A pair of Japanese restaurants from Japanese owners are debuting this week: Tonight brings the opening of Izakaya Yuzuki in what some (including us) have called the cursed space at 18th and Guerrero, across from Tartine; and tomorrow brings the return of chef Keiko Takahashi (formerly of El Paseo) at the decidedly more French and formal Keiko à Nob Hill. Tablehopper gets the word on the Yuzuki opening, from first-time restaurateur Yuko Hayashi and chef Takahashi Saito (formerly of Ame), which will feature a walnut dining bar, hot sake service in earthenware kettles, and a menu featuring frequent appearances of koji, a mold that is fermented on rice which they say not only makes food easier to digest, but also tastier. See the full opening menu here, which also includes some inexpensive smaller plates (otsumami), a few yakitori options, and house-made tofu. [Tablehopper, Earlier]
