New SF Restaurant 'JouJou' to Open
What happened
Chef David Barzelay is set to open a new restaurant, JouJou, in San Francisco this month. It's one of five anticipated restaurant openings in the city in March.
Why it matters
JouJou, opening March 6 in the Design District, marks a significant shift for chef David Barzelay. While his first restaurant, Lazy Bear, is a two-Michelin-starred tasting menu experience, JouJou will feature an à la carte menu in a more bustling, walk-in-friendly French brasserie setting. The 6,500-square-foot space is located at 65 Division Street, formerly home to The Grove. Barzelay, a former lawyer who turned to cooking after being laid off during the 2009 recession, first gained a following with an underground supper club run out of his apartment. That pop-up eventually became the brick-and-mortar Lazy Bear in 2014, which quickly earned critical acclaim, including being named Eater SF's Restaurant of the Year. Barzelay was also recognized as one of Food & Wine magazine's Best New Chefs in 2016. The concept for JouJou has been in the works for over a decade, originally envisioned as a seafood restaurant. The new eatery will be seafood-focused, featuring a grand raw bar and theatrically presented seafood towers, alongside classic French brasserie fare like French onion soup and steak frites. Entrée prices are expected to range from approximately $35 to $75. JouJou is part of a larger trend in San Francisco's 2026 dining scene that emphasizes experience-driven restaurants over the quiet reverence of tasting menus. The aim is to create a vibrant, scene-y destination reminiscent of New York's Balthazar or San Francisco's legendary, now-closed Stars. One-third of the seats at the raw bar and in the enclosed patio, dubbed the "menagerie," will be reserved for walk-in guests to encourage a spontaneous, lively atmosphere.
Key numbers
- JouJou, opening March 6 in the Design District, marks a significant shift for chef David Barzelay.
- The 6,500-square-foot space is located at 65 Division Street, formerly home to The Grove.
- Barzelay, a former lawyer who turned to cooking after being laid off during the 2009 recession, first gained a following with an underground supper club run out of his apartment.
- That pop-up eventually became the brick-and-mortar Lazy Bear in 2014, which quickly earned critical acclaim, including being named Eater SF's Restaurant of the Year.
What happens next
- While his first restaurant, Lazy Bear, is a two-Michelin-starred tasting menu experience, JouJou will feature an à la carte menu in a more bustling, walk-in-friendly French brasserie setting.
- The new eatery will be seafood-focused, featuring a grand raw bar and theatrically presented seafood towers, alongside classic French brasserie fare like French onion soup and steak frites.
- Entrée prices are expected to range from approximately $35 to $75.
Quick answers
What happened in New SF Restaurant 'JouJou' to Open?
Chef David Barzelay is set to open a new restaurant, JouJou, in San Francisco this month. It's one of five anticipated restaurant openings in the city in March.
Why does New SF Restaurant 'JouJou' to Open matter?
JouJou, opening March 6 in the Design District, marks a significant shift for chef David Barzelay. While his first restaurant, Lazy Bear, is a two-Michelin-starred tasting menu experience, JouJou will feature an à la carte menu in a more bustling, walk-in-friendly French brasserie setting. The 6,500-square-foot space is located at 65 Division Street, formerly home to The Grove. Barzelay, a former lawyer who turned to cooking after being laid off during the 2009 recession, first gained a following with an underground supper club run out of his apartment. That pop-up eventually became the brick-and-mortar Lazy Bear in 2014, which quickly earned critical acclaim, including being named Eater SF's Restaurant of the Year. Barzelay was also recognized as one of Food & Wine magazine's Best New Chefs in 2016. The concept for JouJou has been in the works for over a decade, originally envisioned as a seafood restaurant. The new eatery will be seafood-focused, featuring a grand raw bar and theatrically presented seafood towers, alongside classic French brasserie fare like French onion soup and steak frites. Entrée prices are expected to range from approximately $35 to $75. JouJou is part of a larger trend in San Francisco's 2026 dining scene that emphasizes experience-driven restaurants over the quiet reverence of tasting menus. The aim is to create a vibrant, scene-y destination reminiscent of New York's Balthazar or San Francisco's legendary, now-closed Stars. One-third of the seats at the raw bar and in the enclosed patio, dubbed the "menagerie," will be reserved for walk-in guests to encourage a spontaneous, lively atmosphere.
