OMVNA

by Max Hauser

NAR, the new Azerbaijani restaurant, 286 W. El Camino at Ehrhorn, opened November 7 and promptly became a phenomenon, drawing publicity, strong public interest (diners coming from Palo Alto and beyond), the Azerbi Consul General, and (at this writing) 144 customer reviews on Google Maps, nearly all giving five stars. Lunch and some trial breakfast service followed (check with the restaurant for current hours).  The pan-Caucasus menu concept includes Armenian wine. Open Table (the reservation service) hosts a customer loyalty program.

Soon after I cited it in last quarter’s column, Johnny and Sanny’s (110 Castro, a six-month-old venture from nearby Doppio Zero’s owners) closed. A December 30 license-change notice indicates an unnamed new restaurant coming with new owners, “Mian MTV LLC.”  (Mian represents various meanings and proper names worldwide; in a food context, it denotes noodles or wheat products in China.)

Among closed restaurant spaces in transition, the pending Yakiniku Ginza (475 Castro) appears well along, advertising to hire employees since my last column. Yakiniku is a Japanese barbecue or grilling style, sometimes done at the table.  Mervyn’s at 236 Castro, and pending Kitchen Story, 171 Castro, have made visible interior remodeling progress but with much work apparently still to do, while the former Fiesta Del Mar Too site (735 Villa), windows papered-over for several months now, appears dormant. •