No matter how many neighborhoods comprise San Francisco, and no matter that our disdain of chain businesses means an abundance of independently owned eateries in every one of them, that just-right neighborhood restaurant can be elusive. They’re either too hard to get into without reservations, too pricey to frequent on the regular, or just not that special.
But for lucky Fillmore Street residents, Noosh hits the mark for what you’d want in a casual neighborhood gem: a touch fancier than Souvla; less formalized than NoPa; and without the headache of snagging a res—I’m looking at you, Che Fico. And all the flavors are there.
Noosh is a bright, cheerful spot thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows and a Mediterranean style white wash.(Sarah Chorey)
To understand how Noosh came to be, you’d need to rewind to 2016 when married chef duo Laura and Sayat Ozyilmaz were ready to break away from the grind of working in Michelin-starred kitchens—between them, the pair has manned stoves in New York’s Cafe Boulud, Eleven Madison Park, and Le Bernardin—to focus on a project of their own. They launched a small pop-up on Feastly called Istanbul Modern, channeling the Eastern Mediterranean flavors of Sayat’s home country, Turkey. It quickly became one of the most successful concepts on the platform, booking out dinner after dinner. John Litz, an advisor at Feastly and also a founding partner in Lazy Bear, recognized the staying power of the Ozyilmazes’ food, and approached them to develop a permanent restaurant in SF. Litz would be the third partner in what has now become Noosh.
Taking over the old Thai Stick on pedestrian-friendly Fillmore Street, Noosh serves approachable Eastern Mediterranean food made with California ingredients and techniques. The menu is packed with shareable small plates as well as some heftier options so you can devise your own feast.
There are creamy spreads like hummus, babaganoosh, and muhammara; pita sandwiches; freshly fried falafel; flatbreads; lamb meatballs; a variety of kebabs; and a few soups and salads. It’s hard to decide what to order, so just cut yourself some agony and carve out space in your schedule for at least two visits in the near future.