This week in Philadelphia Magazine’s Restaurant Club Newsletter.

• Breaking: We Are Getting Our Own Cupcake Truck!
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• Our Favorite Restaurants for Summer Guests
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• First Bite/Snap Squad Combo Plate: Blackfish in Stone Harbor
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• Awesome Wine Event at Capital Grille
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• Restaurant Club Deals: Second drink is on the house at Cork. Free glass of wine at Georges’.

Restaurant Club Newsletter [Philadelphia Magazine]

Craig LaBan does his annual down the shore report this weekend looking at five fine-dining restaurants at the Jersey Shore.

The Ebbitt Room (Cape May) – Most intriguing is the simply named “Lettuce” that is a masterful weaving of 23 ingredients.

Sora (Stone Harbor) – A juicy chicken with foie gras stuffingstands out.

Blackfish Stone Harbor (Stone Harbor) – Seared halibut over ratatoille and sundried tomato pesta.

Johnny’s Cafe (Margate) – It was dish envy that has LaBan considering returning to Johnny’s Cafe. The next table’s chicken parm enticed.

Domenico’s (Ventnor) – Grandma’s cooking to “the next level” includes the best arancini LaBan has sampled since Italy.

Ports of Call

Varga Bar is opening Wednesday, May 20th. Meal Ticket has lots of details and photos of the ceiling mural, plus the All-American tap list. [Meal Ticket]

In other Varga Bar news, the bar is going to offer growler refills . The porcelain topped vessels will sell for around $25 and will be filled for $20 or so from any of the bar’s 22 taps. [The Restaurant Club]

The Gold Standard Cafe has opened in West Philadelphia. Owned by the former Abbraccio headmen, the Cafe is both a breakfast and lunch spot along with a full dining room serving dinner Wednesday through Sunday. [Thrillist]

Maybe today’s the day Passyunk Avenue’s Capogiro will open. Until then, enjoy these photos. [Meal Ticket]

The Freehouse is back in Wayne. Les Bons Temps chef Brett Naylor is in the kitchen. [The Insider]

Blackfish Stone Harbor is open as the town’s only white tablecloth restaurant. If that sounds too stuffy, you’ll be happy to hear there’s a bar menu with classics like French onion soup, steak frittes and a “beach burger.” [Meal Ticket]

Kibitz Room has opened its Center City location at 1521 Locust Street. [The Insider]

Silk City is aiming at a Memorial Day opening for its beer garden. [The Illadelph]

Also on Spring Garden Street, tomorrow is the opening of the casual Asian BYO, Shin Asian Diner. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

When NXNW reopens Benjamin and Robert Bynum will be at the healm. The brothers are known for Warmdaddy’s and the late lamented Zanzibar Blue. [Philadelphia Daily News]

Meal Ticket has the menu for Thai Singha House To Go which opened this past weekend. [Meal Ticket]

Stephen Starr is opening his first South Florida restaurant, Steak 954 in Ft. Lauderdale. On the menu is Barclay Prime’s $100 cheesesteak. [MenuPages]

Looking forward to Blackfish Stone Harbor. Take dear old mom down the shore for Mother’s Day weekend when the shore point to Conshohocken’s finest opens.[Blackfish Stone Harbor]

John Mims is gone from Wayne and his name is following. Mims Food & Drink is out and The Freehouse returns in about a week. [Main Line Dine]