Mockingbird

Mockingbird is the restaurant that co-owners Melissa Axelrod and William Johnson have always dreamed of — a warm, inviting destination restaurant that serves as a neighborhood gathering place and is known for its sophisticated yet approachable seasonal cuisine, generous and friendly service, and warm, convivial atmosphere. The sophisticated yet approachable seasonal cuisine at Mockingbird utilizes modern inspiration while staying true to fundamental techniques.

Melissa, Co-Owner, has over fifteen years of experience running California Table, a successful boutique catering company. She has cooked at Delfina, Fringale and Ottimista. She has taken cooking classes in Tuscany, spent many hours reading cook books, cooking for friends and family and wandering farmers markets. Melissa is a San Francisco native who comes from a very food-oriented family. All of her childhood memories have a taste associated with them. Naturally, she found herself helping in the kitchen at a young age and never really left.

William, Co-Owner, worked for over ten years at top restaurants in San Francisco. Seeking to make a change from a corporate career in print production / marketing to something he found more personally gratifying, William spent 2 years moonlighting at the Hayes Street Grill, under Chef Patricia Unterman. After the Hayes Street Grill, William made the transition from his corporate job entirely by taking a full-time position at Zuni under Chef Judy Rodgers. It was at these two San F