Another sign that restaurants are being proactive in this downturn -- and that homestyle cooking is coming back -- is the complete revamping of JohnFrank restaurant in the Castro. Owner John Hurley closed the restaurant Jan. 1 and will reopen it Jan. 11 as Home. They're deep-sixing the moderately priced menu and the white tablecloths for a low-priced menu, casual look and a name change.

His chef and a partner in the restaurant, Lance Dean Velasquez, has devised a menu concentrating on food that he likes to cook at home, like roast chicken, macaroni and cheese, and meat loaf. Expect appetizers to be priced $4-$7, with a couple of exceptions, entrees $6-$13, and desserts around $5.

Hurley also is expanding the number of seats by adding onto the restaurant's structure, which means he loses part of his parking lot. The addition, with a heated patio and fireplace, is called the Backyard and will be used for extra seating and parties. The restaurant's address is 2100 Market St. (at Church).

Seems to me that parking spaces in that part of town are at more of a premium than additional seats...I wonder how many people eat there largely due to the fact that they are (mostly) assured a parking spot.