Trey Popp steps back into another time at Village Whiskey where he finds the burger is king and the drink mark-ups most unkind.

Even the $9 version [of the burger] is among the best in a town with a lot of good ones. Village sources beef from “sustainable farm-raised” cattle in Maine and grinds it themselves, allowing for a loosely packed half-pound patty that gushes with juiciness. Of course the $24 specimen is what’s gotten the most attention. The main upcharge derives from its crown of seared foie gras, but that’s one thing a burger outfitted with thick slabs of smoky bacon, maple-glazed cipollini onions and a mound of Rogue smoky blue cheese doesn’t really need. If I had it to do over again, I’d nix the organs and let that unholy trinity of sweetness and pork fat and mold work its own dark miracle. Even just the cheese itself — which is cold-smoked over hazelnut shells and tastes faintly of toffee — would make for a decadent lunch.

Big Whiskey [City Paper]
Village Whiskey [Official Site]

Craig LaBan says that Rittenhouse Square’s Snackbar has finally struck the right cord and its harmony is best exemplified in the chicken pot pie deconstructed.

Good Taste [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Snackbar [Official Site]

A Foobooz operative recently was able to snap these camera phone pics of the upcoming Daniel Stern project, R2L.

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We have also found that Daniel Stern is looking high-and-low for help. A tipster recently directed us towards this New York Craigslst ad for line cooks.

As for an opening date, playing with OpenTable yesterday revealed that you could reserve a table for December 7th. Checking back today finds the online reservations system offline for R2L, so take for what it’s worth.

R2L [Official Site]

Rouge is offering a six-course tasting menu Tuesday through Saturday for $55 per person, $85 with wine pairings.

Among the highlights are seared scallops, King Salmon and braised beef brisket.

Click the menu below for full details and wine pairings.

Rouge [Official Site]

The world’s appetite for Irish bars is insatiable. As a friend once said, to be Irish is to be able to travel the world and to know you can always get a job in an Irish bar. Maurice Collins and Liam Kelly who started the nearby Tir na Nog have opened Con Murphy’s at 17th and the Parkway.

Read the rest of this entry »

Adam Erace enjoys the details as he eats and relaxes at Snackbar.

As a former sous chef at Zahav, 27-year-old Taus brings a clear culinary focus that has eluded snackbar. The menu feels very American, very loose and likeable, with a collection of plates that are neither small nor large. Taus’ food is suited to grazing, but fortunately the servers don’t get all mathematical about your order. Start slow and order more when you get hungry again, seems to be the practice here, echoed by Makar, who says he actually encourages staff not to turn tables.

Eyes on the Guise [Philadelphia Weekly]
Snackbar [Official Site]

Miga brings Korean food to Center City Philadelphia and Craig LaBan wonders, what took so long.

Like many Korean restaurants, Miga’s menu is huge, with both strengths and weaknesses. The place has many of the standards down pat, including the huge pajun pancakes, their crisp outsides and soft interiors laced with everything from seafood to tangy kimchi or beef and hot peppers. There is an excellent version of jap chae, the springy, clear, sweet potato noodles in lightly sweet dark sauce that, in the veggie rendition, came with the fantastic crunch of exotic, coral-like rehydrated mushrooms. The dduk bokki, tubular rice flour dumplings that resemble soft gnocchi, came in a vivid orange sauce tinged with red pepper powder that, in combination with the dumplings’ pleasantly sticky chew, stoked Miga’s hottest glow.

Two Bells – Very Good

Miga [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Miga [Official Site]

The Wrap Shack went out and got themselves a liquor license and a new name. Now the Wrap Shack Kitchen & Bar, the Rittenhouse Square spot has converted its sandwich counter into a 10-seat bar with 3 flat screen TVs.

And now through the end of the year they’re offering a $10 special on three new wraps.

• The New York Strip Wrap and a pint of draft beer
• Tilapia Fish Taco Wrap and a pint of draft beer
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Crepe with warm marshmallow and vanilla ice cream and a frozen white chocolate milkshake with vodka, crème de coco, and Bailey’s Irish Cream.

They are also offering $1 pints during all World Series games.

Wrap Shack Kitchen & Bar [Official Site]

Unbreaded reminds us that the Kibitz Room is still offering its Corned Beef sandwich for just $4.95. But remember the deal goes away when October does, so get to the 1521 Locust Street deli this week.

Last Chance for $4.95 Corned Beef Sandwiches at Kibitz [Unbreaded]

Michael Klein reports that Stephen Starr has rented the Midtown IV Restaurant building at 2013 Chestnut Street. But what will it be?

Starr says it won’t be another Pizzeria Stella and that he will keep the bar in the back and the private entrance onto Ranstead. Starr floats the idea that he might do Mexican that isn’t El Vez. Mexican is certainly under-represented around Rittenhouse Square.

Or could it be one of the other concepts previously floated, like the Greek diner once hoped for Broad and Ellsworth. Or the Love Burger concept once  proposed for the Letto Deli? Any guesses?

Stephen Starr’s next restaurant [The Insider]