April is bringing a fresh batch of restaurant openings to San Francisco, and they're a reminder that when entrepreneurs are left to do what they do best, good things happen — no taxpayer-funded "revitalization grants" required.

Among the most anticipated newcomers: a takeout sushi spot launching in SoMa and a creative collaboration in the Mission where two standout pop-ups are joining forces to create something entirely new. It's the kind of organic, risk-taking energy that makes San Francisco's food scene one of the best in the country.

Let's be real — opening a restaurant in this city is practically an act of defiance. Between the labyrinthine permitting process, sky-high rents, and a regulatory environment that treats small business owners like suspects, the fact that anyone opens anything here is a minor miracle. The city's own data has shown that getting a new food business permitted can take months — sometimes well over a year — of bureaucratic ping-pong between departments.

And yet, people keep doing it. They keep betting on San Francisco. That should tell City Hall something: the demand is there, the talent is there, and the entrepreneurial spirit is very much alive. What's not there is a government that makes it easy.

These openings also matter beyond the food. Every new restaurant means jobs, foot traffic, and life on the street — exactly what neighborhoods like SoMa and the Mission need right now. A bustling block with a line out the door does more for public safety than most of the programs the Board of Supervisors has thrown money at.

So here's a thought for the folks at 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place: instead of debating another round of small business taxes or fees, maybe just get out of the way. The sushi chefs and pop-up pioneers seem to have it handled.

Welcome to SF, new restaurants. You're braver than most.