3rd Cousin, Formerly Kinfolk, Launches Restaurant Kickstarter Campaign

/ Todd_Lappin

3cousinkinfolk

There’s yet another Kickstarter campaign underway for a new Cortland restaurant going in to the old Pizza Express space. Formerly known as Kinfolk, the new restaurant will be called 3rd Cousin, and chef (and founder) Greg Lutes brings the details:

Since you have been following Kinfolk on Bernalwood, I’m sending you a link to my Kickstarter campaign. In addition to a new permanent home, Kinfolk is being renamed 3rd Cousin. With the new name, comes lots of community involvement and support, including Windows from A.G. River, local wines from Brian Harrington, video by Steve Sisler and a new logo designed by Bernal Heights own beloved artist, Toby Klayman. I’m very excited to finally be putting down permanent roots in the neighborhood and look forward to continued service to the residents of Bernal Heights and surrounding areas.

Here’s the summary, from the Kickstarter campaign page:

My goal is to provide a Michelin quality, fine-dining experience in a relaxed and welcoming family atmosphere. As a chef, my greatest joy is interacting with my customers throughout the meal service, sharing their experiences of the culinary partnership we have created.

I started Kinfolk out of desire to share my passion for creative organic food, and I continue to refine my unique take on New American/Californian cuisine. The concept has really taken off, and people really came out and supported me — and they continue to support me by dining with me and keeping the dream alive.

After 6 months of cooking from the heart — bringing folks together and creating community one plate at a time — I’ve been fortunate enough to find a permanent home for my pop-up Kinfolk, at 919 Cortland Avenue, just a few doors away from where I am currently cooking 903 Cortland. With the move and the new space we decided to give it a new name: 3rd Cousin.

You can back Chef Greg’s Kickststarter effort here.

28 thoughts on “3rd Cousin, Formerly Kinfolk, Launches Restaurant Kickstarter Campaign”

  1. Let me get the obligatory comments out of the way:
    – Why is there a kickstarter for a private business? I don’t get it.
    – I hope the menu is affordable so I can dine here once a week
    – I hope they are kid friendly, I can’t imagine going out to a nice place with just my significant other.

    Best of luck Greg and Co. Remember Saison started as just a pop up. Here’s to your first star!

      • We are affordable, we already have an organic beef burger on the brunch menu and a very family friendly–I have a 4 year old at home.
        I am doing my best to give Bernal something to be proud of and my goal is to create an iconic reataurant in Bernal Heights.
        Please join us on the journey that is 3rd Cousin.
        Thank you,
        Greg Lutes

    • cut from your earlier comment about The other new restaurant : “Borrowing from a bank directly just isn’t done anymore without a miracle and if you get one has a loan shark style rate. Sometimes a kickstarter campaign is to raise the money for collateral on a larger loan from the SBA or other micro-type lending self-help organizations that have reasonable interest rates and include services to insure an educated business proprietor can have a fair shake at paying back the loan; they are investing in an economy that is local. The bay area is crawling with very hard working small business owners that have gotten their start in and thrive on a culture that supports them as both organized institutions, general commerce, public policy making, and community participation. The kickstarter can be a way for the community to support a good idea that they feel like they could or would benefit from. It gestural and meaningful …and can significantly change your community.

      • and best of luck to you, greg! you are a gifted chef and our neighborhood is very lucky to you’ve chosen here to make your business home – look forward to many years of good food and fond memories at 3rd cousin!

    • The owner apparently knows how to cook. But he doesn’t know Bernal yet. I’m seeing $55 dinners at Kinfolk advertised. $55 per person! These types of eateries don’t fly in Bernal. If the new place comes down to neighbor level, I will try it out.

      Certainly, I don’t see why my charitable giving should go to an upscale restaurant. I’m still burnt from what 903 did with my parklet contribution.

      • I think he does know Bernal, he’s a neighbor, plus there isn’t a list of $55 per person on the menu. Items range from $8 – $26, which is on par with Liberty, Moki’s, Vega and Vino Rossa. When you add up multiple courses for what’s being offered for a pledge reward, you’ll see the value a little bit better. Brunch runs from $7 – $14, also a great value. Hands down this is the best food that you’ll find on Cortland and gives the rest of the city a standard to strive for.

