Dominic Di Grande of The Gold Mirror (opens in new tab), the old-school Italian spot on Taraval Street, had a problem on his hands.
Ahead of the 56-year-old restaurant’s grand reopening on Saturday, he and his brother Roberto were given strict instructions by just about everyone they know: Don’t touch the menu. “We’ve had hundreds of emails saying, ‘Please don’t change anything!’” Dominic says. “Everyone’s got their favorite thing. They’re like, ‘Hey, is it still gonna be on the menu?’”
Loyal patrons want things to stay the same, but every restaurant has to evolve. And the interior of The Gold Mirror, a staple of the city’s west side, underwent a top-to-bottom transformation during the 2-year closure. So some changes to the menu were in order, too. Old-timers may be stunned at the magnitude of the upgrade by design firm Cult Revival (opens in new tab). Almost every aspect of the interior is new, from the chandeliers to the seats to the marble bar top. Gone are the faux-stone walls and oversized lanterns; in their place are dark paint, sculpted seashells, and elegant sconces…