Stephen Starr alum Chris Painter, who worked at Tangerine and opened Angelina’s is back in the kitchen, this time in South Jersey’s Kitchen 233. Craig LaBan takes a look at this admittedly expensive Mediterranean restaurant and finds that yes, $18 is a fair price for the shrimp and lobster frites appetizer.

Sticker shock aside, they’re well on their way with Kitchen 233. I don’t love the decor – so completely covered in monochrome chocolate-brown wood, it has a generic coolness rather than the intended tavern warmth. But thanks to some top-notch cooking from ex-Tangerine chef Chris Painter, and a 350-label cellar that is impressive in its breadth and quality – with most glasses priced between $5 and $15 – the old pizza shop has been transformed into one of the most ambitious new restaurants South Jersey has seen in some time.

Two Bells – Very Good

Kitchen 233 [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Kitchen 233 [Official Site]

Kirsten Henri braves the jughandles and poorly marked roads of New Jersy to check out Kitchen 233 in Westmont. She finds “Kitchen 233 is another one of Jersey�s pleasant surprises.”

Chef Chris Painter, formerly of Jones, Tangerine and the now-defunct Angelina, is producing some sophisticated, satisfying fare to go along with an ambitious wine program that offers some 40 wines by the glass. While not every dish is a winner, there�s no doubt a real talent is on the premises.

Turbot Power [Philadelphia Weekly]
Kitchen 233 [Official Site]

• Aqua, the Malaysian and Thai restaurant at 7th and Chestnut has opened.
• Michael Klein reports that the National Park Service is looking for a restaurant operator for the Kennedy-Supplee Mansion in Valley Forge Park. No word on whether the Park Service will be installing a space crippling metal fence around the mansion.
• A moderate priced Mexican BYOB is opening just about any day now at 744 Christian Street. Molcajete Mixto’s signature dishes will be served in hot volcanic rock (Inqlings).
• Former Starr chef Christopher Painter is the executive chef at Kitchen 223 in Haddon Heights, NJ. The American bistro will be open in about a month (Feeding Frenzy).
• Jolly’s Sporting Saloon may be leaving it’s 19th Street location (Icepack)

A.D. Amorosi’s article in last week’s City Paper kicked up quite the fuss resulting in three letters to the editor defending the credentials of Ed Rek of Restaurant M.