June 6 is engrained in American culture as the anniversary of the Allied forces' crossing the English Channel and launching a bold offensive that presaged the end of the Nazi occupation of Europe.
This year, June 6 simply will mean the start of great fries, burgers, flat-top-grilled hot dogs, frozen custard, and shakes as the city's first Shake Shack is down for an 11 a.m. opening at the southwest corner of 20th and Sansom Streets.
The casual concept was launched eight years ago in New York's Madison Square Park by restaurateur Danny Meyer and Union Square Hospitality Group.
This will be Shake Shack's 15th location, as USHG has been opening in other cities outside of NYC since 2010.
It's directly across the street from both Jose Garces' Village Whiskey - which makes an awesome burger - and Capogiro - whose gelati scoops are among the finest outside of Italy. I doubt that Shake Shack will make even the slightest dent in their business. More important, since it will be open till 11 p.m. daily, Shake Shack will light up a dead corner at night. The dry cleaner's and adult bookstore hardly had a presence.
Shake Shack also will serve beer and wine (though it's not 100 percent confirmed that alcohol will be available from Day 1), plus treats for dogs.
The word Concrete will enter the city's culinary lexicon. It's Shake Shack's version of the DQ Blizzard - custard with "mix-ins" - and Shake Shack has created three Philly-centric varieties (using locally sourced ingredients):
The onetime Delaware Avenue club Rock Lobster - which was the hottest thing going in the '90s - has been revived as a seasonal beer garden run by Four Corners, operators of Lucy's, Ortlieb's, Drinker's, et al.
Morgan's Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) is named after the guy who, as legend goes, was the first person to cross what is now the Benjamin Franklin Bridge before its 1926 opening. The bridge is just south of the pier.
Four Corners has spruced up the decking, adding patio furniture, picnic tables and chairs, and clevely trucking in shade trees. It also has the good sense to have Little Baby's Ice Cream vending on site, to add a sweet counterweight to consulting chef David (Meme) Katz's pub picnic menu. (Food was hard to come by at last night's media preview, but the pineapple-ancho wings, bibb lettuce wraps, and fries were fine. See a PDF of the menu here.)
Beer list has 20 in cans and 20 on draft.
Hours are 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. (This weekend, it will open Friday at 5, Saturday at 4, and Sunday at noon.)
Noir, the '40s/'50s-theme gastropub from Marcos Decotiis (formerly of La Stanza), is aiming for a June 4 soft-opening at 1909 E. Passyunk Ave., dovetailing with Philadelphia Beer Week. Next door, at 1911 E. Passyunk, chef Chris Kearse is about two months from opening Will, a BYO.
Hop Sing Laundromat, in development for two years, is supposed to soft-open tonight at 1029 Race St.
The second Federal Donuts shop is pegged for a former video store at 1632 Sansom St.
As tipped on the Philadelphia Real Estate Blog, owners Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook attended the Center City Residents Association's zoning committee meeting last night to pitch the idea. Given that there's a nail salon next door and just a parking garage above, there's hardly a reason for opposition.
Their rep tells me the coffee-doughnuts-fried chicken menu will be the same as the first shop that opened Oct. 17 at 1219 S. Second St.
Design will be different but inspired by the original. A second hearing is set for next month. If it gets through, Cook says the shop would open in September. Projected hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but that could change.
Though the city was touting the area around the Sofitel as the French Quarter, a FedNuts on that block will solidify a zone of fat-kid dining - what with 500 Degrees selling burgers, fries, and shakes a block away, and tthe new Underdogs hot dog shop around the corner.
Yes, as a matter of fact this map was created in Paint; base map by Google
Can you name a town in the Philly suburbs with more restaurants per square mile than Media?
Dining destinations such as Doylestown, Cherry Hill, Ardmore and even West Chester don't come close to the Delaware County seat.
Three newcomers have joined the borough's mix in the last two months:
Diego’s Cantina & Tequila Bar (214 W. State St., 484-442-8741, a narrow storefront — formerly Coffee Club — with a bar in the front and dining in the back from Loic Barnieu, who also owns Picasso and La Belle Epoque in town. Diego’s has already had a visit from comedian Wanda Sykes, the town’s celebrity.
