Malacca Malarkey
OK, how can you take an interesting menu, helpful friendly service, an attractive storefront (two of them!), and two good locations and make them fail twice? I'm not sure, but I know someone you might ask for the answer to that...
I covered before the apparent business decisions that went into the closing of Malacca's 18th Street location, and its move to replace Crave on Market. Now it seems that the behind-the-scenes tumult is finally over as a hastily-scrawled sign in the window (two of them!) announces the end of Malacca, presumably for good.
We definitely liked the original Malacca -- which was artfully decorated, served a great brunch menu, and had an energetic helpful service staff -- and were sad to see it close. We were wary of the post-move Malacca which seemed to lack the clear Malaysian identity of the original, but at least the one time we visited the bartender was friendly and knew how to shake a good cosmo. We never got a chance to sample the food, but the quick reviews we heard from friends weren't encouraging, to say the least.
Well, that's one more restaurant and liquor license out there. Who'll be the next to jump into the fray? Situated under The Patio The Cafe bar, this would certainly be a great location for a late-night eatery.
Comments
The owner of "The Café" owns this property; he also owns the 18th Street building that housed the other Malacca restaurant. His previous experience is running a Thai fast food joint on 18th Street that was always being written up by SFHD for roach infestation. (That restaurant has been under renovation for months by it's new owner.)
Oh, The Cafe! I always get the name of that bar wrong. I wrote "The Patio" in the post, but I will correct it.
Well, even if he didn't quite make it as a restauranteur, he can use the rent he's collecting from Zadin and whoever moves into the Market Street space to dry his tears.