Chef Michael Mina announced he will bring back a version of Mina Test Kitchen in San Francisco: “Neighborhood Test Kitchen”, which will transform the former International Smoke space into a new culinary experience designed to showcase rotating restaurant concepts.
According to the San Francisco Business Times, the project will take over the space previously occupied by International Smoke, on 301 Mission St, the barbecue restaurant Mina co-founded with Ayesha Curry. Rather than operating as a single restaurant, the new venture, called Neighborhood Test Kitchen, will host a succession of concepts that change every four to six months.
The first residency is expected to feature an American brasserie-style menu developed by Mina Group’s culinary team. Future concepts may be led by guest chefs and collaborators, allowing the space to serve as a testing ground for new ideas before they potentially expand into permanent restaurants.
The opening marks a return to a format Mina first introduced more than a decade ago. The original Mina Test Kitchen gained attention for its experimental approach, allowing chefs to develop and refine concepts in a live restaurant environment.
Founded by chef Michael Mina, the Mina Group operates dozens of restaurants across the United States and is known for concepts ranging from fine dining establishments to casual culinary experiences. The company’s renewed focus on flexible, chef-driven concepts reflects a growing trend in the restaurant industry toward experimentation and adaptability.
