The New York Times does an article in their travel section on Fishtown. Yes, our Fishtown.

These days artists easily outnumber fishermen and heroin addicts. Thanks to a recovering waterfront and spillover from gentrifying neighborhoods like Northern Liberties, Fishtown is joining the ranks of warehouse districts nationwide that have undergone a renaissance. Young professionals and creative types are moving into renovated apartments and luxury condos. Upscale restaurants, galleries and high-end shops have followed.

Among the restaurants and bars mentioned:

• Johnny Brenda’s
• Ida Mae’s Bruncherie
• Hot Potato Cafe
• Johnny’s Hots

Thankfully they did include a mention of Rocky too.

Rebirth Along the River [New York Times]

In a review sure to get Philebrity riled up Craig LaBan drops “funky” three times in his review of Fishtown’s Ida Mae’s. But he finds the food good in the AM or the PM.

Ida’s chef and co-owner, Mary Kate McCaughey, always knew she wanted a “bruncherie” because of the sense of community that morning meal taps. And she’s a local, having grown up in Port Richmond and Fishtown, where as a girl she used to buy penny candy at the grocery Ida’s eventually replaced.

That corner space, most recently a coffee shop, was transformed by Mary Kate’s husband, Feargus McCaughey, into a charmingly cozy cafe, with a bustling counterside grill in front, and a rear dining room that feels like a well-kept parlor, with stained-glass windows, wooden banquettes, arty photos, and granite cafe tables.

Those seats hum to capacity on weekends. And though our mellow mop-topped waiter could have moved with more pep (and remembered the water, o.j., and cutlery), the kitchen works like a well-buttered machine (about a pound of it goes into the creamed chipped beef).

Two Bells – Very Good

Ida Mae’s [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Ida Mae’s [Official Site]

Fishtown’s brunch staple Ida Mae’s Bruncherie has added dinner Wednesday through Saturday.

Let’s give props here: The menu by chef Barbara Scott might be the most ambitious cooking in Fishtown since Les ‘n’ Doreen’s Happy Tap changed the oil in the deep-fryer: There’s a 10-ounce pork chop ($19.50), a grilled 12-ounce ribeye ($25), turkey and shittake mushroom meatloaf ($19.50) and “seafood coddle” ($23, shrimp, mussels, black cod and clams in broth with Irish bacon, leeks and potato).

Dinner in Fishtown [Food and Drinq]
Ida Mae’s Bruncherie [Official Site]

Taste Daily reveals some more details about Jose Pistolas, the burrito and beer bar that is taking over the old Copa Too spot at 15th and Spruce Streets. Expect 3 tacos for $7 and beer running the gamut from PBR to Chimay. [Tasty Daily, Philadelphia Magazine]

Mantra’s Al Paris is looking to open a new Italian BYOB near the Italian Market in the former Mezza location on 9th Street. The as yet unnamed restaurant will specialize in the cuisine of Paris’ Sicily and Naples heritage. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

City Grange is in soft opening at the Westin. The local food restaurant is bringing a farmhouse feel to the hotel. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Ida Mae’s Bruncherie is going to be serving dinner starting on August 22nd. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Mark and Audrey do a cheap date day in Kensington, starting their day at Ida Mae’s Bruncherie , then they take in some arts and finish the day with good vibes and good espresso at the Rocket Cat Cafe.

Cheap Date – Frankford Avenue Arts [Philebrity.TV]

Kirsten Henri heads to Fishtown to enjoy the “leisure class’” favorite meal, brunch, at Ida Mae’s.

Philadelphia now has a bruncherie for every day of the week (except Monday). Ida Mae’s is a cozy spot in Fishtown that serves breakfast and lunch with an Irish accent and a local spin. It’s an adorable name and a cute concept—neither diner nor cafe, but bruncherie—and the breakfast food is damn fine even if the lunch options are a bit less so. It’s also delightfully affordable.

Brunching Out [Philadelphia Weekly]

Foodaphilia and friends check out The Set Table for brunch in East Falls. [Foodaphilia]

Flank steak sandwich for just $6 at the Bishop’s Collar. [Foodaphilia]

Loving every bit of the seafood at Bridgid’s in Fairmount. [foodzings]

Mac & Cheese wins the Foobooz food porn award this week for most photos we most salivated over as she tried several vegetarian dishes at A Full Plate Café. [Mac & Cheese]

Ida Mae’s passes muster as a breakfast place with “Philly Neighborhood Flava.” [PhillyFoodGuys]

Lew Bryson tries out the food at Triumph Brewing Co. and finds the mushroom burger is a real winner! [Seen Through a Glass]

City Paper finds that Fishtown’s Ida Mae’s is a worthy addition to Philadelphia’s brunch scene.

Mary Kate, who is also the chef, has served time in the kitchens of the city’s most respected brunch destinations: Standard Tap, Royal Tavern and Morning Glory. When it came time to open a place in her own neighborhood, she wanted to strike a balance between these sorts of hipster egg emporiums and an old-fashioned diner. It works: It’s just really good, really honest eating that you could enjoy on a regular — if not daily — basis.

Green Party [City Paper]

Fishtown baby! Hot Potato Cafe has opened at 529 E Girard Avenue, featuring New American cuisine for lunch and dinner. Ida Mae’s has also opened in Fishtown, billed as a “bruncherie” expect “hearty, budget-priced, Irish-influenced fare” daily till 3 PM. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Elsewhere in Fishtown, Bistro Juliana prepares to open. This neighborhood BYOB by the owners of Raddichio is set to open next Monday. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

At 161 W Girard Avenue is Modo Mio, a new Italian BYOB by Peter McAndrews who cooked for 12 years at Rembrandt’s. Modo Mio combines two of Philadelphia’s staples, Italian and small plates, nothing of $16. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Crosstown, East Falls is getting a couple of new spots. The former Verge, along Kelly Drive, is being re-born Franco’s Trattoria. Who’s Franco? He’s Franco Faggi, one of the original Monte Carlo Living Room partners. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

The Set Table is a breakfast/brunch and lunch spot on Indian Queen and is being touted as the Sabrina’s/Morning Glory of East Falls. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

More Korean Vietnamese on Washington Avenue? Pho sure! Pho Hoa, a Vietnamese chain with 84 outlets world wide is set to open on April 28th at the former home of Porky and Porkie. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Le Jardin has closed its doors. The voicemail is full and chef/owner Athmane Kabir did not return calls. [Dan Gross, Philadelphia Daily News]