Neighborhood Watch

Amber Dhara Due in May; Boot & Shoe Starts Lunch; and More

Mission: Amber Dhara (680 Valencia), the delayed offshoot of Amber India coming to the space next door to Luna Park, is now aiming for a May opening. [Eater]
Also, West of Pecos (550 Valencia) might make it open by late April, and they’ve hired a chef: Leo Varos. [Facebook, Eater]
Marina/SoMa: Just for wine nerds and in honor of April Fool’s this weekend, A16’s Italian wine guru Shelley Lindgren is trading places for a night with RN74 wine director Rajat Parr (and A16 chef David Taylor will be switching kitchens with chef Jason Berthold as well). Each chef and sommelier will be adding their own specialties to the menus at each others’ restaurants that evening, starting at 5 p.m. on Sunday. [Grub Street]
Excelsior: This place at 4995 Mission appears to be becoming a different Vietnamese restaurant called Pho Tam Thu. [Grub Street]
Oakland: Boot & Shoe Service is now serving weekday lunch. [Scoop]
Walnut Creek: Here’s an early take on NM Café at the newly opened Neiman Marcus in Walnut Creek. [Diablo]

Amber Dhara Due in May; Boot & Shoe Starts Lunch; and More