Flintstone House reverses course on omakase dining experience
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
An exterior view of the Flintstone House in Hillsborough in 2022. Photo: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
You've seen it while driving along I-280 — a bulbous shoe-like orange and purple structure that looks like a hobbit home, utterly out of place in the quiet Hillsborough neighborhood.
The big picture: Rarely do people get to see the Flintstone House up close and personal, but some diners would've had the chance as part of a new high-end sushi experience.
Driving the news: Stoneage Omakase was set to formally open its doors Friday with a 15-course omakase menu inside the local landmark.
Yes, but: The catering company behind Stoneage, however, said late Monday that it is temporarily pausing operations as it works to address undisclosed concerns raised by the Hillsborough town.
- People who paid for reservations will be refunded.
- The $230 menu was set to be led by chef Masa Sasaki, whose resume includes the Michelin-star Maruya in San Francisco and his restaurant Sasaki.
- Bluefin tuna sashimi and A5 Wagyu nigiri were among the dishes posted on Stoneage's Instagram.
Fun fact: Besides a brief listing on Airbnb in 2016, it would've been the first time the Flintstone House is available for public viewing, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
State of play: Masterminded by Bay Area architect William Nicholson, the Flintstone House was built in 1976. Several renovations led to a new coat of iconic deep orange hues in the 2000s.
- It has since become a staple locally with its steel animals, giant "Yabba Dabba Do" sign and large, colorful mushrooms.
- With about 2,700 square feet of living space, the home's interior features quirks like a sugar-cone inspired spiral staircase as well as a tubular lounge.
- It has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage.
Flashback: The house was one of several experiments spearheaded by Nicholson, who was interested in the then-novel process of monolithic dome construction.
- He liked the idea of blowing up balloons and did so by molding the house's steel rebar and wire mesh frames from large, inflated balloons before spraying them with a plaster and fiberglass mix.
What they're saying: "I've talked to so many people driving along" 280 that say the sight of the Flintstone House "brings a smile to your face," he said in a 2020 interview with KQED.
- "Now, why shouldn't a house be fun?"
Friction point: Florence Fang, former publisher of the San Francisco Examiner, purchased it in 2017 and added her own touches, including 15-foot steel dinosaurs and sculptures of characters from the "Flintstones" cartoon.
- But several neighbors filed complaints in a bid to remove the statues, which they called "a highly visible eyesore," while Hillsborough officials alleged they violated building codes.
- The town took her to court in 2019 after she didn't respond to orders to remove them. Fang countered with claims that they denied her the right to build on her own property due to her race.
- They settled in 2021, with Fang receiving $125,000 to cover legal costs in exchange for her agreement to apply for building permits and allow inspections, town records show.
What we're watching: If and when the Stoneage pop up will return.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to show the sushi pop up has been temporarily paused.