. Fans showed up in prior BIGFACE drop gear, most likely from Miami or San Diego. The team from San Francisco's own Fellow Coffee came as a group; a born-and-raised San Franciscan who considers himself a cigar and coffee connoisseur said he's been looking for good coffee in the Mission since Philz closed. There were platoons of influencers making content. Once inside, the ambiance is sort of Nintendo store-ish. Phones are out left and right, blending in amongst the pop-up's chrome and red color scheme. Interestingly, much respect is paid to former tenant Lucca Ravioli. Shirts (which run $75) are scribed in Italian, with small riffs on the Golden Gate Bridge on the chest. The staff are in swag, and attendees are keyed up and chipper. There's a bar against the window and four or so tables. Still, the vibe doesn't seem to be to hang out for long — more of a grab and go energy, though that could slow down past opening day. Paolo Bicchieri The Menu BIGFACE is not the cost-conscious consumer's cafe. It's $100 for a coffee flight, like at other BIGFACEs of yore. It's $10 for a pour-over, though the pour-over 'wasn't working' an hour into the first day of service. (An $8 cold brew should do the trick.) It's $40 for a box of BIGFACE's Rwanda washed filter coffee, with 'ciao' splayed across the front of the futuristic parcel-looking box. That said, Black Jet Bakery was tapped to provide croissants and other pastries. Nodding to Lucca Ravioli again, there are, inexplicably, boxes of spaghetti, Graza bottles of olive oil branded with BIGFACE smiles, jars of marinara sauce, you get the idea. Though the pour-over cannot be reviewed, the team seemed quick-working and friendly, and the cold brew had a hint of sweetness in a drink infamously made dark and fudgy. A win! A billboard promoting the BIGFACE installation unfurled in real time throughout the morning. Paolo Bicchieri The Verdict BIGFACE is rad! BIGFACE is cool. BIGFACE is the future of coffee — celebrity partnerships taken to a niche, logical extreme. That is to say that, rather than an Emma Chamberlain-ish spin where the coffee can feel like an arm of a larger business program, Butler's coffee is well-roasted, well-made, and, well, expensive. For many new Mission dwellers, this price point won't be an issue. Come by for a chance to be in a random influencer's video and to drink excellent coffee. BIGFACE (1100 Valencia Street) runs Thursday, July 10, through Sunday, July 27, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eater SF All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Eater
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
The Best Dishes Eater San Francisco's Editors Ate in May
There's certainly no shortage of excellent food to be found in San Francisco and the Bay Area — but there's plenty worth skipping, too. Luckily for you, Eater editors dine out several times a week (or more) and we're happy to share the standout dishes we encounter as we go. Broccoli pizza at The Laundromat Unfortunately, it took me more than two years to learn Balboa Street's Laundromat had gluten-free pizza. The times I tried to go upon its maddeningly popular debut, I couldn't get in, giving up over time as I thought, 'Well, what can I eat at a bagels and pizza place anyways?' I'd go by in the mornings, grabbing a cup of Grand Coffee, ever curious as my friends wolfed the bagels. On a sunny evening, I finally ordered my gluten-free pie. Stupendous. Stupid springy and crispy at the same time, crackly bits of cheese on the base with light slices of fennel reigning above all the indulgent lordliness below. After the Brussels sprouts, the goat cheese was nutty and rich enough that I thought there was a base of tahini beneath the dish, and I could barely finish. Fortunately, I have reason to wait in line next time. The Laundromat (3725 Balboa Street) is open for dinner Wednesday and Thursday 5 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 to 10 p.m., and Sunday 5 to 8 p.m. — Paolo Bicchieri Devilish half chicken at Jules Those who have attended Max Blachman-Gentile's pop-up, Jules, know very well the mastery of his pizzas, as he's toured them around town at various restaurants since 2023. Just this month, Blachman-Gentile opened his new permanent restaurant in the Lower Haight, and yes, the pizzas are amazing as always. But this location is also a chance to see Blachman-Gentile stretch beyond the pies. So I'm here to sing the praises of one of the (non pizza) showstoppers from a recent meal: this devilish half chicken. The nicely-salted, crisp, fried chicken skin is just the eye-popping start of this dish that employees in season vegetables and herbs — here, some snap peas and mint — along with deliciously-cooked chicken underneath. I was also truly impressed by the sauce, which packs a nice heat to it without being overwhelming, and it served as a nice accompaniment to the mushroom-loaded Fun Guy pizza on the table. If I may, while you're at it, don't skip the desserts: my dining companion and I split both options, including an incredible ice cream with chocolate shell and fennel pollen on top. Jules (237 Fillmore Street) is open 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Saturday. — Dianne de Guzman Squid ink fried rice at Le Soleil Also in the Richmond District (can anyone tell I moved recently?) is the simple, unadorned treasure chest of a restaurant Le Soleil: This could very well be the lead ship in the west side's restaurant armada. The extended naval metaphor is in honor of this squid ink fried rice, crowned with tobiko as garlic and scallion dot the scene and encircle the dish. The chunks of squid are well placed throughout the elegant dome of rice, allowing for chew without texture overload. The pop from the fish egg and the crisp of the fried garlic provides further balance. Ordering the quail, flambéed table side, is a sharp move. Our server said he fires a ton of them every night. When you're a captain of San Francisco dining, that comes with the territory. Le Soleil (133 Clement Street) is open Mondays 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. — Paolo Bicchieri Joojeh kabob at Lavash As a food editor going out on the town often, when I dine with friends, I'm typically expected to be the one to pick the location. There's nothing wrong with that, as it comes with the territory, but what I'm usually interested in is where my friends love to go for a meal on their own. I have my own lists and (insane) Google map pins, but oftentimes when I force the decision on others, I find places that aren't yet on my radar. Such was the case at Lavash, a charming Persian restaurant on Irving Street, where I had a recent lunch this month. Letting my friend take the lead on ordering, it was a truly refreshing meal, including an herb-filled sabzi paneer platter, ghormeh sabzi, and this lovely joojeh kabob. Composed of chicken breast and thighs, the marinated meat sang against the grains of perfectly cooked basmati saffron rice. This friend, a regular, thankfully knew to ask if the kitchen could add zereshk, or barberries, atop the rice, which gave everything another dimension as we tore into each bite. Pairing with this food is a gorgeous space just bursting with flowers, and it's an all-around great place to drop in for a meal, and one I'll be coming back to in the future. Lavash (511 Irving Street) is open from noon to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. — Dianne de Guzman Sign up for our newsletter.
