Phyllis Stein-Novack tackles the American menu at 707 and she comes up unimpressed.

The grilled meatloaf ($15) consisted of a dried-out slab of overcooked beef that tasted like sawdust. There was a dollop of thyme gravy on the plate about the size of a 50-cent piece. The broccoli was cold, but the potatoes were OK.

My crab cakes ($19) were dry and dusty, as well. I liked the crunchy tops, but the crabmeat should have been creamy. The french fries were freshly made but the run-of-the-mill cole slaw was warm and the watery mayonnaise ran all over the plate.

One tip of the toque to 707 Restaurant & Bar.

707 Restaurant & Bar [South Philly Review]
707 Restaurant & Bar [Official Site]

The City Paper’s Trey Popp asks what is American food and takes a taste of 707’s interpretation of it.

Then the menu arrives. 707’s idea of American food starts with a “petit hot dog trio” and ends with a choice of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream. There’s also funnel cake, and customers are invited to “add chocolate sauce to any dessert, no charge!”

If there’s any doubt that 707 is dishing out high-calorie kitsch, that exclamation point gives away the game.

Fit to Be Fried [City Paper]
707 [Official Site]

Blogalicious takes an early look at Chick’s Cafe & Wine Bar and walks away with tales of naked ravioli, short rib and fried calamari. [blogalicious]

Mac & Cheese dines at Xochitl and suggests you “clean your mental slate, and enjoy the fresh flavors that Mexico and Xochitl has to offer.” [Mac & Cheese]

Well if you’ve been asking yourself who has the best Mexican food truck in University City, you have to try Tacos Don Memo on 38th between Walnut and Sansom. [Metroblogging Philadelphia]

Dave Moore dines at Bistro 7 and has a wonderful meal and of course excellent wine [Moore Bros. Blog]

The food was only one of the great things of the evening as the treatment from the staff at L’Angelo’s really shone. [Moore Bros. Blog]

PhilaFoodie profiles the burger at 707, where the burger itself is the star. [PhilaFoodie]

Citizens Bank Park doesn’t have anything on this Hot Dog Night. 707, the swank new spot off of Washington Square is offering a dog night of their own. Tonight from 5 to 7 PM you can get a handmade hot dog with all the fixins and a high-end beer for $5.

Plus, enjoy 707’s signature cocktail, the Cherry Bomb (Bacardi Melon, cherry puree, fresh lime juice and orange zest) is $2 off the regular price.

707 Restaurant & Bar [Official Site]

707, the restaurant lounge for the Washington Square populace is now open. And as Michael Klein points out, what might be most impressive is it opened just about when it was originally expected! [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Chick’s Cafe & Wine Bar, on 7th between South and Bainbridge is now open. Jim Piano, an alum of Bridget Foy’s brings a menu of small eclectic fare to the table. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

According to a post on PhillyBlog, Zocalo in University City is being purchased by the current executive chef and Greg Russell, owner of Las Tarascas in Sicklerville, NJ. The new restaurant will sport a new menu and name, Las Tarascas in Zocalo when the transaction is complete. [PhillyBlog] via MenuPages Blog

Trattoria Guiseppe, an Italian BYOB has opened on West Chester Pike in Edgemont. [Main Line Restaurant Guide]

Queen Village’s La Vigna, a staple since the early 90s has closed. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

707, the new restaurant and bar at 707 Chestnut Street has posted their menu and it seems to be an interesting take on comfort food classics.

Among the interesting:

• Homemade pigs in a blanket
• Reuben Spring Rolls
• All Day Omelet
• Brick Sandwich (Roasted pork, ham, pickles, pablano, monchego cheese)
• Funnel Cake

707 Restaurant & Bar [Official Site]

Kirsten Henri’s piece in today’s Philadelphia Weekly is chock full of goodies for everyone looking forward to the next big opening.

• 707 is promising no entree over $20. The “classic American” cuisine will feature pigs-in-a-blanket, hanger steak with tempura onion rings and reuben spring rolls.
• Fairmount’s Monk’s is still tied up in paperwork with those sticks in the mud, the PLCB.
• Look for the Spruce Street Tria to open in June.
• Can oil-poached Copper River salmon with lemongrass and shiitake risotto get people to go to the Penthouse Lounge and Grille?
• And it still sounds like the end of March for Triumph Brewing Company’s Old City location.

Hops Spring Eternal [Philadelphia Weekly]

707 Restaurant & Bar is looking for a late April opening. “30-seat bar borders a cozy lounge; in the back, a tableclothed-yet-informal dining area will accommodate about 65.”[Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

If you’ve been intrigued by the construction going on at 19th and Chestnut, hoping for some cool new bar or restaurant get ready to be dissapointed. It’s another , Starbucks. [Metroblogging]

Milkboy has opened a second location, this one in Bryn Mawr, next to the movie theater. [Main Line Restaurant Guide]

The Penthouse Lounge & Grille is all set for a March 22nd. Expect a New Orleans flavored menu and of course, class. [Icepack, City Paper]

Tinto is going to be reservation only, even for the bar! [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Day 3 of our look at restaurants that are opening soon. Today we look at five restaurants opening in the Washington Square West neighborhood.
Oceanaire Seafood Restaurant has already won an award for best wine list, even though there’s obviously plenty of construction to complete before the doors open at this Washington Square restaurant.

Read the rest of this entry »

Today, Table Talk focuses in on the transformations happening around Chestnut Street at 7th.
As reported here previously, Apollo is becoming LaScala, a Malaysian BYOB, Aqua is set to open in a couple months, and 707, a “sharp, smart, swank” spot is also setting up shop on the 700 block of Chestnut.
Off of Chestnut Street Michael Klein reports the former Girasole and Pelican Fish Company is now Applause! Applause! It is owned by Jimmy Vitelli, the manager of Fairmount’s Illuminaire.
City Paper’s Feeding Frenzy adds to the comings and goings noting Meritage at 20th & Lombard is under new ownership and Ralph’s Takeout in Center City has closed as well as Tony Luke’s in University City.