Philly Beer Week has announced they’ve broken the 500 600 events mark but Joe Sixpack’s math has the number north of 700. [Beer Radar]

Standard Tap co-owner Paul Kimport is back in the kitchen, this time at sister restaurant, Johnny Brenda’s. He’ll be focusing the menu and including more snacks and small plates. [Philadelphia Magazine]

Sauté has opened on Front Street and the opening emails we’ve gotten sound promising. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Another Tiffin alum is branching out on his own. Rakesh Ramola has opened IndeBlue, an Indian BYOB in Collingswood. [The Insider]

Happy Rooster adding a bar with 12 stools plus flat-screen TVs to its back room. [Meal Ticket]

Taquet in Wayne is going to be under new ownership and tutelage. The new chef, Francis Layrle has experience as the chef at the French embassy in DC. [The Insider]

There’s “real barbecue” on the Main Line now with the opening of Jimmy’s BBQ in Malvern. [Main Line Restaurant Guide]

American Pub at Centre Square is looking to open beneath the Clothespin sculpture at 15th and Market. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Elisa Ludwig loves her some Le Virtu:

But if Le Virtù has a primary virtue (and actually, it’s harder than you think to choose just one), it’s its ability to seamlessly bridge Passyunk old and new, staying true to the neighborhood’s Italian roots while asserting its own regional identity, the Abruzzi cuisine this kitchen masterfully rocks.

Trey Popp braves Chinatown’s Potluck Cafe:

Potluck serves literally hundreds of offbeat (and offal-based) entrées. Frog, hairtail fish, loofah sponge — it’s hard to think of a multicellular organism you can’t order at this place.

The Clog has scoop on a change in ownership at The Happy Rooster:

Laurence Berk Esq. is now a new owner at The Happy Rooster, a Philly restaurant and bar institution for all smart business folk. Though I’ll have a full interview in next week’s Icepack, there will be no change in food, employees or concept. “It’ll be the same exact Happy Rooster tradition.

Food Section [citypaper.net]

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]

Leah Blewitt breaks down some of the best places to get down with the karaoke.

• Abbaye
• Barristers
• Happy Rooster
• Locust Bar
• McGillin’s Olde Ale House
• Woody’s

Karaoke Dokey [Philadelphia Weekly]