New Casual Concept Will Bring Indies-Inspired Cocktails and Indian
Small Plates to the Former Shanghai 1930 Space on Steuart Street
World-renowned sommelier Rajat Parr and a lifelong friend and chef from India are proud to announce that construction has begun on The Company Bar & Kitchen, a new restaurant in collaboration with Mina Group. Located in San Francisco’s vibrant Embarcadero district on Steuart Street in the former Shanghai 1930 space, The Company Bar & Kitchen will be a casual, high-energy bar and restaurant serving creative, East Indies-inspired cocktails and a focused wine list complemented by an array of delicious Indian small plates. Designed by Los Angeles-based AK Design Network, build out for the project is now underway with a projected opening date of summer 2013.
The Company Bar & Kitchen marks the realization of a long-held dream for Rajat, providing a showcase for his beloved native Indian cuisine. Born in Calcutta, Rajat is internationally renowned for his award-winning beverage programs as wine director of Mina Group, but he also has an extensive culinary background. Before focusing on the wine industry, he graduated from the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, New York, where he met and became close friends with the future executive chef of The Company Bar & Kitchen, whose identity will be announced at a later date. With the backing of Michael Mina, Patric Yumul, president of Mina Group, and Mina Group itself, this longtime dream collaboration will finally come to fruition.
“Patric and I have been dreaming up the details for The Company Bar & Kitchen for the past few years and we’re thrilled that construction is finally underway,” said Rajat. “We are so excited to work with Amy Kim of AK Design Network to finalize the look and feel of the space and to become a part of the thriving Embarcadero community. This project will be a very energetic bar and restaurant that will add new flavor and flair to Steuart Street’s impressive beverage and culinary line-up.”
The Company Bar & Kitchen will reflect the vision and passion of its founders, uniquely bringing together their shared love of Indian food, cocktails, craft beers and wine in a relaxed yet upbeat setting. On the culinary front, the menu will offer a selection of sharable plates blending classic Indian flavors and techniques with the bounty of locally-sourced ingredients available in the Bay Area. These bold but balanced dishes will be accompanied by cocktails that will play off the vibrancy of the cuisine, and will pull inspiration from the tastes of the East Indies with a focus on gin and whiskey as base spirits. A tightly edited and approachable list of wines selected by Rajat will also be offered, highlighting Syrahs and Rieslings from around the world.
The design by AK Design Network, whose credits include Katsuya Hollywood, select Viceroy Hotel Group properties, and The Fat Cow by Gordon Ramsay, will encompass nearly 5,200 square feet and will accommodate 130 seated guests. Dramatic elements of the site’s former life will be kept intact, including the striking curved staircase at the entranceway, but the layout will be constructed to feel more spacious and open. The space will also be separated into two different rooms, creating two distinct guest experiences. The first area will feature an energetic bar and lounge, while the main dining room will offer views of the open kitchen, designed by Frank H. Muller in conjunction with acclaimed restaurant consultant Mark Stech-Novak.
The Company Bar & Kitchen’s name references the popular shorthand title for The East India Trading Company, the historic English joint-stock company formed in the 1600s to pursue trade with the East Indies. True to its name, the project will be an inspired intersection of Eastern and Western sensibilities, celebrating the union of British tradition with soulful Indian cuisine and representing an innovative new venue for patrons to enjoy the Mina Group’s exceptional standards of service, creativity and quality.
“The Company Bar & Kitchen is a fun new concept both for San Francisco and Mina Group, and I look forward to working with the team to bring their vision to life,” said Michael. “I enjoy the process of expanding Mina Group’s offerings and my biggest joy is teaming up with talented chefs outside of my area of culinary expertise as it provides so much valuable inspiration. I’ve always loved the bold, spice-driven flavors of Indian cuisine but have only dabbled in its preparation, and I can’t wait to taste the team’s forthcoming menu.”
The Company Bar & Kitchen will be located at 133 Steuart Street (between Mission and Howard) in San Francisco.
