Obituaries - July 6, 1994

William M. (Billy) West; Founder of San Francisco’s Zuni Cafe.

William M. (Billy) West, 46, founder and owner of the rustic but sophisticated San Francisco restaurant called the Zuni Cafe. West began the restaurant 15 years ago in a dilapidated storefront with only a kettle grill in the alley at the back. He was among the first to tout healthful food with fresh ingredients presented in a straightforward manner. He prepared dishes from the books of Elizabeth David, who later honored him by becoming a frequent customer. West hired the young chef Judy Rodgers in 1987, promising to build her a wood-burning brick oven. The little cafe up a flight of rickety stairs became a gathering place for curious chefs and food aficionados. It was often compared to France’s brasseries, which serve a range of food, from snacks to full meals, at practically any hour. On Friday in West Hollywood.