JL Sullivan’s in the basement of the Bellevue is reconceptualizing ast Tavern on Broad. The McFadden’s offshoot is aiming to reopen with this latest theme on September 17th.

A quick visit to their web site revealed Dexy’s Midnight Runners. So it can’t be all bad, right?

Tavern on Broad [Official Site]

The Insider has Northern Liberties possibly getting a wine bar, Vinoteca. Here’s hoping they have more success than Wineo. [The Insider]

MenuPages has some good suggestions on dining with large groups and OpenTable. [MenuPages Blog]

Hey Pennsters, That Bucks County Coffee you’ve come to love at 40th and Locust is set to become a Saxbys on October 1. In other Saxby’s news, look for a new one at 15th and Locust. [Daily Pennsylvanian]

We noticed this as well, it seems like JL Sullivan’s Speakeasy is suffering from a bit of an identity crisis. First they dropped the Speakeasy and in a promo for a grand opening party this weekend they are going by JLS. [The Clog]

We first heard about Saute in July. it was a month away then, it’s a month away now. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

“Bottled or tap” is one question you won’t hear anymore at White Dog Cafe. The environmentally conscious West Philadelphia Restaurant is kicking the bottled water habit. [Inqlings, Philadelphia Inquirer]

XIX will bring its bar and join Bliss, The Palm and JL Sullivan’s Speakeasy in grilling their best for a hot summer night. It’s a pay-as-you-go event in a space transformed with umbrella-topped tables, candlelight and a DJ.

The Bellevue: Events [Official Site]

We almost forgot about the Beer Garden at Silk City that we were promised. A.D. Amorosi has it as under construction and upping the capacity by 250. [Icepack, City Paper]

Looks like Monday, June 16th is the opening day for the Institute, a new bar with lots of good local beers on tap. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Sidecar chef Rich Freedman is leaving the Sidecar for Harry the K’s at Citizen Bank Park. The Cit’s rep for good food is only going to grow as Freedman promises to bring his from-scratch meats to the ballpark. [The Clog]

Da Vinci Ristorante has opened at the old Tre Scalini spot on East Passyunk. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Michael Klein’s Table Talk has the opening skinny on J.L. Sullivan’s Speakeasy. He calls it “a shotgun approach, hoping to hit everyone.” [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

We’ve been meandering past the Bellevue in the late afternoons recently where we’ve been witnessing an interesting promotion. It involves attractive girls clad in form-fitting black outfits standing behind a table or wandering up and down Broad Street, handing out cards that look like the one pictured above. All of this nubile fuss is for JL Sullivan’s Speakeasy, the new sports bar opening today, that for some inexplicable reason, is pretending not to be a sports bar, but an under-the-radar “restaurant, sports bar, lounge.” So under-the-radar, in fact, that they’re promoting it to every single person walking down Broad Street.

My raging disinterest in sports has been well documented here (except for baseball, which I like since it’s not really about sports, it’s about food), so perhaps I’m biased, but why try to pretend a sports bar isn’t anything but a sports bar? Why not wear it loud and proud? Why pretend it’s not a place to watch TV and yell?

Since Foobooz’s resident Sporting Life Expert is currently tormenting all of us by traveling in Belgium, I’m turning to you, loyal readers, to find out what you think makes a decent sports bar? Is it the number of TVs? The crowd? The beers on tap? The variety of fans? Which is the best in the city? The worst? Also, can someone please explain Chickie & Pete’s to me?

JL Sullivan’s Speakeasy [Official Site]

Today in the Metro the Bite spills the beans on a speakeasy coming to town and highlights some Mother’s Day brunch spots (Les Bons Temps, Memphis Taproom, Tinto) that may have been overlooked because they just started serving everyone’s favorite weekend meal.

The Bite: Mom-proof meals [Metro Philadelphia]

Forgive us for sounding a little bit like Crazy Eddie here, but starting today, it’s pure restaurant opening madness! Madness we tell you! You can always check our regularly updated Openings feature, but we’ve highlighted the following few days of anticipated openings for you after the jump…

Read the rest of this entry »

Supreme judge of grilled cheeses, Drew Lazor pulls all the details out of two new bars coming to town. First is JL Sullivan’s Speakeasy set to open May 15th in the basement of the Bellevue. We admit our hearts broke a bit when we heard the former Zanzibar Blue was going to become a high end sports bar by the people who gave us McFaddens but they’ve assembled some legitimate talent from the front to the back of the house so we’ll reserve judgment. If nothing else, we’re glad it isn’t another Avenue of the Arts steakhouse.

Secondly Drew turns us onto The Institute, a new bar and lounge coming to, well basically North Philly, 12th and Green but we’re willing to promote it as the “Eraserhead District.” It’ll be a classic pub downstairs, lounge upstairs and we hope this happens, a roof deck.

PASSING THE BAR: JL Sullivan’s Speakeasy, The Institute [The Clog]