New Seating Policy Announced at Yoshi's San Francisco

In an effort to make the 40+ years of the "Yoshi's Experience" of superb intimate live music and high quality Japanese-style cuisine the same, Yoshi's San Francisco will implement a new seating policy effective Wednesday, April 10, 2013.

While Yoshi's Oakland and Yoshi's San Francisco have had similar live music and restaurant menu offerings, the seat reservations policies differed. Since 2007, Yoshi's San Francisco has offered reserved seating for all shows by customers either paying a $10 seat reservation fee [per person] or by committing to dining in the restaurant and paying a $20 reservation fee which was credited to their dining. Now, all restaurant diners and lounge patrons holding show tickets will have the best available seats pre-reserved for them while they are dining at Yoshi's at no additional cost. Guests who are dining can show their tickets to the host who will arrange their preferred seat reservations, which they will receive from their servers. Guests who spend a minimum of $20 in the lounge or at the bar can also receive reserved seats by showing their tickets to the server or bartender. Guests must be at Yoshi's at least one hour before show time to guarantee reserved seats; latecomers may be seated with the General Admission guests. During a transitional period, a very limited number of reserved seats for all shows will be available for purchase at time of ticketing on a first come, first served basis.

The spectacular 28,000-square foot, two-story facility with seating for 370 guests in the restaurant and lounge and 420 in the adjacent, state-of-the art club, combines the artistry of Japanese cuisine executed by acclaimed Chef Shotaro "Sho" Kamio with a live music experience that is more than jazz. At Yoshi's, Sho transcends Japanese cooking through his "Sousaku" or "creative" cuisine, based upon three basis principles: Seasonal, Simple and Surprise. "Seasonal" refers to his seasonal menu that changes with the four seasons of both San Francisco and Japan, and with the availability of local produce, fresh seafood, and family-farmed meats. "Simple" because Sho simply prepares the seasonally harvested ingredients to highlight their quality and natural flavor. And finally, "Surprise" incorporates the discovery that his guests experience and the excitement of their senses throughout their meal.

Yoshi's San Francisco music offerings include soul, R&B, funk, world, classical, rock, country, blues, alternative indie rock, comedy, pop, adult contemporary, folk, reggae, gospel and hip-hop. Appearing this month: Poland's top jazz pianist Leszek Mozdzer (April 10); contemporary jazz singer/songwriter Spencer Day (April 11); smooth jazz-rock fusion saxophonist and genius behind the Smooth Jazz Cruise Warren Hill (April 12); master acoustic genre-blending guitarist Leo Kottke (April 13-14); R&B, hippie, neo-soul, rock star Raheem DeVaughn (April 13, 11pm); critically-acclaimed actress and author touring new jazz project Molly Ringwald (April 16); Hidden Beach Recording's soulful smooth jazz alto saxophonist Mike Phillips (April 17); blues singing daughter of John Lee Hooker Zakiya Hooker (April 18); Raquel Bitton with special guest Rebeca Mauleon: Havana Meets Paris with full orchestra (April 19); The 50th Anniversary Concert with Teruhiko Saigo, the Elvis Presley of Japan and this year's Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Grand Marshal, (April 20); soul, indie rock, neo-blues singer Leah Tysse (April 21); passionate award-winning jazz, soul, and blues singer René Marie's Experiment in Truth" Quartet (April 23); solo concert classical pianist The Artist Sessions: Lara Downes (April 24); multi-platinum vintage blues, R&B and soul singer Joan Osborne Acoustic Duo (April 25); American Idol Season 2 winner Ruben Studdard (April 26-27); multi-cultural children's choir Voena: Voices of the River (April 28); and French double-bassist composer Renaud Garcia-Fons (April 30).

Why the change? Yoshi's San Francisco wants to offer a comparable world-class live music and Michelin-rated Japanese dining experience to its sister club Yoshi's Oakland. While our musical offerings differ, the Japanese fine-dining experience headed by Chef Sho remains the same.

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