Dishes at Chico Marx in South San Francisco are inspired by Spanish and Californian flavors. Courtesy Kelly Puleio.
By Kate Bradshaw
Chico Marx, a new restaurant offering Spanish-Californian fare with flavors from the Latin American diaspora, has recently opened in an office tower in South San Francisco, according to a press release.
"I have always been very passionate about Latin American Cuisine,” says executive chef Jose Alvarez. "The ingredients we use are rich and full of deep flavors that transport me back to my roots. At Chico Marx, I'm taking these roots and showing how they intertwine with the culinary styles of Spain and California."
The interior at Chico Marx, a new Spanish-Californian restuarant in South San Francisco. Courtesy Kelly Puleio.
Appetizers include dishes like chicken taquitos, catalan flatbread, patatas bravas, ceviche, spinach empanadas and arancini. Salads and sandwiches round out the lunch menu, with offerings including a grilled salmon sandwich, a burger and a grilled cheese sandwich, which is served with manchego, goat cheese, honey and truffle aioli.
Entrees include Bolinas black cod, a Spanish griddled chickpea pancake, pollo al ajillo — chicken with asparagus, garlic, a pimento cream sauce and saffron rice — and tempranillo-braised short ribs. Dessert includes alfajores or cookie sandwiches and cinnamon sugar churros. A happy hour menu runs weekdays from 3-7 p.m. with beer, sangria and signature cocktails plus small plates available.
The restaurant is managed by Bon Appétit Management Company, a Palo Alto-based restaurant company that runs more than 1,000 cafes around the U.S. Recently, Los Altos' State Street Market cut ties with the company in its overhaul of the eatery options at its downtown food hall.
The restaurant is located at 2 Tower Place, part of the Genesis South San Francisco office campus used for life sciences and biotech space. In 2020, the building and two others were bought for $1 billion by Ventas, a real estate investment trust. The restaurant offers catering, plus AV-equipped private rooms for business meetings and events, according to its website. It is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Chico Marx, 2 Tower Place, South San Francisco; 650-731-9146, Instagram: @chicomarxssf.
