Lynda’s Mediterranean, the Middle Eastern spot on Passyunk Avenue opened so quickly, we barely got wind of it. Thanks to our eagle-eyed commenters, we found out it closed shortly after we posted the menu.
We hear Lynda’s was not long for this world due to a lack of restaurant personality and food not exciting enough to overcome it. The short-lived restaurant only lasted 30 days – perhaps a new record?
We also hear that other restaurant parties – parties with experience – are interested in the space. If you’re interested in the space, you can call the number in the photo. In the meantime, let’s play Restaurant Yenta and decide what we think should go in that location. Fire away in the comments below.
One note: the current incarnation is just one storefront, but it can be expanded into the next door space, doubling the size. Just something to consider while you Yenta.
Friday night, we wandered by the future home of the Capogiro on East Passyunk Ave. to press our face against the glass in sweet anticipation of their opening – earlier this week owner John Reitano told us they were just waiting on a health inspection – and holy gelato, they were open and scooping!
Turns out, they threw open the doors at about 7 p.m. on Friday night. Don’t be jealous, West Philly. Your super Capo opens on Friday, May 22.
So we had ourselves some stracciatella and it was gorgeous. The Reitano’s remake of the former Roselena’s is gorgeous – all cool blue paint, old-fashioned black-and-white photos and grey marble countertops. There’s a tiny back courtyard strung with lights that looks like a movie set.
Not so gorgeous? Our lack of willpower. This location is alarmingly close to home. Then again, wasn’t it Ben Franklin who said gelato is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy? Ok, so maybe he said it about beer, but gelato could give it a run for its money. Some photos after the jump Read the rest of this entry »
We must admit, we have a REALLY hard time tearing ourselves away from the bar at Southwark for three very good reasons: the drinks, the bartenders and the drinks. We have also been known to dine on chef Sheri Waide’s delicious farm-to-table food at the very same bar in between the aforementioned drinks.
Clearly, we’re not alone, which is why Southwark has launched a lovely new promotion designed to encourage bar groupies like us to return to dining at a table like civilized human beings. If you eat in the dining room or patio Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, all bottles of wine are 50% off. The wine list on their web site is up to date – prices run from $34 to $100 with the average around $50. So you can enjoy a $50 bottle of wine for just $25. Or, if you look at it another way, two $50 bottles of wine for $50.
The Southwark folk want to make it clear this deal is only available in the dining room and garden. It’s not offered at the bar or even at the tables in the bar room. Don’t worry, the bar’s not going anywhere and with all the money you save, you can head back there for an after-dinner drink.
Disturbing news on the Old School South Philly front.
A sign posted in Shank’s & Evelyn’s, the luncheonette on South 10th Street that has been serving up breakfast, lunch and sass since 1962, states that they are closing up shop on April 30th and relocating. No mention of where exactly they might be moving to… here’s the frustratingly vague information from the website:
In 2009, Shank’s plans to close it’s original location and open Shank’s Original at new locations in Philadelphia. Some of the famous original sandwiches will remain on the menu in a new form, without compromising the authenticity and taste.
Did their mention in GQ make them want to expand? Was the Shank’s-inside-of-a-bar concept that they launched last April in the Northeast so successful it made them want to pack up and move on? More to come…
Take advantage of Lacroix’s Appetite Stimulus plan tonight. $35 for three courses, excluding tax and tip, plus 50% off of any bottle of wine from their hefty list.
Tomorrow is the National Pancake Day celebration at IHOP. Starting at 7AM and running until 10PM, head to IHOP for a FREE stack of 3 buttermilk pancakes.
Instead of paying for the flapjacks, IHOP is asking you to make a donation to The Children’s Miracle Network. Their goal this year is to raise $1 million for the charity tomorrow.
The closest IHOP to Center City is directly across from John’s Roast Pork in the Ikea-Target Snarl of South Philadelphia.
Is this how your sausage gets made? Yes! It’s also just one of many amazing behind-the-culinary-scenes photographs taken by Andy Benson.
Benson talked his way into 10 of Philly’s top kitchens, where he trained his lens on the likes of David Ansill (who is expertly butchering the porker in the shot above) of Ansill Food & Wine, Michael Solomonov of Zahav and Gene Giuffi of Cochon to name a just a few, while they worked. The results, a refreshing departure from the usual food porn photography, capture the intensity, fire and frenzy of a professional kitchen – and the laser-like focus of the chefs at the center of it all.
Benson is having an opening for his photography show, SEAR: Philadelphia Chefs in Motion on Friday March 6th at Foster’s in Old City. David Ansill will be cooking up nibbles in the open kitchen for the first hour and a half.
$25 gets you in to Ansill’s culinary demo and show and ALL of the ticket proceeds go to one of my favorite charities, Philabundance. You can buy tickets through the Chefs of Philly website.
After the jump, preview some of Benson’s work, including photos of Jim Burke of James, Michael O’Halloran of Bistro 7 and Jessica O’Donnell of Good Dog…
Woe to the Philly restaurateur who attempts anything Creole/Cajun/Louisiana-ish. LaBan’s pre-Inky gig was reviewing for the New Orleans Times-Picayune and he has more opinions than usual when it comes to the cuisine of that region.
Craig goes a little bit LaBananas on Chestnut Hill BYOB Soul, delivering quite a smackdown to the mother-daughter-run operation. He finds too much seasoning and too little to love on the “Modern Creole” menu.
The steamed clams, though, were a problem. They were full of sea grit, pieces of broken shell, and wild bursts of jalapeño heat, and one of my guests who’d swallowed all three needed a brief trip to the Germantown Avenue sidewalk to gasp for fresh air. An artless hand with spice and seasoning would strike again soon, and often.
In a related note, Soul’s chef-owner Angie Brown and her daughter Samantha Johnson are contestants on the new NBC reality show Chopping Block. Check out a clip below.
What to do this weekend? Here are two not-too-expensive ideas North of near Spring Garden…
Saturday
Starting at 4PM, check out The Institute’s Beer, Bourbon and Cheese event. They’ll have $4 Bulliet Frontier Bourbons, Stone Smoked Porter on draft, Arrogant Bastard in bottles, a selection of cheeses from Downtown Cheese in RTM and homemade bourbon chocolate truffles. Cash bar, free Wii.
The Institute [Official Site]
Sunday
Why not investigate Cafe Estelle’s brunch? The Yelpers are raving about it and in these rough-and-tumble recessionary times, it’s good karma to support independent restaurants.
The tipsters have been tipstering from as far away as California (seriously!) and the Inquirer confirms that Chef’s Market, the long-running gourmet shop on South Street is shuttering on Sunday.
Although the retail market will close, they will continue their catering operation.
In other South Street-area news, one of our tip-top tipsters tells us that the Cosi at the corner of 2nd and Lombard is closed as well.
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