Michael Klein reports that Stephen Starr has rented the Midtown IV Restaurant building at 2013 Chestnut Street. But what will it be?

Starr says it won’t be another Pizzeria Stella and that he will keep the bar in the back and the private entrance onto Ranstead. Starr floats the idea that he might do Mexican that isn’t El Vez. Mexican is certainly under-represented around Rittenhouse Square.

Or could it be one of the other concepts previously floated, like the Greek diner once hoped for Broad and Ellsworth. Or the Love Burger concept once  proposed for the Letto Deli? Any guesses?

Stephen Starr’s next restaurant [The Insider]

Rick Nichols celebrates the resurgence of the art of the cocktail at Village Whiskey and other purveyors of adult cocktails.

[T]his is a place, especially on a quieter weeknight evening, to reunite with the well-made cocktail. Bartender Keith Raimondi will be happy to oblige, fashioning a proper Old Fashioned (dousing the sugar cubes first with house-made bitters), a moody Vieux Carre (rye, cognac, sweet vermouth and two kinds of bitters), or for a sip of the city’s roots (and provided you are not about operate heavy machinery), a sneaks-up-on-you Philadelphia Fish House Punch, which involves peach brandy, cognac, dark rum, and other accents, peels and spices that mask those initial ingredients.

Please then, won’t you raise your glass. . .

Takes a Village to raise a glass [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Village Whiskey [Official Site]

Tomorrow,  Brown Betty Petite just off of Rittenhouse Square will be turning one. Starting at noon they will be giving away cupcakes.

Red Velvet, Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry will be offered and be available, one per customer until supplies run out.

Brown Betty Petite [Official Site]

Today, the Tria Rittenhouse Square location has tasting portions of Russian River Consecration. The 6 oz draft tasting portions will be $6.

This strong dark ale aged in Cabernet barrels with currants is a beer geek’s dream – and the perfect beer for winos. Divine, indeed. And rare, so get it while you can.

It’s available now until it kicks.

Tria Cafe [Official Site]

Bloggers are continuing to investigate Jose Garces‘ Village Whiskey, one even breaks their gaze from the “meat monster” in order to talk about the liquor.

Count Kate of Philly Food and Drink among the decadent and gluttonous who have been wowed by the “Village King” burger. [Philly Food and Drink]

Phoodie sits down not to try the beef but to quaff an equally formidable lineup of drinks. [Phoodie.info]

Femme Fermentable on the other hand is disappointed with VW, and leaves a “Dear Jose” letter behind as she heads off to New England. Oddly, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a poor experience at a Jose Garces establishment framed as a break-up letter. [Femme Fermental]

Previous Village Whiskey Around the Web [f8b8z]

Village Whiskey is still brand new but it has already been haiku’d about and of course bloggers have made their way to Jose Garces’ latest. Here’s what they’re saying.

The Beer Lass checks out Village Whiskey on Saturday enjoying the nostalgic snacks, big burgers and duck-fat fries with beery cheese sauce. Jose himself told us that the secret ingredient in the cheese sauce is indeed Cheez Whiz! [Beer Lass]

Fidel Gastro digs the old timey chic of Village Whiskey but it is really about the short rib and cheddar fries. [Fidel Gastro]

BROG and friends take in Village Whiskey on opening day, sampling as much as the can. Highlights include the homemade mustard for the pretzel sticks, fries and cheese sauce as well as the Whiskey King burger which they write, lived up to the hype. [BROG]

Living on the Vegdge goes with the veggie burger and is left a little wanting. But not so much so that she won’t be back. [Living on the Vedge]

Village Whiskey is a go. Jose Garces’ Whiskey bar will open at 11:30 Friday morning. We’ll be there!

Village Whiskey [Official Site]

Hope you’re not tired of Village Whiskey coverage yet. Today the Bite over analyzes the menu and the Illadelph breaks down the beer list.

And late yesterday Meal Ticket was back for more pictures, including the burgers and fries.

The worst news, Thursday’s opening will probably be pushed to Friday.

With latest, Garces does whiskey neat [Metro Philadelphia]
Opening Beer List at Village Whiskey [The Illadelph]
More Village Whiskey in pictures (yes, this includes the burgers) [Meal Ticket]

Meal Ticket gets some photos from within Village Whiskey including lots of shots of pickled vegetables and just what Jose Garces means by cheese puffs.

Village Whiskey in pictures [Meal Ticket]

Tomato Station? An unsuccessful early 90s super group? Nope, it’s the heirloom tomato station at Barclay Prime. And color us intrigued, because we really love tomatoes when they’re in season and we haven’t really had any awesome ones yet.

Starting this evening, a display table is being set up in Barclay’s dining room filled with bowls of heirloom tomatoes with fun names like Sicilian Plums, Green Zebra, Pineapple, Purple Cherokee, Sun Gold and Tiger Striped. For $20 (more than a Butcher & Singer rib-eye) diners will receive 3 varieties which are cut, plated and served to the guest in the dining room with their choice of salt (Hawaiian lava, Adler Wood Smoke Salt from Washington, or Maldon salt from England) [Editor's Note: Foobooz's mother is going to be thrilled when she hears about this. Seriously, she has at least three types of salt on her kitchen table. Seriously!] and extra virgin olive oil (Olio Verde or Frantoio Della Rocca, both from Sicily).

The tomato station is available Thursday, Friday or Saturday night. The tomatoes have been freshly picked from Branch Creek Farms in Perkasie, Pa.