Zazie's History
Zazie was opened in Cole Valley in 1992 by Catherine Opoix, who named her neighborhood bistro after the main character in Louis Malle's film Zazie dans le Métro. Jen Piallat started as General Manager in 2000, eventually buying the restaurant from Catherine in 2005, and promoted longtime server Mario Rojas to General Manager and longtime brunch cook Francisco Romero to head chef.. Over the next few years, Jen developed a benefits program that is unparalleled in non-union restaurants, including fully funded health & dental insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan with employer match, paid family leave, and paid sick leave. To learn more about Jen's bio, our benefits program, and our Tip Free system, click here.
After being featured on Check, Please! Bay Area in 2010, the secret was out, and Zazie became as well known for dinner as it always had been for brunch. Celebrating 28 years as Cole Valley's neighborhood bistro, Zazie is proud to be home to a fantastic staff and a family of regular guests.
In 2017, Jen opened a sister restaurant in the beautiful wine country spa town of Calistoga! Lovina is a charming farm to table restaurant in an old Edwardian home on the main street. Jen is proud to feature her own home-thrown pottery at Lovina, and enjoys working on a wine list that she calls "The Judgment of Calistoga," modeled after the 1976 Judgment of Paris when Calistoga wines first shone for the national stage.
In 2020, Jen decided to move to wine country full time. She couldn't imagine turning over Zazie to a stranger- leaving 38 employees, the legacy she had developed, and the clientele that made it happen in the hands of someone who didn't know and love this little place, so Jen sold Zazie to three employees with 50 cumulative years of experience! The team of Mario Rojas (21 years at Zazie) Francisco Romero, (17 years at Zazie), and Megan Cornelius (12 years at Zazie) took over on January 15, 2020. Jen is remaining as a 25% owner- consulting and advising the new owners as Zazie moves into the next decade.
p.s.- I'll horrify my English teacher and step out of the third person to say... I'm so proud of these three, and of all my staff. They are the heart of Zazie and with them together as a strong family, this place will continue to be Old San Francisco in a world of So Much Change. Mario will still be the face of brunch- kissing babies, recognizing neighbors who moved away years ago, organizing the chaos that is THE LIST. Francisco will still orchestrate the smoothest running kitchen in town, with the invaluable help of brunch lead cook Miguel Guzman, keeping our menu strong while learning new and exciting French dishes. Megan will run our HR and private parties, while elegantly hosting dinners with the ever charming Adam Murray assisting. I can't wait to see what they do, with all their energy and excitement! Thank you, Cole Valley, for the endless support and affection- I'm sure I'll see you around the 'hood, or come up and see me at Lovina.
Zazie was opened in Cole Valley in 1992 by Catherine Opoix, who named her neighborhood bistro after the main character in Louis Malle's film Zazie dans le Métro. Jen Piallat started as General Manager in 2000, eventually buying the restaurant from Catherine in 2005, and promoted longtime server Mario Rojas to General Manager and longtime brunch cook Francisco Romero to head chef.. Over the next few years, Jen developed a benefits program that is unparalleled in non-union restaurants, including fully funded health & dental insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan with employer match, paid family leave, and paid sick leave. To learn more about Jen's bio, our benefits program, and our Tip Free system, click here.
After being featured on Check, Please! Bay Area in 2010, the secret was out, and Zazie became as well known for dinner as it always had been for brunch. Celebrating 28 years as Cole Valley's neighborhood bistro, Zazie is proud to be home to a fantastic staff and a family of regular guests.
In 2017, Jen opened a sister restaurant in the beautiful wine country spa town of Calistoga! Lovina is a charming farm to table restaurant in an old Edwardian home on the main street. Jen is proud to feature her own home-thrown pottery at Lovina, and enjoys working on a wine list that she calls "The Judgment of Calistoga," modeled after the 1976 Judgment of Paris when Calistoga wines first shone for the national stage.
In 2020, Jen decided to move to wine country full time. She couldn't imagine turning over Zazie to a stranger- leaving 38 employees, the legacy she had developed, and the clientele that made it happen in the hands of someone who didn't know and love this little place, so Jen sold Zazie to three employees with 50 cumulative years of experience! The team of Mario Rojas (21 years at Zazie) Francisco Romero, (17 years at Zazie), and Megan Cornelius (12 years at Zazie) took over on January 15, 2020. Jen is remaining as a 25% owner- consulting and advising the new owners as Zazie moves into the next decade.
p.s.- I'll horrify my English teacher and step out of the third person to say... I'm so proud of these three, and of all my staff. They are the heart of Zazie and with them together as a strong family, this place will continue to be Old San Francisco in a world of So Much Change. Mario will still be the face of brunch- kissing babies, recognizing neighbors who moved away years ago, organizing the chaos that is THE LIST. Francisco will still orchestrate the smoothest running kitchen in town, with the invaluable help of brunch lead cook Miguel Guzman, keeping our menu strong while learning new and exciting French dishes. Megan will run our HR and private parties, while elegantly hosting dinners with the ever charming Adam Murray assisting. I can't wait to see what they do, with all their energy and excitement! Thank you, Cole Valley, for the endless support and affection- I'm sure I'll see you around the 'hood, or come up and see me at Lovina.