4 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
The Bay Area loses a spot for rare Middle Eastern dishes, and more restaurant closures
The following is a list of notable Bay Area restaurants that closed in May 2025. Click here for a list of April closings.
Jordanian-Palestinian restaurant Teta Nahla closed during the first week of May. Chef-owner Mohammad Abutaha, who also owns Middle Eastern restaurant Shawarmaji, told the Chronicle that operating three restaurants simultaneously stretched his staff too thin. Abutaha opened the restaurant to make the most of a lease he still had for his original Shawarmaji location in Uptown Oakland. But he said he hopes to reopen the restaurant in the future, as Oakland diners showed plenty of support for Teta Nahla.
Marina District bar Lilah closed after a six-month run to make room for a new project from its owners. The cocktail spot focused on whimsical, low-ABV beverages like souffle espresso martinis and shaved ice cocktails. Taking over the space will be Super Mensch, a cocktail bar taking cues from East Coast Jewish delis, Eater SF reported.
Outer Sunset vegan restaurant Beach'n announced it would close on May 14. The restaurant confirmed to Eater SF that owner James Kelliher is retiring. Sibling restaurant Judahlicious, which was transferred to a new owner, will remain open.
Oakland pho restaurant Pho Vy is now closed. The restaurant announced on Instagram that May 18 would be its final day; owners told KQED they decided to close for family reasons, as well as problems on International Boulevard. Beefy bowls of noodle soup were the main draw, along with fresh rice rolls and crispy chicken wings. The kitchen also capitalized on the quesabirria craze that took over the Bay Area, with tacos filled with red aromatic bo kho beef.
UC Berkeley's football gameday hub the Bear's Lair has closed, East Bay Nosh reported. The 50-year-old pub gathered fans of the Golden Bears for pints and food a few blocks away from the main campus.
Black Magic Voodoo Lounge, a Louisiana-themed dive bar, closed for good at the end of May. The bar opened in 1962 becoming a hangout for neighbors and transplants gathered for New Orleans Saints football games. The bar announced the closing on Instagram with a video stating 'all good things must come to an end.'
Downtown Oakland coffee shop Brewja, which specializes in Latino-style coffee drinks, quietly closed its downtown Oakland location. A message on the business' website said that operating in the Uptown mixed-use development has been challenging due to construction and low foot traffic. A San Leandro location is still active.
Osito, a San Francisco Michelin-starred restaurant cooking exclusively over a live fire, has closed. Chef Seth Stowaway told the Chronicle that the restaurant could not thrive in the current economic climate. Osito served its final dishes inside the Mission District space May 11.
The Well, the continuation of Oakland Mediterranean restaurant Shakewell, has closed, East Bay Nosh reported. Owner Soroush Ghaderi told the outlet he had been working 17-hour days and losing money since he took over the restaurant in 2023. Shakewell first closed last summer, until returning under its new name this January.
Novato's award-winning beer maker Moylan's Brewery poured its final pint on May 4. Brewer-owner Brendan Moylan told SFGATE it was closing as the beer industry has faced oversaturation and changes. The tasting room poured lagers, ales and stouts while serving pub fare like burgers and wings. The brewery operated for 30 years and racked up hundreds of awards at U.S. and international beer festivals. (SFGATE and the Chronicle are both owned by Hearst, but operate separate newsrooms).
Lord Stanley, the elegant San Francisco bistro which held a Michelin star for several years, has served its final tasting menu. Owners Rupert and Carrie Blease opted not to renew their 10-year lease on the corner of Polk and Broadway in Russian Hill. The end of the lease also coincided with longtime chef Nathan Matkowsky's departure. The restaurateur couple thanked patrons for their support over the restaurant's 10-year run and plan to reopen a new restaurant in the future.
Berkeley's Crixa Cakes has closed after 27 years of baking European-style cakes. The business' owners, Zoltan Der and Elizabeth Kloian, announced on their website that they no longer wish to lease from their landlord. They hope to reopen soon at a new location, but will be working on a cookbook in the immediate future.
Pomella, a Middle Eastern restaurant in Oakland, closed on May 26. Owner Mica Talmor told the Chronicle costs such as insurance and ingredients had surged while business declined, spelling the end for the restaurant. The restaurant offered a selection of salads, hummus plates and falafel.
The Tipsy Pig, a drinking destination in San Francisco's Marina District, closed for good on May 26. Co-owner Nate Valentine told the Chronicle he plans to bring a new project into the space at 2231 Chestnut St. The Tipsy Pig operated for 16 years, serving cocktails and bites like macaroni and cheese topped with bacon.
Two Starbucks locations, one in Levi's Plaza and the other at the UCSF Parnassus Heights campus, have closed. The company issued the same statement explaining the need to ensure a 'healthy store portfolio' when addressing both closings.
