Adam Erace starts his review in the restroom at Vietnam Cafe, rarely a good sign but Erace does indeed dig the French Colonial dining room at Vietnam’s West Philadelphia sibling. He also finds plenty to like about the food.

Exhibit A: heavenly summer rolls I recommend swirling through the house nuoc mam, a salve of sweet white vinegar, garlic and funky fish sauce. There’s mahogany hoisin too, topped with crushed peanuts, and a vicious chili oil bloody with crushed peppers. Despite the aggressive condiments, the smokiness of the marinated and chargrilled pork inside the rice paper bundles came through, freshened by fragrant bursts of mint and basil.

Vietnam Cafe [Philadelphia Weekly]
Vietnam Cafe [Official Site]

Rick Nichols visits Benny Lai and retraces the steps that led to the “sparkling,” “evocative” and “impressive” Vietnam Cafe in West Philadelphia.

The Lais’ new milestone [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Vietnam Cafe [Official Site]

Pat Bombino’s location at 9th and Catharine is going to be reborn as Wishing Well Public House. Scrapple topped Shame burger? Oh my. [Grub Street]

Al Paris who has been involved in Zanzibar Blue, Rococo, Guru, Mantra and the aforementioned Pat Bombino’s among others is the new Executive chef at the Public House where he has installed a “great American pub menu.”

We don’t know much about Sweeties (1822 E Passyunk Ave) other than it is hosting its grand opening on the Avenue this Saturday. In addition to cupcackes, cookies, candies and nuts there will be balloons, clowns and magic.

McGillin’s 1860 IPA is now available in bottles. Only 200 cases of the Stoudt’s brewedale are available in commemoration of McGillin’s Olde Ale House’s 150th year. Look for it at Springfield Distributor, Bella Vista Beer Distributors or Fishtown Beverage. It is also available in 6-packs at both Foodery locations. The beer includes Centennial and Amarillo hops and is unfiltered, just as a beer would have been in the 1860s.

Rudi’s on Park has 44 investors and one namesake, Rudi Doeller. It’s opening in this week in Swarthmore. Aria, Hobbs Coffee and Davide’s are also coming to the borough. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

The redone Vietnam Cafe has opened at 816 S 47th Street. Meal Ticket has the pictures to prove it. [Meal Ticket]

Also opening while we were enjoying San Diego’s beaches, Lucky 7 Tavern where Aspen once operated at 25th and Aspen swung open its doors on Friday the Thirteenth. [The Insider]

Franco’s Trattoria off of Kelly Drive in East Falls is moving to the ground floor of the Presidential City Apartments on City Ave. [The Insider]

Meg Votta , chef at Sycamore in Lansdowne passed away on November 10th, 2-days before being featured in a Daily News article about successful female chefs. [The Insider]

We updated our openings page yesterday but felt these three November openings needed to be highlighted:

• Percy Street Barbecue is targeting November 17th for their anticipated opening.
• Also on the 17th, the big new Vietnam Cafe in West Philadelphia where Abbraccio was is set to open. It’ll be BYOB for 30-days before opening their full bar on December 18th. The small space the Cafe occupies now will close after dinner on Sunday.
• And then on the 18th, Hawthornes in Bella Vista is targeting to open its doors to eager beer lovers.

Openings [f8b8z]

Collin Flatt has the best thing he’s eaten all year, fried pigs feet stuffed with foie gras at Bibou. [Phoodie]

Philadining sounds the awesomeness alert for the charbroiled short ribs at Vietnam Cafe. [Philadining]

Felicia D’Ambrosio encourages all of us to immediately eat at the Rib Stand in the Reading Terminal Market. [Meal Ticket]

Gooey Looie’s, the deli in the odd strip mall off of Moyamensing Avenue has ruined other hoagies for Phoodie. [Phoodie]

It’s a monster of a veggie roll at Hikari on Liberties Walk complete with sweet potato tempura and “obese slabs of avocado.” [Living on the Vedge]

We’re right there with The Secret is Salt, the Hope’s Cookies in the General Store at the RTM are the best. Yes please to the Heath Bar cookie. [The Secret is Salt]

It’s the portions at La Fonda Colombiana that make it worth the trek up to North Philadelphia. [Phoodie]

