Birch & Rye in San Francisco seamlessly marries modern Russian cuisine with a warm, inviting vibe, offering a memorable dining experience brimming with flavor and creativity.
"A once-heralded Russian restaurant in San Francisco where contestant Anya El-Wattar was the chef." - Eater Staff
"A modern Russian fine dining restaurant in San Francisco, known for its foraged and fermented ingredients, offering both vegan and non-vegan tasting menus." - Dianne de Guzman
"Birch & Rye, a fine-dining Russian restaurant in San Francisco's Noe Valley, is closing after two years. Chef Anya El-Wattar aimed to introduce a sophisticated take on Russian cuisine while keeping prices affordable. The restaurant offered a menu with unique dishes like naturally leavened rye sourdough and vegan versions of traditional dishes. Despite accolades such as a James Beard semifinalist nomination and local recognition, the labor-intensive production of in-house ingredients led to the decision to close." - Lauren Saria
"While El-Wattar was preparing to open Birch & Rye, a friend gifted the chef a copy of Kachka’s cookbook, which has sat on the shelf of the restaurant since it opened." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden
"Chef Anya el-Wattar serves modern Russian cuisine with a premier vegan tasting menu. Dairy-free options include warming borschsts, plant-based caviars, and more. The chef ensures that meat mains can also be dairy and gluten-free." - Paolo Bicchieri
