New San Francisco Restaurant to Fuse Mexican and Turkish Cuisines
Married chefs Laura and Sayat Ozyilmaz are set to open a new restaurant in San Francisco that will feature a fusion of Mexican and Turkish cuisines. The concept is inspired by the chefs' respective cultural heritages and will add a unique culinary offering to the city's dining scene.
- The new restaurant, named Maria Isabel, will be located at 500 Presidio Ave., the former site of Ella's American Kitchen. - While the couple's current restaurant, Dalida, and their previous pop-up, Istanbul Modern, focus on Sayat's Turkish and Eastern Mediterranean heritage, Maria Isabel will showcase the contemporary Mexican cuisine of Laura's upbringing in Guerrero, Mexico. - The menu will trace Laura's culinary journey from Mexico's Pacific coast to Northern California, featuring dishes like a ceviche acapulqueño made with local shrimp and Mexican chiles from Full Belly Farm. - The chefs have a history of successful ventures, including their nationally acclaimed restaurant Dalida, which opened in 2023 and was named one of Esquire's Best New Restaurants in America. - Before opening their own restaurants, both chefs honed their skills in world-renowned kitchens; Laura worked at Saison, Mugaritz, and Eleven Madison Park, while Sayat's experience includes Le Bernardin and Blue Hill at Stone Barns. - The design of the 60-seat restaurant will feature two distinct sections: a bright, lively area with an open kitchen and a darker, "sultry" side with a standing bar. - The couple first gained a loyal following in San Francisco with their popular pop-up, Istanbul Modern SF, before opening their first restaurant, Noosh, in 2019. - Laura Ozyilmaz recently competed on Season 21 of Top Chef, where she made it to the final four.
