Former Eleven Madison Park chefs David Nayfeld and Angela Pinkerton, along with co-owner Matt Brewer, previously of Hogsalt Hospitality, wanted Che Fico (Italian for “how cool”) to reflect San Francisco’s burgeoning NOPA neighborhood, but with a decidedly classic Italian flair. Enter designer Jon de la Cruz of local firm DLC ID, who revived the former autobody shop by exposing the redwood trusses in the ceiling, polishing the original concrete floors, and installing bright red cement tiles. The design details, he explains, were “chosen to express the made-by-hand approach [of the food] and nod to the space’s automotive past with subtlety and whimsy.” A red-lacquered salumi room entices the eye and complements tufted red leather banquettes, which “circle the perimeter of the vast space like a backseat of a vintage car,” de la Cruz adds. A collage of vintage album covers from Italian pop singer Adriano Celentano—a reference to Nayfeld’s parents’ first experience with uncensored music—creates an unexpected element in the private dining room.