Coqueta and Tribune Tavern Open, Bayless Controversy, Mission Mini-Golf, More!

Michael Chiarello and crew cooking at Coqueta. [Photo: Patricia Chang]

THE EMBARCADERO—The most anticipated opening of the season is here: Michael Chiarello's Spanish restaurant Coqueta has arrived at Pier 5, with an enormous array of tapas and a serious cocktail program. We've got photos and a menu.

OAKLAND—Also open this week: Tribune Tavern, the latest Oakland project from the busy Chris Pastena (Chop Bar, Lungomare). With lots of turn-of-the-century details, this former newsroom's a stunner, and Huw Thornton's British pub grub menu should play nicely with a top-notch beer and cocktail offering. Check out the interior and the food and drink menus.

THE INTERNET—Celebrity chef Rick Bayless ruffled some feathers this week after an interview in which he appeared bored by the food he consumed on a recent SF trip: "All the restaurants are doing the seasonal thing and getting the same ingredients from the same farms and what not...it's all a little bit too alike." After Mourad Lahlou sent an angry tweet, Bayless clarified his thoughts in a comment, but the damage was done.

THE MISSION—The Mission's putting the "playground" back in "hipster playground" with the announcement of Urban Putt, an upscale mini-golf course coming to 22nd and South Van Ness. And even though the building it's in has been abandoned for 14 years, the NIMBY squad is still trying to get it shut down.

PEBBLE BEACH—We laughed, we cried, we sent Francois Payard nachos: the editors of Eater SF and Eater LA recap their adventures at last weekend's Pebble Beach Food & Wine festival.

SOMA—Everyone was waiting to hear what Michael Bauer had to say about the revamped Saison, and his review ended up being mixed: chef Joshua Skenes' food is "nothing short of brilliant," but the unaccommodating staff rubbed him the wrong way. "Saison isn't a restaurant that treats the customer with as much respect as it treats the food," he writes, awarding it three stars.

NOB HILL—Nob Hill got its first bakery in the form of Flour + Co., from a former La Boulange staffer. Pastries, Stumptown coffee, and pot pies await!

THE BAY AREA—Speaking of La Boulange, their Starbucks rollout is happening three years ahead of schedule, as every Bay Area Starbucks branch prepares to offer their goodies beginning tomorrow morning. Learn more about the insane launch plan for the formerly local pastry chain.

OUTER SUNSET—The end is nigh: after saying they'd never take reservations, Outerlands is finally taking them. Snap those bad boys up now.