Hospitality leaders from across the Bay Area gathered on June 30 for What Now San Francisco’s Accelerate event, hosted at Hungry Tables, 257 3rd St. in San Francisco. Marian Ebhamen, What Now Media Group’s Event Host, offered attendees an afternoon focused on growth and navigating today’s restaurant industry.
Representatives from hospitality businesses featured by What Now and industry partners gathered to share resources, services, and knowledge to help operators grow their businesses. The occasion highlighted the collaborative nature of hospitality.
Restaurant Attendees
Hungry Tables: 257 3rd St., San Francisco, CA 94103
Owner Mohamed Abdelmeguid represented Hungry Tables, a communal dining concept from Hungry Kitchens focused on creating shared dining experiences where guests connect over food and conversation.
Rancho Cantina: Bay Area
Co-owner Alexandria Amaya represented Rancho Cantina. The restaurant has been featured by What Now San Francisco as it prepared for its recent expansion into downtown Danville.
Parasol at Flore: 2298 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94114
Assistant Manager Kevin Daza represented Parasol at Flore. The newly opened California-Mediterranean bistro and lounge bar is located at the historic corner of Market and Noe streets in the Castro district.
Hotel Biron Wine Bar: 45 Rose St., San Francisco, CA 94102
Owner Ron Ramsubhag represented Hotel Biron Wine Bar, an established wine bar that he purchased in 2024. The venue doubles as a revolving gallery showcasing monthly, for-sale art from local artists.
Millennium Restaurant: 5912 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618
Manager Adele Leite and server Misha Shagalov represented Millennium Restaurant. A Michelin-recognized vegan fine-dining institution that has graced Oakland for over three decades, it recently reopened in 2026 with a new sustainable model.
Il Porto: San Francisco, CA
Manager Ana Paula Martinez represented Il Porto, a highly anticipated Italian spot that is opening soon at Pier 31’s Alcatraz Landing. It’s the first formal restaurant at the busy ferry launch point.
Delphine: 38 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Co-owners Berk Kinalilar and Betul Kinalilar represented Delphine, a new Coastal Mediterranean restaurant set to open in downtown Mill Valley in summer 2026, adding another restaurant project to their growing portfolio. The concept focuses on fresh seafood and organic ingredients.
In addition to restaurant operators, the event brought together hospitality partners specializing in areas such as payroll, payment technology, marketing, insurance, and business services. These companies play an important role in helping independent restaurants and growing hospitality groups manage daily operations and prepare for future growth.
Hospitality Partners
Auris
Senior Payroll Advisor James (Jim) Rowse represented Auris. The company provides HR and payroll services designed to support businesses with workforce management needs. Auris helps hospitality operators streamline payroll, employee administration, and HR processes, allowing restaurant owners and teams to focus more on daily operations and growth.
Global Payments — Genius Point of Sale
Software Relationship Managers Dan O’Connor and Dylan Morales represented Global Payments’ Genius Point-of-Sale platform. Their team works with businesses on payment technology and point-of-sale solutions. The platform helps hospitality operators manage transactions, improve operational efficiency, and access tools that support the fast-paced needs of F&B businesses.
SLIQUE Media
President Thomas Pham represented SLIQUE Media. The company supports businesses with marketing services and brand development. SLIQUE Media helps hospitality brands strengthen their visibility, connect with customers, and develop marketing strategies for long-term growth.
SpotOn
Hospitality Specialist Brenden Voss represented SpotOn. The company provides technology solutions designed to support hospitality businesses. SpotOn helps restaurant owners simplify operations for payments, customer engagement, and overall business management.
Tagrisk LLC
Hospitality Risk Specialist Cameron Koch and CEO Larry Anaya represented Tagrisk LLC, which provides insurance solutions focused on hospitality businesses. Tagrisk works with restaurant operators to identify potential risks and develop coverage strategies that help protect their businesses, employees, and operations.
What Now Media Group shares restaurant opening news in 33 cities across North America, breaking news, and provides timely insight into yet-to-open brick-and-mortar businesses. The platform shares news of thousands of openings across all 33 cities annually.
Stay tuned for future Accelerate events from What Now Media Group in 2026. For more details, see the Accelerate page here.
Click here for a complete list of our partners. To learn more about becoming a preferred partner, click here.
