SOMA residents take note: the Big Night Group’s fifth restaurant, Petit Marlowe, opened its doors today. James Nicholas, Anna Weinberg and chef Jennifer Puccio have created an intimate French-inspired 49 seat wine bar and oysterette. Weinberg worked with interiors guru Ken Fulk to design the space. There is peach-colored custom wallpaper, hand stitched with whimsical ducks, a window-front display that showcases the day’s fresh seafood catch, flea market finds including vintage bistro chairs, and a beautiful rose-gold marble topped bar. The menu consists of a raw bar with caviar, crudo, and more as well as the classic with a twists that Puccio is known for: deviled eggs with Spanish anchovies, foie gras sandwich with apricot chili-jam, and beef tartare. As for the drinks? “We’ve designed the beverage program at Petit Marlowe not only around the bright, beautiful dishes Chef Puccio is serving, but also to reflect the convivial atmosphere of the restaurant itself,” the group’s wine director Jennifer Gomez said in a statement. “We’re offering a tightly-edited list of delicious, interesting wines, keeping it accessible and easy to navigate. We also love to encourage guests to try something new; most of our wines by the bottle can be opened and served as a half portion, and though no raw bar is complete without great Champagne and sparkling (including our own Big Night Bubbles, a brut rosé made for us by Vitteaut-Alberti in Burgundy!), we also have some amazing dry ciders, like Cidrerie du Vulcain’s Trois Pepins with apple, pear, and quince, to pair beautifully with oysters.”
Up in Napa, 1313 Main has launched a new locals night. Every Wednesday from 5 to 10 p.m., the chef and sommelier work together to create a special menu that features unique drink offerings and outrageous food to pair with it. This week, for the debut local’s night, the team served fried chicken with comforting sides (roasted garlic mashed potatoes, corn bread with honey butter, and peaches with burrata) and sparkling wine.
In the South Bay, Steins Beer Garden & Restaurant has opened its second location in Cupertino. The original brewpub is just ten miles away in Mountain View. The new Steins has 30 draft beers, 20 year round staples, and 10 rotating seasonal brews. All of the food is meant to pair well with beer and the menu features hearty favorites like a burger (made with a house blend of dry-aged short rib, brisket, and sirloin), freshly-baked pretzel with beer mustard, and Sonoma lamb trio with brown butter green beans and salsa vert.
