Bay Area/ San Francisco/ Food & Drinks
Published on May 12, 2017
Hayes Valley's 'Boxing Room' To Transform Into Catalan-Inspired BarcinoPhoto: BiBiamn V./Yelp

Boxing Room, Hayes Valley's Cajun and Creole restaurant serving up dishes from New Orleans and coastal Louisiana, will soon be reborn as a Catalan-inspired restaurant called Barcino, SFGate reports.

Located at 399 Grove Street, the restaurant—owned by the Absinthe Group (Absinthe Brasserie & Bar, Arlequin Café, Bellota, Comstock Saloon)—is planned to change as soon as this summer. The transition process is being led by Ryan McIlwraith, the executive chef for the Absinthe Group.

Photo: Meaghan Clark/Hoodline 

While most of the details for the new restaurant are still in the works, we already know that the space will close in the upcoming weeks to undergo design upgrades. After the transition is completed, chef de cuisine Athman El-Kindiy and the rest of the staff will stay on board.

When Boxing Room first opened its doors in 2011, Justin Simoneaux—who has since moved back to New Orleans—was the head chef. "I wanted to create a neighborhood space for locals to cozy up by themselves and have a beer and hang out," he told us in 2012.

Former head chef Justin Simoneaux. | Photo: Jared Schwartz/Hoodline

Now, locals will have a new place to enjoy the spices and flavors of the Catalan area.