Savor the Flavors: Discover Piccino Presidio in This Week’s Food Highlights!

This week in food brings exciting news about new openings and changes in the Bay Area dining scene.

First up is Piccino Presidio, recently launched in the Presidio. This fresh spot takes over the old Sessions location at the Letterman Digital Arts Center. Co-founders Margherita Sagan and Sher Rogat are bringing the essence of their long-standing Dogpatch restaurant here, with a focus on seasonal dishes. Much of the produce comes from their own Healdsburg farm, along with some goodies from the Skywalker Ranch garden in Marin. Expect delicious seasonal pastas, pizzas, and standout dishes like lasagna verde with wild mushrooms or a juicy pork chop with guajillo and apple puree. They’re serving lunch and weekend brunch, plus there’s a bar with the full menu available.

In Los Angeles, Boichik Bagels has expanded to Los Feliz, opening at 4655 Hollywood Boulevard. This follows their successful launches in San Francisco last year, marking an exciting growth for the brand.

Meanwhile, Outer Orbit might be facing a tough change soon. This pinball-themed bar and restaurant might close, or it may evolve into more of a barcade. The owners shared on social media that they’ve been struggling without a general manager or a proper chef. Despite a busy atmosphere, they need to improve operations to keep up with post-pandemic demands.

Also closing is the Hayes Valley arepa pop-up Andina, which has been a mainstay at SFJAZZ for over a year. Chef-owner Victoria Lozano announced that the closure is due to personal challenges and current economic conditions. Their last day will be March 23.

In West Oakland, chef Matt Horn has shut down his fried chicken spot Kowbird. His focus will now shift back to the Horn Barbecue brand, where he made his mark.

Excitingly, a new Japanese-Italian restaurant called Ciaorigato is set to open in the former Gibson space at the Hotel Bijou. This restaurant comes from the team behind the popular Mexican-Italian fusion spot Modi. Here, patrons can look forward to grilled meats and fish, Neapolitan-style pizzas with unique Japanese twists, and a selection of sashimis and crudos. Ciaorigato is scheduled to open in March, with the exact date still to come.

Lastly, there’s Sirene, a new seafood restaurant in Oakland’s Grand Lake neighborhood. It’s from Paul Einbund and chef Gavin Schmidt, who took over the former Sister space. Schmidt has a passion for this location, having lived nearby for years. The menu will feature a vibrant selection of seafood, including a raw bar, seafood charcuterie, and main dishes like fire-grilled abalone and roasted spiny lobster. They’ll also serve steak frites and fried chicken, along with vegetarian options.

In a recent review, Chronicle critic MacKenzie Chung Fegan highlighted Sheba Jazz Lounge in the Fillmore. This Ethiopian restaurant and jazz spot, owned by sisters Netsanet and Israel Alemayehu, stands out as a unique gem in the neighborhood. The seasoned chef Alemtu Gimariam and sous chef Trhas Yehdeg create delightful dishes, and Fegan recommends the vegetarian sampler and the meat and fish selections while suggesting to steer clear of non-Ethiopian items.