Stephen Starr’s SquareBurger is taking center stage at Franklin Square today. The anticipated burger will sell for under $5 and will not be square but will be served on a Martin’s potato roll.

Also among the menu highlights are the Philly Dog, a kosher hot dog wrapped in salami and topped with pickle, onion, cherry peppers, plum tomatoes and mustard. Philadelphia’s Tastykakes serve as the inspiration for a couple of treats. The Cake Shake is made with a variety of Tastykakes and vanilla ice cream. The  butterscotch sundae features Butterscotch Krimpet and Heath Bar crumbles.

Hours are 11 to 8pm through Labor Day with shorter hours to Halloween.

First Bite of Starr’s SquareBurger, Opening Today [Grub Street]
Menu for Stephen Starr’s SquareBurger [Meal Ticket]

Restaurant M returns today at the Morris House on S 8th Street. The restaurant will use a small dining room in the Morris House Hotel and the wonderful outdoor space of the garden. The menu will feature simple plates from Pascual Cancelliere who is is also working to open his own place, 943 in the Italian Market.

The hours are a bit odd, Sundays through Thursdays as the garden is often used for weddings.

M is to open Monday [The Insider]

The Morris House’s Restaurant M is coming back. You’ll be able to drink and dine outside Sunday through Thursday. [The Insider]

Pat’s Steaks cheesesteak makes Playboy’s list of America’s best sandwiches. There’s a safe-for-work slideshow too. [Playboy.com]

Sometime this fall or winter we may see the opening of the Commonwealth at 1320 Chestnut Street above Mitchell & Ness. It will not be a lounge, but an “adaptable social environment.” [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Mustache Bill’s on Long Beach Island recognized with an America’s Classics Award. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

The owners of Gia Pronto will be bringing a pizzeria to Penn’s campus where Savory on Spruce, Tony Luke’s and the Triangle Diner have all resided. [Daily Pennsylvanian]

D.P. Dough is confident they’ll be “slinging ‘zones” on 40th Street by the end of July. [D.P. Dough]

We don’t know what to make of this one. Taste Daily is reporting a rumor that David Katz, formerly of Restaurant M is going to be the chef at Mark Bee’s Silk City. Peter Dunmire would move back to Bee’s N. 3rd.

Taste Daily also says “expect Katz to significantly revamp the menu — which currently includes things like chili, roast beef sandwiches and pulled pork empanadas — as his M menu included lots of emulsions, ragouts and confits.”

We know what we think of this, HELL NO!

Coming Soon: A New Chef at Silk City? [Taste Daily]

Michael Klein hits the nail on the head regarding biggest difference about the new Silk City, “it’s clean.” Brunch is coming soon and there are plans to turn the side and back yards into a beer garden. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Cacia’s Bakery has opened at 719 N 2nd Street and is serving up tomato pie, meatballs, eggplant parmesan and chicken cutlets. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Joseph Poon is looking to open a restaurant in Old City at the old Griffin Cafe. The opening is at least 6 months out. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Felicia’s at 11th and Ellsworth and Restaurant M on Eighth Street between Walnut and Locust have both closed. [Inqlings, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Well you might be hard pressed to find a touch of spring in the air today but rest assured it’s coming. and with spring comes alfresco dining. The Daily News takes note of several places to dine outside. Including Tavern 17 a new restaurant and lounge set to open May 1st on 17th Street just down from the Warwick Hotel. Tavern 17 will seat 170 indoors and another 16-20 outside, plus they’ll have a special menu for pooches!

Additional alfesco dining:

• Patou
• Meridith’s
• Avalon
• Positano Coast
• 333 Belrose
• Oceanaire Seafood Room
• Ecco Qui
• The Water Works
• Restaurant M

Alfresco, old & new [Philadelphia Daily News]

We kept waiting for all the Passover seder options to come pouring into our inbox. But it looks like Philadelphia has a long way to go to catch up with New York’s unusual seder options like bus-baked matzo, or even a Mexican seder.

That said you do have some options here in Philadelphia. The London Grill creates a festive four-course prix fixe contemporary seder dinner featuring smoked Whitefish Gefilte Fish Terrine; Celery-Carrot Chicken Soup, with miniature green onion and dill Matzoh balls; Braised Brisket, with Latkes and red cabbage; Herb, Garlic and Horseradish Crusted Prime Rib; and Mustard Coated Rack of Lamb. Passover dinner is $40 per person and will be served on Monday, April 2 and April 3rd.

At M Restaurant you can enjoy a three-course Passover menu featuring House-Cured Salmon, with potato latkes, celery-apple salad and crème fraiche; Braised Brisket, with root vegetables and caramelized onion farfel; and Cinnamon Raisin Kugel, with vanilla ice cream. Dinner will cost $42 per person and will be available Tuesday, April 3rd through April 5th.

London Grill [Official Site]
M Restaurant [Official Site]

City Paper lists their five favorite garlic dishes this week, tasty to be sure but don�t forget breath mints.

1. Derek’s Restaurant – Roasted Garlic-Parmesan Flatbread
2. Restaurant M – Roasted Organic Poussin with Sweet Garlic Bread Pudding
3. Xochitl – Cazuela de Calamar al Ajillo
4. London Grill – Olive Oil Gelato with Candied Garlic
5. Cuba Libre - Tostones

Breath For Life [Philadelphia Weekly]

Craig LaBan heads to Restaurant M, a block off of Washington Square and finds the restaurant to be �minimalist but very effective.�

The flavors aren�t overly exotic, the compositions aren�t contrived. But Katz�s food shows the value of focus, distilling a pair of good ideas on each plate into vivid flavors that put the spotlight on good ingredients.

LaBan gives Restaurant M two bells – very good.

Restaurant M [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Restaurant M [Official Site]

Kirsten Henri visits the one lettered M off of Washington Square and comes away impressed.

If the temperature�s above 60 degrees, I�d find it hard to turn down a table in the wonderful courtyard�one of the nicest outdoor seating spots in town. Tables are scattered over a brick patio and out onto a grassy, landscaped yard. There�s a little fountain with a twinkly arbor, and oil lamps light the way.

It�s an enchanting spot, and chef David Katz�s food does right by it. The seasonal menu is as precise and dainty as that letter M with just five appetizers and five entrees. Short and sweet is laudable but risky territory. If you�re preparing only a few items, they�d all better hit the mark�and on our visit all of Katz�s thoughtful, quietly impressive dishes did.

M, M, Good [Philadelphia Weekly]
Morris House Hotel [Official Site]

Owners Michael DiPaolo, Gene LeFevre and Chef David Katz, formerly of Lula and Salt, have transformed 8th Street�s Morris House into a private hotel and fine restaurant with spacious garden and a bit of a sense of humor.
A. D. Amorosi paints the picture.