Craig: Sorry Scott. We're still looking for number 2, but you're not toooo far off.

Trisha: Craig, is Mandoline closing for good, or just temporarily for renovations? It is such a good restaurant and would be a loss.

Craig: Hi Trisha - I just called Mandoline, and they're open for dinner tonight. So you don't have to worry for now...

Craig: I just wanted to mention something that was brought to my attention following my review last weekend of Teresa's Next Door. In my round-up of suburban beer destinations, I neglected to note one bright beer stop - TJ's in Paoli - that might be worth drinking at. Here's the link sent to me by the TJ"s crew: http://www.tjsbeer.com/.

Craig: any TJ’s regulars out there with a report to offer?

Scott: 1. the whip, 2. le castagne 3. sabrina's

Jason: 1. The Whip, 2. Panorama, 3. Sabrina's

Jennie: Is #2 La Veranda?

Craig: Nope, nope, nope....

Scott: tj's has a great beer selection. about 12 taps, a great bottle selection, excellent choices in to go beer. food is pretty good, with lots of beer-infused and inspired sauces. not as good as TND on any count but worth checking out if you love beer.

Craig: Scott - thanks for this quick report on TJ's. Their website touts 25 taps and over 200 bottle selections. That's enough for me to get started.

Trisha: Unfortunately, Mandoline is not accepting reservations past this saturday and have been rather cryptic as to whether or not they will be reopening. With a few phone calls I have heard they are closing for renovation and do not know about reopening. Have any further insight? Thanks.

Craig: Well, on further research, Trisha, I'm sorry to report your suspicions are true. I just got off the phone with chef/owner, Todd Lean, who informed me that yes, this will be Mandoline's last Saturday night. Lean cited 'landlord issues' and the impending arrival of a second child with wife, Carrie, for the big change. The good news, though, is that he plans to transfer much of Mandoline's menu to his new gig as executive chef at Deuce, the gastropub in Northern Liberties. He starts Tuesday.

Adam: TJ's has a great beer selection, over 25 drafts and something like 200 bottles. The food isn't over the top, but very good and almost everything has beer in it. It's more "casual" or less pretentious than TND.

scott: 2. spasso? (last try)  

Michele: La Locanda

Craig: Sorry, its neither Spasso nor La Locanda...

Kristin: 1. The Whip, 2. Franco's Trattoria, 3. Sabrina's.

Craig: Wow! Talk about getting in under the line! Kristin has nailed my bolognese! Just had a lovely lunch last week at Franco's, the new Italian trattoria that replaced the too-mod-for-the-'hood, Verge, in East Falls. They've done a nice job warming up the room and terrace, which has a view of the Schuylkill (as well as the Route 1 overpass). The owner is one of the original partners of Monte Carlo Living Room. The chef, I believe, is Luca Sena Jr., son of Panorama owner, Luca Sena. The menu is fairly straightforward trattoria, and surprisingly affordable (all sub-$20 entrees). I didn't love my sauteed tilapia, but the herby grilled veal was super, and the bolognese was extremely authentic, more of a minced vegetable stew with lots of tender crumbles of meat (not just the usual beef burger in tomato sauce, obviously). Great, deeply steeped flavor, served over tender ribbons of fresh egg pasta. Worth checking out. They have a wine list, too.