Pub & Kitchen is going country next Tuesday, the 24th of November. Starting at 9pm the 20th and Lombard bar is putting on their ten-gallon hats, slipping into their cowboy boots and celebrating a “Country Delight” night. There will be awful country music like Garth Brooks,  Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, Reba McIntire and more (Bring Your Own Ear Plugs) but there will also be $3 canned beers, $6 pints of Sixpoint Righteous Rye from a firken plus a special $14 southern-inspired dinner of fried chicken, mashed potato and kale.

In other Pub & Kitchen news, bartender Michael Ojeda was recently interviewed by Grub Street.

Pub & Kitchen [Official Site]
Michael Ojeda of Pub & Kitchen Promises His Drinks Will Transport You to a Fantastical World Full of Unicorns [Grub Street]

Here’s a new deal for the Recession Specials. Starting this Sunday Resurrection Ale House is offering a three-course dinner fro $25. The deal is available Sunday through Wednesday and there are some new menu options to choose from including grilled pork loin, vegan sloppy Joe and mussels Puttanesca.

In other deals, Sunday through Wednesday after 11pm all Belgian 12-ounce bottles are 25% off.

Monday through Friday from noon to 7pm all local beers are just $3.

Resurrection Ale House [Official Site]

Craig LaBan reviews the transformed Meritage and finds that the Asian influenced cuisine of Anne Coll has made the neighborhood restaurant a destination.

[W]hat separates Coll from so many other fusion pretenders is the command of Asian ingredients that allows her to draw an uncommon depth and elegance of flavors. I’ve had Thai curried mussels a hundred times, but rarely have the Kaffir lime, basil, and lemongrass popped through the richness of coconut broth like hers.

A confident use of Three Crabs fish sauce is one secret that lends these dishes a snappy backbone, whether it’s the pristine dice of tuna tartare, shined with sesame and chile oil next to a tingly froth of wasabi-soy foam, or the cilantro-ginger marinade that gives the hanger steak a subtle tang.

Three Bells – Excellent

Meritage [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Meritage [Official Site]

Usually we reserve our Tales of the Tape for restaurant openings but we felt that the Bloktoberfest scheduled for this Saturday could also benefit.

Who: Sponsored by the South of South Neighborhood Association

What: Block party with proceeds going towards restoration of the Shiloh Baptist Church.

When: Saturday, October 24th, noon to 8pm.

Where: Christian Street between 20th and 21st Streets.

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Grub Street is doing a Bartenders Bible feature where they interview one of Philadelphia’s finest bartenders each week. This week they sit down with Grace Tavern’s always entertaining Leo Eisenstein.

When Leo Eisenstein of Grace Tavern Is Behind the Bar, Your Secret Is His Secret [Grub Street]
Grace Tavern [Official Site]

Adam Erace visits the new Meritage and says the Asian inspired menu and booze-friendly bites are ready to step out of Pub & Kitchen’s shadow.

Meritage’s wine program has become more approachable and affordable, with 14 by the glass (all $8), fun flights and 50 bottles under $50.

So bring on the alcohol sponges, fair bartender! Fat, tempura-fried jalapenos, like addictive poppers filled with hoisin-kissed house-ground pork and cellophane noodles in a ginger-soy glaze. Tight, pan-fried Hudson Valley foie gras dumplings tossed in butter browned with Burgundy truffles, cilantro and scallion. Silky Lancaster chicken liver pâté crowned with black plums macerated in brandy and five spice. All $6 or less, all tasty.

Meritage [Philadelphia Weekly]
Meritage [Official Site]

Pub & Kitchen is kicking off its fall menu this evening. Back on the menu are the fish and chips with mushy peas and also the English onion soup.

Among the other highlights are the Welsh rarebit pub snack for $3, Strub Farm Wagyu meatloaf for $16 and the seasonal gnocchi dish now served with butternut squash, brussel sprouts, pork belly and brown butter for $11.

Full menu after the jump.

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Today The Bite skips the latest big opening and has a dalliance with the crepes at Cafe L’Aube.

Sweet Surprise at cafe [Metro Philadelphia]

Resurrection Ale House opens tomorrow at 5 at the corner of Grays Ferry and Catharine. Menu samples will be available with the still under wraps full menu starting Thursday at noon. The Ale House promises to be a beer bistro for the G-Ho/Center City South neighborhood.

The Owners

• Leigh Maida and Brendan Hartranft are opening their third establishment in under two years.
  • “Port Fishington’s” Memphis Taproom (#11 in the Foobooz Top 50 Bars)
  • West Philadelphia’s Local 44 (#31)
• Brendan is known to many as “Spanky” from Nodding Head where he was a long time bartender.

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Mark your calendar, Resurrection Ale House will be opening Wednesday, September 23 at 5pm.

The Grays Ferry Avenue beer bistro is brought to you by the folks behind the Memphis Taproom and Local 44 and promises to be a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

Opening night will feature a sneak preview of the menu with the following day delivering the full menu.

See you there!

Resurrection Ale House [Official Site]