Nestled in Bernal Heights, this chic bistro serves up a rotating four-course prix fixe menu filled with seasonal delights in a bright, inviting space.
"In July, Fisher and Chow Fisher announced their sudden departure from Marlena, the Bernal Heights restaurant the couple opened during the height of the pandemic and shepherded to Michelin-star status just a year later. The couple cited “a prolonged deterioration of the business relationship” with Marlena owner Stephan Roulland as the reason for their departure, which preceded the restaurant’s closure." - Lauren Saria
"Marlena, once an idea in chef David Fisher's mind, became a Michelin-starred destination with the help of his wife Serena Chow Fisher and their community. Despite their efforts to renovate and update the space, conflicts with owner Stephan Roulland led to the couple's departure. They announced this decision on June 30, 2023, and expressed hopes to eventually reopen a restaurant under the Marlena name." - Lauren Saria
"It’s no overstatement to say that Marlena, the affordable prix fixe restaurant perched on the side of a hill in Bernal Heights, has been one of San Francisco’s culinary breakout stars of the past three years. The restaurant moved into the former Hillside Supper Club space in August 2020, a time looked back on now as peak pandemic, and served takeout sandwiches before dipping a toe into indoor dining in November — only to be shut down along with every other restaurant in the city due to a surge in COVID cases. It inched open again for outdoor, then indoor, dining throughout the spring, before earning a coveted Michelin star in fall 2021." - Lauren Saria
"Since opening in August 2020, this mom-and-pop restaurant has quickly become a darling of the San Francisco dining scene. And it’s not hard to see why. Husband-and-wife team chef David Fisher and pastry chef Serena Chow Fisher offer Michelin star-worthy plates that spotlight local ingredients in a simple tasting menu format. Diners choose between two options for each of the four courses; dinner costs $75 per person with the option to add beverage pairings and a selection of supplements if you so choose." - Lauren Saria
"Bloom’s End, a “traveling bakery” run by Mary Denham, will host its centennial event on March 11. The pop-up will serve at Marlena from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m." - Paolo Bicchieri
