New Restaurant Opens in San Francisco
Chefs Laura and Sayat Ozyilmaz have opened a new restaurant in San Francisco named Maria Isabel. The establishment aims to blend their diverse culinary backgrounds. The opening adds another high-profile entry to the city's dining scene.
- The new restaurant, Maria Isabel, is a departure from the chefs' previous Eastern Mediterranean concepts like the acclaimed Dalida and their pop-up, Istanbul Modern; this venture focuses on co-owner Laura Ozyilmaz's Mexican heritage. - The menu traces Laura's upbringing along Mexico's Pacific coast, featuring dishes from her family's home states of Guerrero and Sinaloa, such as chilorio (slow-braised pork) and ceviche acapulqueño. - The restaurant is located at 500 Presidio Avenue in the space formerly occupied by the popular brunch spot Ella's American Kitchen. - In-house nixtamalization of local corn will be practiced to create fresh tortillas, a nod to traditional techniques. - The 56-seat dining room's design is split into two distinct themes inspired by Laura's sister and mother, for whom the restaurant is named. - The beverage program will highlight lesser-known Mexican spirits like sotol, bacanora, and raicilla, alongside wines from Mexican regions such as Baja California. - The chefs' other San Francisco restaurant, Dalida, earned national recognition, including being named one of Esquire's "Best New Restaurants in America" and landing the duo semifinalist nominations for the James Beard Foundation's "Best Chef in California" award in 2024 and 2025. - Chef Laura Ozyilmaz was a contestant on season 21 of "Top Chef," where she competed while in the process of opening their first restaurant, Dalida.
