Hayes Valley Brunch Spot Laguna Closes After a Year in Business

Laguna, a brunch-focused restaurant at the corner of Hayes and Laguna Streets, opened to some fanfare in January of 2019. A little more than a year later, the spot has gone dark, Hoodline reports, the third restaurant at that address to shutter since 2016.

It’s unclear what went wrong at Laguna, as passers-by say that the place seemed busy and its owners, Brian Stafford and David Kleinberg (a veteran of Michael Mina, Chez Maman, and Doppio Zero), have nearly 35 combined years of experience in the industry.

Explaining why Laguna would specialize in brunch back in November of 2018, Stafford told Eater SF that “I’ve always loved breakfast and brunch and food in general, long before the “foodie” term came about,” but said that most local brunch spots were “kind of half-assed.” Laguna, he said, would “be on par with Nopa and Outerlands,” and served a wide-ranging menu that included a caprese salad, beignets, and mahi ceviche.

This week, Stafford confirmed the spot’s closure to Hoodline, but declined to offer additional comment. But if Laguna’s walls could talk, they might likely say “What? Again?” as its 602 Hayes Street address has been home to three restaurants since 2016: Forget Me Not Cafe (2014-2016), Meatball Bar (eight months in 2018) and now, Laguna. At present, no permits have been filed by any brave restaurateurs eager to move into the space, but if they do, they’d be well advised to employ a heavy hand with the sage.