School Night, the new neighborhood bar coming from culinary force Traci Des Jardins in partnership with San Francisco’s sought-after event space The Pearl, is now open in the Dogpatch. Traci Des Jardins (Jardinière, Mijita, The Commissary, Arguello, etc.), Enrique Sanchez (Bar Manager, Arguello), and Adam Mendelson (co-founder of The Pearl) are bringing one of the city’s best cocktail programs and first exclusively weeknight bar to the heart of the Dogpatch.
When given the opportunity to work with The Pearl, Des Jardins was inspired by the unique possibility to open a bar, something she has yet to do. Together with Adam Mendelson, Managing Partner of The Pearl, they are introducing a new industry model by opening a weeknight bar that doubles as an event venue. School Night is open Sunday through Wednesday, 5:00 pm to 12:00 am and will transition into a private event space in conjunction with The Pearl Thursday through Saturday.
At School Night, Sanchez will showcase Pisco-centric classics that pay homage to the flavors and traditions of his Peruvian roots, in addition to Whiskey and Agave-forward cocktails that honor the ingredients he’s discovered and fallen in love with as part of his American experience. Des Jardins’ food menu will reference the sensibility that Enrique brings to the bar program and highlight the Mexican and Peruvian flavors, while still sourcing from California purveyors. The entire menu revolves around the Bertha wood fired oven which will add smoky flavor to wood-fired verduras en escabeche, fideo with oven roasted clams, Devil’s Gulch costillas with tomatillo barbeque sauce, grilled achiote marinated Wolfe Ranch quail with fried leg, onion escabeche and wood-fired roasted albondigas (meatballs) made from the plant-based Impossible foods product.
Harnessing young talent and being a mentor has always been second nature for Des Jardins, which is why Enrique Sanchez, Bar Manager of Arguello, will be leading School Night’s cocktail program. “Since meeting Enrique three years ago, I knew he was ready to launch a program as the star. School Night gives him a place to exhibit his incredible talent,” says Des Jardins. Originally from Lima, Peru, Sanchez has been managing bar programs and rising through the ranks in the beverage industry since 2004. Joining the team as School Night’s General Manager will be Riley Bartlett who previously worked at Spruce and Pizzeria Delfina.
Artist Alexis Laurent, who has designed and built art for The Pearl, is creating a space that has a cozy and intimate feel with a total number of 87 seats. School Night takes plenty of inspiration from the bright and adjunct Pearl event space. With the use of enduring materials of hardwoods, zinc, concrete and steel, the space reflects the timeless history of the Dogpatch where the industrial meets the natural. Managing Partner Adam Mendelson says, “We look forward to School Night, supporting Dogpatch’s growing residential and business community with an approachable food and beverage program, and as an unrivaled space for intimate private events.”
Traci Des Jardins has spent the last two decades opening and running restaurants in San Francisco, including the iconic Jardinière, Mijita, Public House, and her newest ventures, The Commissary, Arguello and TRANSIT in partnership with the Presidio Trust and Bon Appétit Management Company.
