{"id":203892,"date":"2026-03-04T13:41:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T13:41:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/203892\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T13:41:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T13:41:11","slug":"this-michelin-lauded-chef-makes-the-bay-areas-best-bagels-now-theyre-in-s-f","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/203892\/","title":{"rendered":"This Michelin-lauded chef makes the Bay Area&#8217;s best bagels. Now they&#8217;re in S.F."},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Loveski Deli, the Jewish-inspired deli and bagel shop from famed Wine Country chef Christopher Kostow, opens today in San Francisco&#8217;s buzzy Jackson Square.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">This is the first San Francisco restaurant for Kostow, chef of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/insidescoop\/article\/Meadowood-s-3rd-star-3169139.php\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:three-Michelin-starred Meadowood;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">three-Michelin-starred Meadowood<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/restaurants\/article\/The-Restaurant-at-Meadowood-s-burning-is-a-blow-15606919.php\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:destroyed by wildfire in 2020;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">destroyed by wildfire in 2020<\/a>), who also owns <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/projects\/2025\/top-100-best-restaurants-san-francisco-bay-area\/?utm_source=marketing&amp;utm_medium=google&amp;utm_campaign=content_acquisition&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23286310966&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADfW6kGPXl-F0h3VLmLLLDXGNEwYZ&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAu67KBhAkEiwAY0jAlc1G-cOSrN1U7iEfCEOVVhf-oO0W3z3iUQm6fOGJSRGwY8Le94m27RoCub0QAvD_BwE#charter-oak\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Napa Valley&#039;s Charter Oak;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Napa Valley&#8217;s Charter Oak<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/food\/wine\/article\/ciccio-yountville-italian-restaurant-17893939.php\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Italian spot Ciccio;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Italian spot Ciccio<\/a> with his wife and business partner, Martina. The Kostows opened Loveski&#8217;s first location in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/food\/article\/Christopher-Kostow-s-Jewish-deli-with-a-17006647.php\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Napa&#039;s Oxbow Public Market;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Napa&#8217;s Oxbow Public Market<\/a> in 2022 and a second at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/food\/restaurants\/article\/loveski-deli-marin-18264209.php\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Marin Country Mart;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Marin Country Mart<\/a> the following year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Christopher Kostow views the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/food\/wine\/article\/loveski-san-francisco-21307317.php\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:third Loveski;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">third Loveski <\/a>(400 Jackson St.) as a chance to differentiate the playful restaurant chain from the two categories it&#8217;s typically assigned to: Jewish deli or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/food\/article\/bay-area-bagels-17162722.php\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:bagel shop;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">bagel shop<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Pastries and bagels on display at the new Loveski on Jackson Street. (Lea Suzuki\/S.F. Chronicle)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/aa11befc2e5e566bb254473ba1014369.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Pastries and bagels on display at the new Loveski on Jackson Street. (Lea Suzuki\/S.F. Chronicle)<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Chewy and well-seasoned, Loveski&#8217;s bagels are made from a 30-year-old sourdough starter and boiled in honey, Montreal-style. They won the Chronicle&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/food\/restaurants\/article\/best-bagel-bay-area-20792197.php?utm_source=paid_marketing&amp;utm_medium=meta&amp;utm_campaign=content_acquisition&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23433440815&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADfW6kEH_eEv9vMX_xwmTQseqp9V1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAqprNBhB6EiwAMe3yhmh2EbH9NC0Clgki9uw8qQYROAqxORGU2ecif6u8D7OEZ-9sYq2dvhoCG2QQAvD_BwE\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:blind bagel taste test;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">blind bagel taste test<\/a> last year, but &#8220;I do think we are a lot more than a bagel shop,&#8221; Kostow said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Kostow&#8217;s vision is that each Loveski has a unique identity. &#8220;It&#8217;s not cookie-cutter. Every neighborhood is different,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Being in this neighborhood,&#8221; he continued, referring to Jackson Square, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/sf\/article\/jackson-square-neighborhood-sf-20242260.php\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:a burgeoning hub;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">a burgeoning hub<\/a> for venture capitalists, artificial intelligence startups and creatives, &#8220;forces us to make sure the concept applies to daily life.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The San Francisco location, just one block from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/oursf\/article\/Transamerica-Pyramid-sf-17154748.php\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:recently transformed Transamerica Pyramid;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">recently transformed Transamerica Pyramid<\/a>, feels more like a coffee shop than the other Loveskis, largely because its predecessor, Postscript Cafe, was. The Kostows have partnered with Postcript&#8217;s cofounders Gina and Stuart Peterson, and will now sell their coffee at all Loveski locations.