Table Talk

Lifelong Philadelphian Michael Klein writes about local people, places and things three days a week in his column INQlings and contributes on video as "The Insider" on Philly.com. He also writes about the local restaurant scene in his column Table Talk.

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Latest post: Alycia Lane is out of here - 12:51pm
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The restaurant at the Black Bass Hotel in Lumberville offers a view of the Delaware River and the pedestrian bridge that leads to Bulls Island. Chef John Barrett´s kitchen offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.

Table Talk: Black Bass Hotel reopens after a revamp

By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

Posted 07/09/2009

There's a new driving force behind the restoration of the Black Bass Hotel, a rustic, circa-1745 landmark along the Delaware River north of New Hope (3774 River Rd., Lumberville, 215-297-9260).

Alycia Lane is out of here

Table Talk Gastropub-steak house combo in Horsham - 06/25/2009: By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

It's the age of the duopoly, in which two restaurant concepts share a building, a liquor license, management, and many fixed costs.
Table Talk: Gulph Mills' Savona gets top-to-bottom redo - 06/18/2009: By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

After 12 years, Evan Lambert said, Savona, his posh Main Line staple (100 Old Gulph Rd., Gulph Mills, 610-520-1200), needed to "evolve."
Table Talk 3 new spots at NoLibs' Piazza at Schmidts - 06/11/2009: By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

Ask developer Bart Blatstein when he'll stop construction in Northern Liberties, and he replies: "Never." His latest is the Piazza at Schmidts, a collection of apartments and retail along Second Street south of the old Schmidt's brewery. It's just east of Liberties Walk, his first major retail-residential project in the neighborhood.
Table Talk A new Oyster House opening on Sansom - 06/04/2009: By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

Tonight is the scheduled opening of Oyster House - representing the top-to-bottom redo of Sansom Street Oyster House - at 1516 Sansom St. (215-567-7683).
Table Talk Three, make that four Capogiro locations - 05/28/2009: By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

Capogiro, the gelateria, is on a path to slow but steady growth, says cofounder John Reitano. Less than a week after he and his wife, Stephanie, opened their third location at 1625 E. Passyunk Ave. in South Philadelphia, they unlocked the doors to their fourth spot last week. It is in the new Radian building at 3925 Walnut St. in University City.
Table Talk: Continuing their move east along Spruce - 05/21/2009: By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

Chef R. Evan Turney and restaurateurs George and Valerie Anni keep edging east along Spruce Street in Washington Square West. As a follow-up to their Valanni (1229 Spruce) and Mercato (1216 Spruce), they just opened Varga Bar on the corner of 10th and Spruce (941 Spruce St., 215-627-5200).
Table Talk: French flavor in a small space - 05/14/2009: By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

Le Bec-Fin alum Pierre Calmels and his wife, Charlotte, are about a week into Bibou (1009 S. Eighth St., 215-965-8290), their homey, cash-only BYOB in the tiny corner storefront near the Italian Market that previously was Pif.
Table Talk: Broad Axe reopens with a less-pricey menu - 05/07/2009: By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

In ye olden days - oh, until about seven years ago - the Broad Axe Tavern turned out pricey, traditional fare at Butler and Skippack Pikes in Whitpain Township, while regular folks went next door to the casual mainstay Phil's Tavern for sandwiches and heaping portions of all-American fare.
Table Talk: Asian diner opens tomorrow in NoLibs - 04/30/2009: By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

Tomorrow is the planned rollout of Ken Shin Asian Diner (301 Spring Garden St., 215-925-8887), at Third and Spring Garden Streets, across from Northern Liberties' Finnigan's Wake.
Table Talk: Billy Wong's latest is in Bucks - 04/23/2009: By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

Perhaps "Billy Wong" means "Waldo." The peripatetic restaurateur, part of the crew at the onetime South Street spot Tang's and a cofounder of the nearby Mustard Greens, has turned up in Bucks County's Warminster Shopping Center (340-342 York Rd., 215-443-0800) with a BYOB called Billy Wong's.