Chao Pescao

What Chao Pescao does

Chao Pescao is a single-location Cuban-Colombian restaurant operating in San Francisco's Civic Center neighborhood, founded by owner-operator Rene Denis. The concept serves traditional Cuban and Colombian home cooking adapted for a casual full-service format, complemented by craft cocktails featuring Latin American spirits and a curated wine list. The restaurant functions as the company's central revenue engine, supplemented by takeout, delivery, and catering operations, as well as private event bookings.

The business operates five days per week (Tuesday through Saturday, 11:30am-8:30pm) with a small team of approximately 14 employees and is supported by a BentoBox-powered website that handles online ordering and digital marketing. The company also runs an online wine shop that sells bottles directly to consumers, extending the in-house beverage program beyond the four walls of the restaurant. Founder Rene Denis brings 20+ years of restaurant industry experience that underpins menu development and supplier relationships.

Revenue is generated through dine-in covers, takeout and delivery orders, catering contracts, private event rentals, and direct-to-consumer wine sales. Pricing sits in the casual full-service tier with entrees averaging around $20. Marketing relies heavily on earned media placements in outlets such as SF Chronicle, Eater SF, Time Out, and ABC7, along with participation in city-wide promotions like SF Restaurant Week. The company has not raised institutional capital disclosed in available data and operates without a multi-unit expansion plan, making it a single-unit independent restaurant business rather than a scalable concept at present.

Name

Chao Pescao

Website

https://chaopescaosf.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chao Pescao is a single-location Cuban-Colombian restaurant in San Francisco's Civic Center, founded by Rene Denis, serving traditional family recipes, craft cocktails with Latin American spirits, and a curated wine list to dine-in, takeout, delivery, catering, and private-event customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Casual Dining Restaurants

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Caterers (722320)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Casual Dining Restaurants (THAFACAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ethnic & Regional Cuisine Restaurants (THAFACAD)

Keywords

• Casual dining restaurant
• Cuban Colombian cuisine
• Craft cocktail bar
• Latin Caribbean food
• Restaurant catering services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Dine-in Service: Casual dining restaurant with table service. Offers full menu including appetizers, entrees, sandwiches, cocktails, wine, and desserts. Entrees priced around $20 and come with rice, beans and plantains.
2. Takeout and Delivery: Online ordering available for takeout and delivery. Menu optimized for delivery. Operating hours Tuesday-Saturday 11:30am-8:30pm.
3. Catering Services: Catering for office parties and at-home celebrations. Inquiries handled through website form.
4. Private Events: Private event bookings for entire venue, bar, banquet room, and dining room. 20% service charge applied to parties of 6 or larger.
5. Online Wine Shop: Curated wine collections available online, 6 bottles each, designed for value and to complement the food

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Chao Pescao operates a casual Latin Caribbean restaurant in San Francisco's Civic Center serving Cuban and Colombian home cooking. The restaurant offers dine-in service, takeout, delivery, catering, and private event bookings, complemented by a craft cocktail program featuring Latin American spirits and a value-driven global wine list curated by the owner.

Product overview

Chao Pescao is a casual Latin Caribbean restaurant in San Francisco's Civic Center neighborhood. The restaurant offers a unified dining experience centered on Cuban and Colombian home cooking, complemented by craft cocktails inspired by traditional Latin American drinks and a value-driven global wine list. Key food offerings include gluten-free Pan de Bono cheese bread, Colombian Empanadas (made with masa dough), Tostones, Cuban Sandwich, Ropa Vieja, Lechon, Pozole Rojo, and Tajin Fried Chicken. The cocktail program features classic and modern interpretations using rum, tequila, mezcal, and South American brandies. The restaurant also provides catering services and private event spaces (entire venue, bar, and dining room).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dine-in Restaurant Service Full-service casual dining experience offering a Latin Caribbean menu including appetizers, empanadas, salads, sandwiches, arepas, entrees, craft cocktails, wine, and desserts. Entrees priced around $20 and served with rice, beans, and plantains. Reservations available Tuesday through Saturday, 11:30am-8:30pm.
• Online Ordering for Takeout and Delivery Direct online ordering service for takeout and delivery through the restaurant's website, with a menu specifically engineered to adapt well to delivery. Customers can place orders directly through the restaurant's BentoBox-powered online platform.
• Catering Services