      • Kickstarters either work or they don’t. People who believe in overpriced food will contribute to this campaign, and if it reaches the set goal,,Kickstarter will fork over the money. If the campaign doesn’t reach the goal, the money won’t be turned over. Usually people contribute to Kickstarter campaigns because they sincerely believe in a business or a business idea, they believe in the person putting it on, or they want to be trendy, or there’s a specific reward for X number of dollars that they consider worthwhile.

        If this guy raises his money, more power to him. I certainly won’t because, as I said before, the more of these restaurants that open the fewer low-cost dining alternatives there are, especially for comfort food, not “California-style” (aka nearly empty plate) food.

  4. I want to go to Hawaii this year. Here are my kickstarter reward levels:

    $1 A “thank you” email

    $2 A “thank you” on the social network of your choice

    $5 A “thank you very much” on the social network of your choice

    $10 A “you are awesome” on the social network of your choice

    $20 A “I know someone who went to Hawaii and all I got was this lousy t-shirt” t-shirt

    $50 A “I know someone who went to Hawaii and all I got was this lousy t-shirt” t-shirt in the correct size

    $100 I will come over to your house and show you my holiday photos

    $200 I will come over to the house of your least favourite neighbour and show them my holiday photos

    $500 I will track down the inconsiderate fool who parks too close to your driveway. I will harass them with tedious holiday stories.

    $1000 I will track down an open house of a house flipper in Bernal Heights. During the open house I will set up a projector and present your selection of my holiday photos.

    Other ideas for rewards are welcome. This holiday is for a family of four and it isn’t cheap.

    • Wow, that’s a pretty lame and non-constructive response. You know you dont actually have to donate money to any of the kickstarters that get promoted on Bernalwood. God forbid we have new businesses trying to set up shop on Cortland. I prefer supporting them through frequent patronage, but if family, friends or neighbors want to help up front with donations (in exchange for fair value goods in return mind you) … more power to them. Honestly, why do you even care?

      • As to KICKSTARTER, I have no objection whatever to people using Kickstarter to start businesses. It’s grassroots funding, and who could object to that?

        Just try to get a bank loan, or even an SBA loan. Somehow along the line some people got it into their heads that Kickstarter is some kind of charity thing or should only be used for the arts or non-profit causes, etc. But no, some of the very best Kickstarter campaigns have been 100% for-profit.

        As someone who runs a twice weekly games group, SF Games, I’m well aware that a lot of funding for new board games and card games comes from Kickstarter campaigns. In fact, I’d say that over half the new games published today wouldn’t have been published at all if not for Kickstarter or Indiegogo.

        My friend, Dan, spent thousands as an early contributor to Kickstarter on a company called Boosted Boards. Out of that came an extremely reliable electric skateboard, which is easy to carry and can actually carry a person up a 20% grade. As part of the reward, he got to use an early version a full year ahead of release. He’s pleased as punch that he invested in Boosted’s Kickstarter campaign. They raised about $500,000 on the campaign and are now successful. I DOUBT that any bank anywhere would have lent them money. Oh, too dangerous, too risky, who would want an electric skateboard?

        I only wish I had a concept half as good as most of what I see on Kickstarter and Indiegogo where I could start a new, cool business.

        –DK

  5. Anybody who uses the term “FOODIE” in a promotional pieces LOSES my vote. What these restauranteurs fail to see is that there are only about 200-300, uh, “foodies” around here, so when a new place opens they flock to it and stop going elsewhere. Meanwhile, those of us who like to eat out often (a lot of us eat out daily) are stuck with a LOT of overpriced pretentious restaurants, often with slow service and mediocre meals because the “foodie” group has left and gone elsewhere and the restaurants have to cut back on staff in order to keep their doors open.

  6. Greg is an awesome chef (easily best in Bernal) and I hope his venture works out. I choose to support him by eating there regularly.

  8. Pingback: People Are Talking About 3rd Cousin Restaurant on Cortland | Bernalwood

Comments are closed.