Liberties Walk expert Foodaphilia checks out El Camino Real. Buttermilk onion rings and crazy spicy jalapeno poppers are among the highlights. [Foodaphilia]

Fries with that Shake also visit El Camino Real. It’s the mac n’ cheese that has her singing though. [Fries with that Shake]

Not to be left out, the Beer Lass has a photographic post of yummies from El Camino. [Beer Lass]

There is a problem with Local 44, it isn’t local to everyone. [Femme Fermental]

Living on the Vedge recommends the oyster mushroom po’boy at Local 44. [Living on the Vedge]

Friday night was Italian wines with tricky names at Tria and some delicious looking photos of truffled egg toast, bruchetta and white bean dip. [Veggicurious]

With highs in the mid-twenties later this week, see if warming up by the fire at Devil’s Den is worth your while. [Foodzings]

Table Talk has the details on the DAS Architects designed Pagano’s Market at the Commerce Center. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inqurier]

Limerick may have its Craft Ale House before Christmas. [The Last Bottle Left]

Pierre Calmels, former Chef de Cuisine at Le Bec-Fin is opening in own BYOB, Bibou in the former Pif spot on 8th Street. [The Insider]

John Mims has resurfaced in Wayne where he will be rechristening the Freehouse as Mims Food & Drink. [The Insider]

Tonight marks the opening of El Camino Real. Stopped by literally for a sniff yesterday (it smelled really good) and saw Chef Jose Garces trying out the menu for friends and family night.

Tomorrow is the opening night of El Camino Real, the new bar by Bar Ferdinand’s Owen Kamihira. Daily Candy featured the Texas barbecue/Northern Mexican eatery today.

And Local 44 has updated their web site and teases us that the West Philly draft beer bar (only bottled beer will be Orval) will not be open by Christmas but “maybe we’ll help you nurse that New Year’s Eve hangover.”

The Real Deal [Daily Candy]
Local 44 [Official Site]

Meal Ticket has some pics of the interior of El Camino Real which is set to open next week.

Interior pics of El Camino Real! [Meal Ticket]
El Camino Real [Official Site Coming Soon] 

 

We admit we started to worry when we saw the El Camino Real ads drop off the back of City Paper. We thought, could El Camino be a credit crunch victim? So we were relieved when we saw that December 16th is the official opening for Owen Kamihira’s border bar.

The Kleinsider has the details including the Texas BBQ and Northern Mexican menus.

The Skinny on El Camino Real [The Insider]

City Paper’s A.D. Amorosi interviews Jen Zavala, the chef at the soon to open El Camino Real. Zavala gets excited about Mexican tripitas and big Texas barbecue, both of which are planned for the Northern Liberties spot. Zavala also shares what it was like cooking for Ozzfest.

Steer Genius [City Paper]

Owen Kamihira is an ambitious man. He’s turning Deuce into El Camino Real, a “Mexican border bar.” He’s also looking to bring an izakaya to Northern Liberties, a gastropub to 44th and Spruce and A.D. Amorosi reports he is also looking into the bar black hole at 20 S 20th Street that was the Blue Horseshoe and 20 S 20 for a split second each. [Icepack, City Paper]

Michael Klein says Minar Palace is returning the week of May 19th but the facade of the former Time Video at 1304 Walnut Street looks the same as it does in this Google Street View image from last summer. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

South Philly Bar & Grill has their liquor license in hand and is now aiming to open the 9th Street sports bar around June 1st. The interior definitely reminds us of Jose Pistola’s, lots of exposed brick, cherry wood and green walls. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Noble is the name of the “seasonal-American” restaurant slated to take over the Gioia Mia space at 2025 Sansom Street. The Apothecary’s Bruno Pouget and Steve Cameron are among the partners. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

El Fuego is looking to expand from it’s Washington Square storefront with a second location at 21st and Chestnut. Look for the doors to swing open around June 1st. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Turns out there are some one word names left for restaurants. Root is set to open later this month or early June at 1033 Spring Garden in the former home of Palate. Chris Hora whose local resume includes Coyote Crossing is talking “slow food and sustainable agriculture. [Food & Drinq]

Another tidbit in Icepack this week has the Happy Rooster getting a new owner and decor redo. [Icepack, City Paper]