Lorella, a new bakery and café from acclaimed chefs Melissa Loar and Melissa Perello, is set to open its permanent location on Polk Street in Russian Hill, evolving from their popular Saturbake pop-up.

Lorella, the highly anticipated bakery and café from chef-owner Melissa Loar and chef-partner Melissa Perello (of Frances and Octavia), is set to open its permanent location at 2139 Polk Street in Russian Hill before the 2026 holidays. The new room will serve as the brick-and-mortar home for their celebrated "Saturbake" pop-up, bringing its focus on seasonal pastries and artisan breads to a dedicated space.

Registered with the City of San Francisco on April 14, 2026, under the entity Polk Street Bakeshop Partners, LLC, Lorella marks a significant expansion for the culinary duo. Melissa Perello, known for her Michelin-starred work at Frances and Octavia, serves as a manager for the LLC, with Melissa Loar, previously a pastry chef at Octavia, taking on the chef-owner role for the new venture. Loar describes Lorella as a "supportive place for people in our industry who love making pastries," reflecting a collaborative spirit in its ethos.

Lorella's offerings will span a range of house-made items, including seasonal pastries, sourdough loaves, croissants, deep-fried doughnuts, and ice cream. It will also serve as a commissary for pastry production for Perello's other establishments. The space, formerly home to The Bagelry (also registered as "Bageletto 2139 Polk"), is designed with a "feminine feel," according to Perello, and plans include a second-floor play area for children and potentially a few sidewalk seats, though an official seat count is not yet available. No liquor license application has been found in public records at this time, nor has a specific price point for its menu items been released.

This opening underscores a trend of established Bay Area chefs broadening their reach with more casual, community-focused concepts, while also addressing the perennial challenge of creating sustainable spaces in a demanding industry.