Craig LaBan looks back at the year in restaurants in Philadelphia bumping up the ratings for three restaurants, Rae to 3 bells and Brandywine Prime and L’Oca were both bumped up to 2 bells. Jose Garces was named chef of the year and Osteria got the nod for restaurant of the year.

The bells: One more time [Philadelphia Inquirer]

City Paper names Philadelphia’s top five open kitchens.

1. Audrey Claire
2. Dmitri’s
3. Little Fish
4. ¡Pasion!
5. L’Oca

And although these are all fine restaurants and several are among our favorites. This list is incomplete without Striped Bass and Osteria. And speaking of Osteria, Thursday/Friday lunch starts today.

Air It Out [City Paper]

Kirsten Henri braves an ice storm to check out L’Oca, Fairmount’s Italian BYOB. She finds the restaurant “fair to middling.”

I’d say the neighborhood has taken to the BYOB. But for those who don’t live locally, L’Oca is less of a draw. It serves some decent fare, but nothing that elevates it beyond the middle of the Italian BYOB pack. The kitchen seems to have timing issues and the service, though friendly, makes amateur missteps.

Homemade ravioli stuffed with ricotta and drizzled with brown butter, toasted walnuts and sage leaves are savory and nutty—and hard not to like. As are the short ribs—fork-tender meat colored with layers of mellow sweetness. It’s a homely heap of beef that’s reaped all of the benefits of being braised with balsamic vinegar and red wine.

Port in a Storm [Philadelphia Weekly]

Sunday Craig LaBan reviews L’Oca, the newish Fairmount Italian BYOB, for the Inquirer.

DailyCandy takes a look at L’Oca, the Northern Italian BYOB in Fairmount.

It’s not your typical Italian restaurant: There’s not a drop of red sauce to be found on chef Luca Garutti’s menu (it’s strictly northern). What you will find: fresh, succulent dishes like wild venison served with blueberry and wine sauce; saffron spaghetti with prosciutto, scallops, and oyster mushrooms; pappardelle with goose ragu (yep, the namesake is on the menu). For dessert, try the tiramisu or the chantille cream-filled profiteroles.

la Vida L’Oca: L’Oca Restaurant Opens [DailyCandy]

Phyllis Stein-Novack tries Fairmount’s newest Italian BYOB, L’Oca, and comes away already looking forward to returning. Calling L’Oca “one of the finest Italian meals I have enjoyed in years. Portions are generous, the prices, moderate.”

Three tips of the toque

L’Oca [South Philly Review]

L’oca, a high-end Northern Italian has opened at 2025 Fairmount Avenue in Fairmount. Chef Luca Garutti is a veteran of La Locanda del Ghiottone and Ristorante Panorama. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Trattoria Alla Costiera opened last week at Passyunk and Catharine. Tommy Casso and his wife owned a place on Oregon Avenue in the 90s before returning to Italy. But they’re back now serving Neopolitan cuisine. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Drew Lazor sheds some more light on James, the anticipated Bella Vista restaurant to be owned by Jim and Kristina Burke. Jim was formerly executive chef at Stephen Starr’s Angelina and will be offering a “simple seasonal menu,” although a review of the menu says more than simple. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Bart Blatstein’s Avenue North is more than just the Pearl Theater, there’s going to be new grub happening on North Broad. In addition to the already opened Qdoba, expect to see Koja, Hilal, Nosheri Deli, Pete’s Pizza a tea store and Maui Wowie, a smoothie store opening in the coming months. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Sundays seem to be going well for the Reading Terminal Market, the terminal board has voted to extend Sunday hours through March. [Inqlings, Philadelphia Inquirer]