Hillsborough buries Flintstone House sushi pop-up

A luxury dining experience in the controversial cartoonish home was shut down by the town of Hillsborough, the business announced Monday.

The recently-announced Flintstone House sushi pop-up is now a relic of the past.

Bay Area foodies seeking wagyu and whimsy jumped at the chance to dine at Stoneage Omakase, which planned to serve high-end sushi in Hillsborough’s fantastical Flintstone House starting Friday. Reservations opened Wednesday for a 15-course tasting menu at $230 per person. But as of Monday night, the business announced, the town has shut down the venture.

“[D]ue to concerns raised by the city of Hillsborough, we have temporarily paused our catering operations at this location,” the business posted on Instagram Monday night. “As a catering business, not a restaurant, we are diligently working to address these issues with Hillsborough and will keep you updated on our progress.”

A letter shared by the San Francisco Standard from the Hillsborough Police Department addressed to the house’s owner, Florence Fang, says the pop-up would be illegal due to zoning regulations and asks for the opening to be cancelled.

“Restaurants and other commercial uses are not permitted in a residential zone, even on a temporary basis,” the letter reads. “Since you are now on notice about this restriction, please inform the operators that they may not open for business.”

Fang has butted heads with the town before. Hillsborough sued Fang in 2019 for allegedly adding decorations to the home’s exterior — including a flock of metal dinosaur sculptures — without permits. Fang and the city settled in 2021, and the faux-prehistoric decor remains.

While the Flintstone House launch has been called off, the Stoneage Omakase website includes a form to inquire about “catering to your own private residence” starting July 27. A “Homakase” dining experience for parties of eight to 15 starts at $350 per person before taxes, the website reads.