San Francisco Drag Legend Juanita MORE! Is Taking Over Local Restaurant Jones

Jones, a restaurant in San Francisco‘s Tenderloin neighborhood just a few blocks from Union Square, is about to get a fabulous makeover, as local Bay Area drag legend Juanita MORE! takes over the kitchen. Starting Sept. 4, the restaurant — which boasts three bars and a lush courtyard terrace for diners — will welcome MORE!, Chef Cory Armenta and food stylist Cole Church to completely revamp its full-service dinner and bar menu.

San Francisco’s latest culinary experience will be called MORE!jones.

MORE! tells Hornet that diners can expect a Latin-Mediterranean menu and a complimentary cocktail pairing menu. The menu will reportedly include Juanita’s French-style carnitas, pizzas and her famous chicken livers. On Sundays, a drag-hosted brunch featuring Juanita and special guests will serve up items like an open-faced chilaquiles sandwich (yum!) and Juanita’s “hangover pizza cure.” On Wednesday nights Juanita will host an affordable family-style dinner reflecting her moods and the seasons.

For years Juanita MORE! has treated the San Francisco area to a Sunday Pride Party at Jones, so as she says, “Jumping into the kitchen seemed like the perfect fit.” Like Armenta and Church, MORE! is herself a veteran of the culinary world.

That’s right, in addition to being a famed local queen, DJ and party promoter, food and the culinary arts are a longstanding love of MORE!

She tells Hornet, “I consider my creative passion for food as my first true art. I was that little kid standing on a chair next to the stove as my father cooked. You couldn’t kick me out of the kitchen when I was young.”

Juanita MORE! is also known throughout the Bay Area for her “naked dinner parties” that have become quite the invite (and quite a topic for conversation as well). Those dining at Jones, of course, are asked to keep their clothes on.

“I just had a Naked Dessert Party last week,” MORE! tells us. “It was delicious! There is just something about my tiny Tenderloin apartment that makes people comfortable in the nude. Let’s just leave it at that.”

Jones, with a new menu by Juanita MORE!, is located at 620 Jones Street in San Francisco. More info here.

Featured image by Mr. Pam