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Loveski's tuna melt is one of many hearty sandwiches on the menu. (Lea Suzuki\/S.F. Chronicle)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"1439\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/282ccbfab8ae7038775e8f67024ce524.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Loveski&#8217;s tuna melt is one of many hearty sandwiches on the menu. (Lea Suzuki\/S.F. Chronicle)<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Gina Peterson, who will continue to roast coffee at the location, said the Kostows&#8217; willingness to support her company &#8220;really meant a lot,&#8221; as did their commitment to &#8220;take on the team and have that same culture we built.&#8221; Christopher Kostow said roughly 90% of the staff at Loveski was carried over from Postscript.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Kostows didn&#8217;t make any major changes to the 2,000-square-foot minimalist, light-filled space, which Martina Kostow describes as already having &#8220;a similar aesthetic&#8221; to Loveski. The most noticeable changes: They&#8217;ve doubled the seating capacity to 40 and added pops of Loveski&#8217;s signature red branding throughout.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Christopher Kostow sees the space as &#8220;the world&#8217;s coolest bodega&#8221; built around a robust &#8220;larder section.&#8221; These shelves are filled with Kostow&#8217;s own pantry creations: tamari and miso made out of bagels, pickle hot sauce, and everything bagel chili crisp.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"A Japanese-inspired egg salad sandwich, made ready-to-go at Loveski San Francisco. (Lea Suzuki\/S.F. Chronicle)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/9d8b52d3f3f2e033871d0877eeb00cdb.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>A Japanese-inspired egg salad sandwich, made ready-to-go at Loveski San Francisco. (Lea Suzuki\/S.F. Chronicle)<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A new cold case is stocked with grab-and-go items &#8211; a bigger focus here than the other Loveskis &#8211; like salads and a Japanese-style egg sandwich.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In addition to Loveski&#8217;s mainstay bagels and sandwiches &#8211; the gluten-free bagels &#8220;are going to be really important here,&#8221; Kostow said &#8211; the San Francisco menu will continue to offer Postscript&#8217;s juices and smoothies. Lighter items exclusive to the location include bone broth ($11); a tahini Caesar salad ($17); roasted salmon and chicken teriyaki bowls ($18); and a chicken Caesar wrap ($18). &#8220;I&#8217;ve been advocating for (wraps) since day one,&#8221; Martina Kostow said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">There is one more indulgent newcomer, a mini breakfast burrito with pastrami, a smashed latke and green onion ($11), available each day until it&#8217;s sold out. They hope to obtain a license to sell wine and beer soon.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Loveski has an expansive &quot;larder section,&quot; filled with Kostow's own pantry creations, like tamari and miso made out of bagels, pickle hot sauce, and everything bagel chili crisp. (Lea Suzuki\/S.F. Chronicle)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a5d6f2810aa3813649d28cf0a9f44055.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Loveski has an expansive &#8220;larder section,&#8221; filled with Kostow&#8217;s own pantry creations, like tamari and miso made out of bagels, pickle hot sauce, and everything bagel chili crisp. (Lea Suzuki\/S.F. Chronicle)<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The couple is open to further expansion, &#8220;if the right opportunity comes along,&#8221; Christopher Kostow said. &#8220;The joy for us is choosing to have fun with it and in doing so, make it dynamic and young, not a crusty old deli.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Loveski Deli. 400 Jackson St., San Francisco. Open daily, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. <a href=\"http:\/\/loveskideli.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:loveskideli.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">loveskideli.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">This article originally published at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/food\/wine\/article\/loveski-deli-bagel-san-francisco-21369446.php?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=yahoo_syndication\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:This Michelin-lauded chef makes the Bay Area&#039;s best bagels. Now they&#039;re in S.F.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">This Michelin-lauded chef makes the Bay Area&#8217;s best bagels. Now they&#8217;re in S.F.<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Loveski Deli, the Jewish-inspired deli and bagel shop from famed Wine Country chef Christopher Kostow, opens today in&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":203893,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[94468,94467,20327,94469,101,103,102,104,106,105],"class_list":{"0":"post-203892","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-san-francisco","8":"tag-bagel-shop","9":"tag-christopher-kostow","10":"tag-jackson-square","11":"tag-martina-kostow","12":"tag-san-francisco","13":"tag-san-francisco-headlines","14":"tag-san-francisco-news","15":"tag-sf","16":"tag-sf-headlines","17":"tag-sf-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203892","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=203892"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203892\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/203893"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=203892"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=203892"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=203892"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}