Side A, a modern American bistro where music and dining harmoniously coexist, announced its grand opening in the former Universal Cafe space on May 1, 2025. Led by husband and wife team Parker and Caroline Brown, Side A aims to create an inviting and sociable atmosphere, reminiscent of a warm household dinner party, but with the added allure of a killer sound system, amazing food, and an impressive vinyl collection.
Taking inspiration from San Francisco’s dining and music scenes, as well as their love of Japanese listening bars, the Browns have created a space where music is as integral to the experience as the food and wine. The restaurant features a high-end, curated sound system that will help set it apart from other traditional dining experiences. Designed in collaboration with Good Question Sound and 280 West and utilizing Tub’s Audio speakers from New Zealand, this will be the first installation of its kind in the United States.
Parker and Caroline are committed to honoring the legacy of the Universal Cafe space as they embark on their new venture with Side A. Recognizing the cherished memories and community connections that Universal Cafe fostered over the years, they aim to preserve its spirit of warmth and hospitality. “Our vision for Side A is to nurture a renaissance of creativity and community within this cherished space, while introducing our unique blend of culinary and musical delights.” said Caroline Brown in a statement, who will personally curate vinyl sets most evenings under her DJ name Music Please.
Parker Brown, who was most recently chef de cuisine at Michelin-starred Aphotic, honed his culinary skills working with chefs across the country. He has created a menu at Side A that offers an intentional take on American cuisine, blending comforting Midwestern hospitality with California sensibilities. Signature dishes include their Garbage Salad with little gems, pork belly confit, and dilly beans; Parisian gnocchi paired with short rib and giardiniera (a nod to Chicago beef); and a bone marrow burger with red onion jam. The beverage program, curated by Paul Chung from La Ciccia, will feature primarily Italian and local wines, and there will also be house wines, craft beer, and an array of non-alcoholic options.
The transformation of the space was made possible through collaboration with Studio AHEAD and 280 West. The team preserved many of Universal Cafe’s custom elements while adding new features such as a custom designed metal DJ booth, chairs, barstools, shelving to house the extensive record collection, and a high-end sound system. The design of Side A is intentionally clean and minimal, anchored by retro-futuristic metal pieces that pay homage to the material used throughout the original architecture.
The team softened the space with textiles throughout, enhancing the space’s acoustics with drapery and custom-made Sonoma sheep wool acoustic panels. The pairing of metal and textiles creates a sleek and soft dining and listening experience. By maintaining simplicity in the decor, the space creates an environment where the rich audio and carefully crafted dishes can truly shine, offering guests a special, memorable experience. Will Sperry of Good Question Sound designed the sound system alongside Caroline, drawing inspiration from international listening bars they loved in cities across the world, especially in Lisbon, Tokyo, Mexico City, London, Paris and New York. The bars and restaurants they loved most and drew the most inspiration from felt like shrines to the owners’ music collections and speaker systems, and Side A aims to be an environment that offers this level of unparalleled audio quality. Sperry chose to utilize modern technology and engineering principles, such as Tub’s Audio speakers which have never before been installed in any restaurant in the United States, to craft a “new-fi” sound system.
This meticulously curated sound system setup will ensure top tier audio quality no matter where the guest may be seated in the restaurant. In the main room, three ceiling-mounted speakers and a subwoofer behind the DJ booth were custom designed by Tub’s Audio, which are painted in a beige-white color to seamlessly integrate with the venue’s aesthetic. The DJ booth is equipped with two Technics turntables, a Benidub effects unit, monitor speaker, drink holder, and a handmade mixer crafted by Khramov Audio in Brooklyn.
Most nights, Caroline will be spinning records herself, ensuring each track is carefully selected and free of scratches as she has spent months editing and cataloging their collection. On weekends, the space will welcome guest DJs, and Caroline’s extensive network promises special sets from touring artists who will bring their own flair by playing singles and record sides, a concept that is currently influencing Caroline’s edits for the in-house collection. The vinyl selection spans a range of genres, including soul, funk, disco, blues, rock, reggae, jazz, and world music. Additionally, they plan to regularly host international DJs, and will record DJ sets for decentralized audience involvement, allowing music lovers from afar to engage with the experience via YouTube. Morning DJ sets over coffee and donuts, featuring San Francisco’s very own The Coffee Movement, will be available weekdays 8am to 2pm, offering a fresh way to start the day.
Side A is located at 2814 19th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110. Dinner service is Monday, Thursday and Sunday from 4:00-10:00 PM, with extended hours until midnight on Friday and Saturday, plus industry specials on Mondays. Coffee and homemade donuts are available 8am – 2pm Monday through Friday. Walk-ins welcome and reservations for dinner can be made via Resy.
