Rambler

It has been seven years since Wolfgang Puck shuttered his iconic restaurant Postrio inside the Prescott Hotel at 545 Post Street. Now rebranded as Hotel Zeppelin the former restaurant—once a frequent destination for celebrity diners and power figures like Sean Penn, Elizabeth Taylor, Willie Brown, David Letterman and the list goes on—has a new lease on life in the form of Rambler. Conceived by the Hat Trick Hospitality team Adam Snyder, Hugo Gamboa, and Andy Wasserman (owners of Sabrosa, Redford, and The Brixton) Rambler carries on the spirit of conviviality and social energy in a sleek and posh redesigned space.

Photos by Kelly Puleio

The architectural overhaul and redesign was carried out by Lori Yeomans (Wayfare Tavern, El Paseo) and features two distinct dining areas—a brasserie and an interior dining room—that can accommodate up to 100 guests. The brasserie has a modern California aesthetic with warm tones, leather seating, textured walls and a large wrap-around bar with views of Wolfgang Puck’s original pizza oven. The dining room has a luxurious vibe with soft gray flannel banquettes, mid century chairs, and a curated collection of vintage photography and lithographs.
 
Executive chef Robert Leva (Salt House, Redd, Auberge du Soleil) has crafted what this writer would classify as a Mediterranean farm-to-table menu with brushstrokes and inspiration from France, Spain and Italy.

Start off with one of the signature cocktails and the rotating selection of oysters on the half shell. Or just dive into the decadent clams casino (bacon, celery root, bread crumbs, parsley) or the baked Hammersley oysters with leeks, spinach and tarragon cream. Smaller plates include a very good charred little gem and broccoli salad with an anchovy and manchego vinaigrette and a comforting yet elegant chanterelle toast with a poached egg.

The menu is fairly extensive and has enough to please most palates with the likes of a lamb sausage tagliatelle, ling cod with clams, olives and shelling beans and even a fun braised rabbit pot pie to assuage the chill of winter. An array of pizzas will also be available. The decadent pork chop (pictured above) is not to be missed! Rambler is open daily for lunch and dinner.

Click here to read my interview with the Hat Trick Hospitality Trio in the Nob Hill Gazette.