Michael Klein reports that Kaizan has bowed out at the Academy House after just 5 months. Originally conceptualized as Zen Setsu back in April with kaiseki, a tasting menu of up to 9 courses, Kaizan was a scaled down version that never got much traction.

Also shutting its doors is Clementine’s Bistro which got better reviews than Kaizan but suffered no better a fate, closing after a year.

Closings [Food and Drinq]

Philadelphia Weekly takes a look at Kaizan at the Academy House and has a very hit-or-miss time of it.

Kaizan’s big-ticket item is the $22 Kobe ishiyaki. The dish comes with squash, mushrooms, six slices of American Kobe beef so well marbled they almost look white and a hot stone grill for DIY searing. After a few seconds on each side, it’s one beefy little orgasm after another. Strawberry ice cream mochi and green tea ice cream encased in funnel-cakey tempura make pleasing post-coital treats.

Kaizan brings modern Japanese to Locust Street [Philadelphia Weekly]

Trey Popp visits Kaizan Modern Japanese on Locust Street and comes out confused.

If every menu tells a story, Kaizan’s is of a piece with the splintered and contradictory narratives of Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon.

Sauced in Translation [City Paper]
Kaizan Modern Japanese [Official Site]

Food & Drinq reports that Kaizan Modern Japanese Cuisine is offering a 15% soft opening discount through the end of January.

Also, Kaizan is now open weekdays for lunch.

Soft Opening Discount [Food & Drinq]
Kaizan [Official Site]

In today’s Metro The Bite highlights the opening of the interesting Kaizan Modern Japanese on Locust Street.

The Bite appears every Wednesday in the Metro and is written by Foobooz editor Arthur Etchells

Kaizan Set To Open [Metro Philadelphia]

Food & Drinq does a walk though of Kaizan Modern Japanese, the new Japanese restaurant from the people who gave us Fuji Mountain. Kaizan is opening this Thursday and accepting reservations via OpenTable.

Concept is based on the formal Japanese dining style called kaiseki, but the look — based on a late-construction walk-through led by general manager Joseph DePalma — is sexy.

Through a beaded curtain are tables in that black wood that everyone’s doing today. The dining room is smaller than you may remember. Owner Jonathan Chun, who has Fuji Mountain on Chestnut Street, shrank it to install a small outdoor patio that overlooks the building’s entrance on Locust. Toward the back is a drinking bar; behind that is a spacious sushi bar. Servers will wear black, specially fitted chef’s jackets.

Sneak peek at Kaizan [Food & Drinq]
Kaizan [Official Site]

Pat Bombino’s by Al Paris and Matthew DiNatale has opened at 9th and Catharine. Expect old school Italian dishes from $12 to $32 and a Sunday family-style dinner. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Kai San Modern Japanese Cuisine has an opening date set of December 8th. The Japanese spot takes over for the former Smoked Joint at the Academy House. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

A. D. Amorosi reports Gavone’s at 10th and Wolf may be shuttered. [Ice Pack, City Paper]

And oh yes the debauchery of Wing Bowl will be back of a 16th year on February 1st at the Wachovia Center. Tickets will be available starting December 12th. [Philly.com]

The Field House at the former Independence Brew Pub is looking at an early December opening. 40 high-def TVs sound good, 10 draught selections and 25 bottle selections sound paltry. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Kaizan Modern Japanese Cuisine says early December for an opening and “plans are afoot for an all-weather outdoor seating area.” [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Gayot names Jose Garces’ Tinto to its list of top newcomers and Daniel Stern’s Rae makes Esquire’s similar list. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

In other year end accolades James gets a top dish nod for their prosciutto and oyster risotto in the Decmeber Food & Wine.