Alison at Blue Bell has closed as Alison Barshak and filed for bankruptcy protection at her still open  Alison 2 in Fort Washington. [The Insider]

the second location of Shank’s Original is set to open in December at Pier 40 on the Delaware River. [Meal Ticket]

Check out the Insider for what’s going on at the original Shank’s and Evelyn’s location in South Philadelphia. [The Insider]

Where else can you get your Stumptown Coffee fix? Savona in Gulph Mills has added the coffee geeks coffee to its menu. Savona is the first area restaurant to add the Brooklyn roasted coffee to its menu. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, a Florida based chain is heading to Lancaster Avenue in Wayne. [Main Line Dine]

Mom’s Kitchen joins Joseph Tucker’s mini-empire of two Joe Pesce restaurants and Thomas’ Ristorante. Mom’s is an Italian comfort food restaurant in Collingswood. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Perhaps former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf consulted Craig LaBan’s out-of-the-way alfresco column when he chose to dine outdoors at Savona on Tuesday. Or perhaps he just really likes the creme brulee. After all, Dan Gross tells us it is his favorite dessert.

Musharraf dines at Savona [Daily News]
Out-of-the-way alfresco [Philadelphia Inquirer]

This week in Philadelphia Magazine’s Restaurant Club Newsletter.

• Our Favorite Local Chinese Spots
• First Peek Photos: Savona Goes Casual
• Food for Thought: Don’t Drink the Kobe Kool-Aid
• Free Lunch at Union Trust!

Restaurant Club Newsletter [Philadelphia Magazine]

Little Fish’s Mike Stollenwerk shares some details about his upcoming fish with Drew Lazor. Expect it to be different than the Bella Vista BYOB as there will be a liquor license and the menu will be split into raw, cold, hot and sweet categories. [Meal Ticket]

DiBruno Bros. is aiming to open a wine bar in the Italian Market by mid-August. [Meal Ticket]

Part of the facade of the former Brasserie Perrier crashed down onto Walnut Street Wednesday morning. Sorry, this wasn’t an attention grabbing way of debuting a Center City Apple Store. [Philadelphia Daily News]

Savona in Gulph Mills has been completely refurbished and there’s a sharp new outdoor terrazzo to check out. [Restaurant Club]

Bon Appetit has a spread on Philadelphia in its July issue. Author Andrew Knowlton hits Bella Vista Beer, Distrito, Franklin Fountain, Johnny Brenda’s, Reading Terminal Market and Zahav. Meal Ticket has the scans. [Meal Ticket]

Varga Bar starts daily lunch as of Sunday. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Copper Bistro in Northern Liberties has called it quits. [The Insider]

Mediterranean small plates are what’s on the menu at Old City’s new Bocca. [Meal Ticket]

Gulph Mills’ Savona is closed for renovations. They’re aiming to reopen by Mother’s Day. [The Insider]

Michael Solomonov’s Zahav and Michael Schulson’s Izakaya were both named to Travel + Leisure magazine’s 50 Best New US Restaurants. [Travel + Leisure]

Johnny Brenda’s comes in at number two in Gourmet’s Eight Great Rock Venues with Great Food. [Gourmet via Phoodie]

Bon Appetit slots Marigold Kitchen in at number three in their list of Top 10 Brunch Spots. [Bon Appetit]

Yuengling (5th largest), Dogfish Head (33) and Victory (46) are all among the top 50 breweries in the US by sales volume in 2008. [Brewers Association]

Is it ever a good sign when a restaurant cuts its hours? Savona in Gulph Mills cuts back to Tueday through Saturday and dinner only. [The Insider]

Speaking of shrinking hours, Old City’s Prive has scaled back to just Wednesday through Saturday.

You can never have too much barbecue, so we’re happy to see Holy Smoke is looking to open next month on Leverington Ave in Roxborough. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

In vegetarian dining news, Kingdom of Vegetarians has been sold and there are big changes at New Harmony. [Meal Ticket]

Joe Sixpack has the impressive for Jersey beer list of The Taproom & Grille in Haddon Township. [Beer Radar]

Elsewhere in Jersey, we learn that the Whitman Diner in Washington Township is reopening February 9th as The Whitman. A diner with an upscale martini lounge.

A La Maison has opened as “a rustic French BYOB” on Lancaster Avenue in Ardmore. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

The Tiedhouse in Fairmount has added Sunday brunch.

Main Line Today’s dining blog has some fine suburban deals for those watching expenditures.

Blackboard Specials for Budget Conscious Foodies [Bocconcini]

Friday night wine tastings are back at Savona. Join Savona’s sommelier, Melissa Monosoff as she teaches visitors how to taste wine like a pro. Cost is $25 and includes six wines and hors d’oeurveres.

Savona [Official Site]

Experience weekly wine tastings at Savona where the love of wine is the common denominator. Each Friday evening, Savona offers six wines for tasting from 5:30 to 7:00 PM.

Savona Restaurant [Official Site]