Things never stay the same, even delicious sandwiches like Paesano’s namesake sandwich. Formerly, the Paesano was a slow roasted beef sandwich with roasted tomato, coleslaw, Pepperoncino and Gorgonzola but has now been reformulated to feature beef brisket and fried egg.

The Bite takes a look at what the Royal Tavern is doing for its anniversary, bringing back tasty menu items of yesteryear and asks, what other plates do you miss?

Long lost favorites are gone, but not forgotten [Metro Philadelphia]

Paesano’s in the Italian Market will have an expanded menu. Look for tripe with egg and a Paesano Burger topped with fries, balsamic vineagr, garlic mayo, pancetta and gorgonzola dolce. We thought we were done salivating over burgers but maybe just this one more. [The Insider]

Prohibition Taproom opens for lunch starting today.

Pommes Frites in Old City. The restaurant eating space at Chestnut and Strawberry is looking to break the hex with European Republic, an off-shoot of a popular Long Island fry spot. [The Insider]

Flying Monkey’s Locust Street location opened Monday. We will continue to not refer to it as Flying Monkey Deuce.

The Insider has Gemelli’s opening Euro bistro menu. The BYO opens next week in Narberth with Clark Gilbert at the helm. [The Insider]

Grub Street snaps shots of Fish, set to open at October 5th. [Grub Street]

Win Signature Restaurants might be expanding downstairs from Azie on Main in Villanova. Isn’t that the path Maia unsuccessfully went down? [The Insider]

La Fuente is the working name for the proposed Italian BYOB seeking zoning approval for 2nd and Fairmount. [The Insider]

Philadelphia area beers did well in Denver last week but they’re not the only ones getting national attention.

Gourmet’s John T. Edge “falls hard” for Philadelphia street food and names eight great street-food vendors in Philadelphia. [Gourmet via The Illadelph]

It wasn’t just the beer geeks who though that Flying Fish Exit 4 was the bomb. Men’s Journal called it the best Belgian Style beer of 2009. [Liquid Diet]

Zahav and Paesano’s make October’s Gourmet as restaurants “worth the money.” [Gourmet via Grub Street]

Paesano’s is looking to open a second location at the corner of 9th and Christian where Butcher’s Cafe once stood.

This makes us very, very, very happy!

This Just In: Paesano’s Opening Another Location In South Philly [Phoodie.info]
Paesano’s poised to take over old Butcher Café location [Meal Ticket]

The New York Times’ Randy Kennedy comes to Philadelphia to take in some art from Fluxspace to the Mural Arts Program. He also gets some good eats along the way.

For the rest of my dining, in the spirit of the trip, I decided to stick exclusively to restaurants in Philadelphia’s unusual bring-your-own-bottle scene, a huge number of no-wine-list establishments that have sprung up partly because of Pennsylvania’s state-controlled alcohol sales system, which means smaller profits and expensive licensing costs for restaurant owners. Many of the B.Y.O.B. restaurants are tiny, run by chefs who, maybe because of the absence of a bar, put the focus intensely on the food, which can be fantastic.

Among the spots he visited:

• Hibernia Deli Coffee Shop
• Matyson
• Little Fish
• Old City Coffee
• Paesano’s

Art to Make You Laugh (and Cry) [New York Times]

Right now Foobooz crush object, Paesano’s is suffering from too much of a good thing. Since being named the best hoagie by WIP they’ve been getting crushed by business. So for at least right now, the late night hours are off.

Strongbox is a locked box. The Walnut Street bottle bar is closing for the summer. [Meal Ticket]

The Oyster House started lunch service last Monday and its been going gangbusters. Meal Ticket has the menu. [Meal Ticket]

P.Y.T. is aiming for July 3rd. The menu is by Time’s Josh McCullough. [Icepack, City Paper]

Wine Thief has opened on Germantown Avenue. The bistro aims to be affordable with everything under $20 and wine priced at $15 over cost. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

UCity’s MarBar has been redone as Panda Bar. There will be live music and good beer. [Beer Lass]

Local food and music are the backbone of Lucky Old Souls. A new spot opening in the New Bold neighborhood of South Philly. [Kitchenplay]

Former Daily News food writer  April Lisante and her husband are opening Avril, a 50 seat BYOB in Bala Cynwyd. [The Insider]

Bistro M in Berwyn has closed and will be replaced by Meridith’s which is moving from its current location. [Main Line Dine]

WIP’s Great Hoagie Hunt concluded Saturday with celebrity judges agreeing with host Glen Macnow and annointing Paesano’s hoagie the best in the area.

The People’s Choice award went to Primo’s Hoagies.

Great Hoagie Hunt judges declare winner [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Paesano’s [Official Site]

We didn’t know there was a Paesano’s adds late night hours dance but then again, until a moment ago we didn’t know Paesano’s was indeed adding late night hours.

This is going to make not finding a cab outside Johnny Brenda’s at 2am a lot easier to deal with!

Update: Paesano’s has been getting deluged with business since  being named best hoagie by WIP so they are not going to be doing late night hours for awhile.

Game Changer: Paesano’s Adding Late Night Summer Hours, Northern Liberties To Finally Have Worthy Post-Last-Call Eats [The Illadelph]
Paesano’s [Official Site]

Every year 610 WIP’s Glen Macnow goes on a great journey to find the best of a popular food in the Delaware Valley. This year he tried 60 hoagies enroute to picking his favorite, Paesano’s.

New “six-stool, mostly takeout eatery” that just opened after Thanksgiving. “Delectable mix of mortadella, prosciutto and ham … perfect amount of sharp provolone … a dark green lettuce … on a crispy seeded roll,” Macnow writes. “Folks, we have ourselves a winner.”

The complete top ten:

1. Peasano’s
2. Sarcone’s Deli
3. Salumeria
4. Pastificio
5. Shank’s & Evelyn’s
6. Carlino’s Market
7. Pallante’s
8. Primo Hoagies
9. Carmen’s Deli
10. Abbruzzi and Giuntas

Macnow will let the public have their say on Saturday, June 13th at the King of Prussia Fox & Hound. Eight or so of the hoagies will be available for free from 11am to 1pm.

After trying 60 hoagies, the best one was… [Philly.com]
Glen & Anthony’s Italian Hoagie Hunt [610 WIP]
Paesano’s [Official Site]

Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema was recently in town heaping praise on Chifa, Fork and Paesano’s.

About Paesano’s, he also delivers a little news. Owner Peter McAndrews is going to be relinquishing his upstairs office space and turning it into a second floor dining area for a dozen or so diners.

Postcard from Tom [Washington Post via The Illadelph]