Spasso Italian Grill, an offshoot of Claudio Sandolo’s original in Old City, took over the stately spot at 1 W. State St. (610-565-7803), the onetime home of borough hall and later the restaurants Brodeur’s and New Orleans Cafe. Sandolo offers the same middle-of-the-road menu offered downtown.
Desert Rose (305 W. State St., 484-442-8012) is a simple Mediterranean cafe/grocery from Jason and Natali McHugh — he’s a local guy who worked at the old Deux Cheminées before embarking on travels to Europe and the Virgin Islands. After meeting Natali in her native Israel, he became enthralled with street food. Menu includes hummus platters, shwarma, and falafel.
And in Thursday's "Table Talk" column, I'll run down La Porta, the new Italian bar from Peter McAndrews, just outside of town in Edgmont Township.
Now that it's gotten out of the Philadelphia news business, private equity fund Angelo, Gordon & Co. has bought Benihana, the Japanese steakhouse chain. There are locations in Pennsauken and Plymouth Meeting.
Benihana announced that it will go private in a $296 million deal.
Flashing knifes, lots of cutting, high heat ...
Sounds about right.
Samantha “Sam” Mickey, who made brunch cool again in 1997 when she opened Morning Glory Diner at 10th and Fitzwater Streets, died May 12 after a long battle with brain cancer.
She was 44 and leaves behind three kids, ages 12, 10 and 7.
Jenny Greer, who's been running the diner since Sam grew weaker, is organizing a benefit for the Cancer Support Community of Philadelphia (formerly the Wellness Community of Philadelphia) in Fairmount Park, where Sam was cared for.
It will be "breakfast for dinner" - an all-you-can-eat spread of pancakes, eggs, and bacon - served from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, June 8 at the Morning Glory. More specifics, including the price (probably $15), are forthcoming.
It will be fun, Greer explained. "She would be [annoyed] if I did anything sad or maudlin," she said.
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant has inked a lease for its 10th location and the second in South Jersey as it is taking a spot at Voorhees Town Center (nee Echelon Mall).
Opening is targeted for this winter.
Its 9th location, Chestnut Hill, seems to be going great guns.
In a statement, Iron Hill founding partner Kevin Finn said he and partners Kevin Davies and Mark Edelson were looking for a place with a vibrant community.
They've enlisted Sandvold Blanda Architecture + Interiors, which has designed the previous nine locations, to do the 250-seater.
The operators of the former Catelli are opening a restaurant, Catelli Duo, at Voorhees Town Center this summer.
The Iron Hill will now lack one nearby competitor. The Firecreek Restaurant & Bar, which opened only last November in Voorhees Town Center, closed yesterday, as did its ancillary Doghouse Burgers shop. Contacted this morning, Firecreek owner Kevin Silverang said the spot - on an interior "loop road" in the Voorhees Town Center development - did not generate the anticipated foot traffic. The Firecreek/Doghouse in Downingtown, whose future also had been the subject of speculation, will remain open, Silverang told me.
Voorhees Town Center has started a farmer's market on site on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noonl, through Oct. 27.
The Sixers are getting love from five traditionally Irish eateries, which are giving up their Celtic spirit today.
The Plough & the Stars in Old City is going by The Plough & the Sixers
Fado: Traditional Irish Fare in Center City > Fado: Traditional Sixers Fans
McGillin's Olde Ale House in Center City > Spirit of 76 Olde Ale House
Irish Pub (both in Center City) > Sixers Pub
During this series, McGillin's, er, Spirit of 76 will serve pints of Pabst Blue Ribbon for $1.76 and has created the drink Hoops and Hops, a shot of Seagram's 7 dropped into a pint of 6points Ale (76).
Bravo is sending its customized “Top Chef” 18-wheeler around the country, and it will stop at JFK Plaza on May 30 with chefs Jennifer Carroll of Philly facing her Season 6 rival Eli Kirshstein of Atlanta in a series of cooking battles in front of a panel of judges and audience members.
Shows will start at 10:30 a.m., noon and 1:30 p.m. It's free to watch.
In addition to the battles, people can participate in on-site activities, including: a “Top Chef”-themed Cornhole Toss; Tip the Scale, where fans will be tasked with putting items in order of weight; and a “Top Chef” Horseshoe Toss.
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