The Cresheim Cottage Cafe will have life breathed back into it when it becomes Avenida, a Neighborhood friendly Latin opening this fall. [The Insider]

Brauhaus Schmitz went through just about 100 kegs in their first two weeks. [Brauhaus Schmitz]

There is already a Vietnam Cafe in West Philly but work is underway for a much bigger version (250 seats) next door at the former Abbraccio location. [The Insider]

What’s brewing at Brew? Maybe beer, starting today. Update: Not happening today. Snags according to Grub Street. [kitchenplay]

Guillermo Tellez will be the chef at the Square 1682 in the Palomar Hotel. [The Insider]

Le Meridien Philadelphia, the Starwood Hotel opening at 1421 Arch Street in September will have a restaurant, Amuse serving French Bistro classics. [The Insider]

Yo! More froyo is coming. Sprinkles Yogurt is aiming for an August opening at 36th and Chestnut. [Meal Ticket]

Effie Bouikidis of Effie’s will be opening Paul next week. Named in honor of her father, The BYOB is in a former antique shop on Pine Street. [The Insider]

The Gold Standard Cafe is celebrating their official grand opening this weekend. [Phoodie]

Seasons 52 is bringing its “fresh grill” concept to the King of Prussia Mall in spring 2010.

Landmark American, a sports bar targeting college locations is coming to Drexel’s new Recreation Center at 3333 Market Street. [The Insider]

The Institute is finally opening their kitchen. It will ready for customers on Friday, July 24th and the menu will be inspired by Puerto Rican cuisine.

Banh mi in G-ho? It’s true at May’s Gourmet Cafe & Deli . [Meal Ticket]

Noble American Cookery will bring another James Beard nominated chef to the city when it opens on the 2000 block of Sansom next month. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

There’s musical real estate in West Philadelphia. Abbraccio has been sold to Vietnam Cafe’s owner, Benny Lai. Abbracio’s Roger Harman will remain through mid-February and then will conver 4800 Baltimore Ave into a BYOB and coffee shop called the Gold Standard. Vietnam Cafe will expan through to the former Italian restaurant. [The Insider]

Looks like Avram Hornik may have unloaded Bar Noir to a former Tir Na Nog bartender, Michael Welsh. [Ice Pack, City Paper]

“West South Street’s” Novita Bistro offering an affordable weekend brunch with prices topping out at $11.95. [Meal Ticket]

Elisa Ludwig visits Vietnam Cafe in West Philadelphia and finds a smaller, more intimate space and menu.

And among the greatest of Vietnam’s greatest hits is the pork chop served over broken rice. The meat, redolent with lemongrass and the smoke of the grill, is juicy and tender, while the couscous-like grains sop up its drippings along with the vinegar of pickled carrots. See also the charred grape-leaf-wrapped beef rolls, the addictive salt-and-pepper squid and the creamy crêpe with ground pork and shrimp.

Vieterans Day [City Paper]

Adam Erace makes it out to West Philadelphia and to Vietnam Cafe where he experiences authentic cuisine in attractive surroundings.

The barbecue platter is a fitting intro to the spicy, citrusy, mint-sprinkled cooking of Vietnam, a carousel of crisp, greaseless pork spring rolls, grilled chicken strips, wonderful nem nuong (spiced pork meatballs) dusted with crushed peanuts, bo nuong la (beef-stuffed grape leaves) and tangled rice vermicelli. Cups of iceberg lettuce and rice paper wrappers encourage the university crowd to get their ssam on, flavoring the bundles with piquant quick-pickled carrot and cucumber, fresh mint, fiery crimson nuoc cham and the “house special”: sweet-and-sour paste made with nuoc mam.

Vietnam Cafe [Philadelphia Weekly]

PhillyFoodGuys take an early look at Vietnam Cafe in West Philadelphia and it certainly sounds like they liked it.

Overall, our meal was really enjoyable. The food was very good, the service was excellent and the staff friendly. I wish we would have known that Vietnam Café is a BYOB in advance, because we would have brought along a bottle of wine… Regardless, you know now, so grab your favorite beer or wine and take a trip to Vietnam. Café, that is…

Vietnam Café: A Gracious Meal [PhillyFoodGuys]