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• San Francisco ChroniclecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 June 2021Major press coverage including restaurant critic Soleil Ho's positive review and feature in 'Best Food of the Week'. Multiple articles covering restaurant opening and menu offerings.
• Eater SFcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 June 2021Featured in opening coverage titled 'The New Chao Pescao Blasts Bright Color and Colombian Empanadas in Civic Center' on June 15, 2021
• Time MagazineminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Featured in Time magazine article 'This Should Be a Boom Time for Restaurants. But Owners—and the Few Workers Remaining—are Struggling' about restaurant labor shortages
• 7x7 Bay AreaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Listed in 'Big Eat: 100 Best Restaurant Takeout Dishes in San Francisco 2021'
• Flavor & The MenuminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Received 'Best of Flavor' recognition from industry publication
• The InfatuationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Listed in San Francisco's New Restaurant Openings guide
• The Perfect Spot SFminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Listed in 'December's 10 SF Bay Area Restaurants for Takeout or Delivery'
• The Nob Hill GazetteminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Restaurant opening coverage in Nob Hill Gazette
• San Francisco MagazineminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Listed in '28 Delicious Restaurants For Takeout And Delivery In San Francisco'
• HoodlineminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Opening coverage for new Cuban-Colombian restaurant in Civic Center opening with takeout-only menu

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Pagu: Downtown SF casual fusion concept with strong delivery and catering components. Comparable not by cuisine but by single-location casual dining model, downtown SF exposure, and similar delivery-optimized menu strategy.

Direct peers

• El Farolito: Iconic SF Mission-based casual Mexican taqueria with strong delivery and late-night presence. Comparable as an independent, single-concept Latin American casual dining operator in San Francisco with delivery as a meaningful revenue channel.
• Media Noche: San Francisco fast-casual Cuban concept serving Cuban sandwiches and Latin comfort food with delivery and catering focus. Directly comparable as another Cuban-leaning operator in SF targeting a similar casual dining and takeout customer.
• Cosecha Café: SF-based Latin American (particularly Mexican/regional) casual restaurant with catering and takeout. Comparable as an independent single-location operator in the Latin American comfort-food space serving similar Bay Area clientele.
• Lolinda: SF Mission Argentine/Latin American restaurant with a strong cocktail and wine program and large private event space. Comparable as a high-touch independent Latin full-service operator with a meaningful events revenue stream.
• Piqueo's: Bay Area Peruvian/Latin American restaurant with full bar and casual dining format. Comparable as a regional Latin American casual full-service operator with similar price points and family-inspired menu positioning.
• Mamacita: Casual modern Mexican restaurant in SF's Marina/Pacific Heights area with craft cocktails and an emphasis on shareable plates. Comparable as a SF-based casual Latin American full-service operator at a similar price point.
• Padrecito: Casual modern Mexican restaurant in SF's Cole Valley, owned by the same group as Mamacita, with a full bar and delivery. Comparable as a SF-based casual Latin American concept with craft cocktails and a comparable price-point menu.
• Lolo: Independent casual Latin-influenced comfort food restaurant in San Francisco's Castro neighborhood, founded/owned by a longtime restaurateur (Arevalo). Highly comparable business model: single-location casual dining, delivery, craft cocktails, and press-driven brand building.

Regional players

• Havana 59 (Habana): New York-based Cuban/Latin American casual restaurant. Comparable as a single-concept Cuban-leaning operator, but geographically distinct — useful for benchmarking concept scaling in a different market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/chaopescaosf
• Instagraminstagram.com/chaopescaosf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/soluna-cafe-&-lounge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chao Pescao