Rich Table Chefs Announce 36-Seat RT Bistro Opening Jan. 9

Evan and Sarah Rich revealed plans on Jan. 5 for RT Bistro, a 36-seat spinoff located near their flagship Rich Table, scheduled to open Jan. 9, 2026. The couple framed the new venue as a deliberately simpler concept focused on lively, familiar dishes executed with care and technical attention, and centered around a wood-fired grill.

Menu highlights announced for RT Bistro emphasize comfort and repetition with seasonal variation. The offering will include steak and potatoes, a rotating lasagna, and a prized off-menu Rich Table burger resurrected for the bistro. Dessert plans listed a Humboldt Fog–based cheesecake, and the lasagna component will change with the seasons. The team said elevated techniques will be applied to straightforward fare, while the wood-fired grill will be a focal cooking element.

The announcement also described an interior design that complements the pared-back menu, aiming for a lively but intimate dining environment that fits the 36-seat scale. That small capacity positions RT Bistro as a neighborhood-focused venue where limited seating is likely to make reservations scarce and could shift some demand away from the larger flagship or the couple’s other concept, RT Rotisserie.

RT Bistro joins the Rices’ existing operations — the flagship Rich Table and RT Rotisserie — as an expression of their trajectory toward offering varied dining experiences under a common creative umbrella. For regular patrons and new diners in San Francisco County, the bistro represents an option for more casual, repeatable meals that still showcase chef-driven technique. The resurrection of the off-menu burger signals an attempt to capture both longtime fans and walk-in customers seeking familiar favorites.

Economically, a 36-seat operation has implications for local labor, supply chains, and street-level activity. Smaller dining rooms typically require fewer front-of-house staff per shift but demand a consistent flow of covers to be profitable, which can intensify competition for reservations in dense urban districts. By focusing on simpler, high-turn items such as steak, lasagna, and a signature burger, RT Bistro may achieve higher table turnover than tasting-menu establishments and create steadier daily revenue. The wood-fired grill may also create demand for specific local suppliers of fire-friendly ingredients and produce that perform well under high-heat cooking.

RT Bistro’s opening will be a test of how a compact, technique-driven bistro fits into San Francisco’s evolving restaurant landscape, offering residents another accessible option from well-known local chefs beginning Jan. 9, 2026.