Archive: September, 2012
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Adam Kanter took to Facebook to announce the closing of Rum Bar, his spirited Caribbean themer at 2005 Walnut St., after 5½ years.
Last call will be Saturday, Sept. 29.
"We were able to achieve a rare balance," he wrote. "Our concept was built to be 'Everything to some people' and what we ended up achieving was becoming 'Something to everybody.' Thank you all for this wonderful ride."
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Christopher Lee - who won four bells awhile back at the Starr-owned Striped Bass - is returning to Philly.
Of course he's going to East Passyunk, the hottest strip in town.
Lee and team will join Joe Massara at Salt & Pepper at 1623 E. Passyunk Ave., which is currently operating. Right now, Lee told me, they're in design phase and it's unclear when the restaurant will close and then reopen. He said the concept is still being fleshed out but would be a neighborhood place with "great food, tasty drinks, and friendly service."
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Entrepreneur Sarah Lockard was plugging away at her online lifestyle magazine AroundMainLine.com in early 2010, "pounding the pavement" looking for sales opportunities when she began considering the restaurants in her backyard.
"The big cities had already done it," she said. "But I saw that wealthy pockets in suburban areas [around the country] were starting to cook with restaurant weeks."
At the time, only the Center City District and the SJ Hot Chefs in New Jersey had regular, semiannual restaurant weeks, in which restaurants band together for marketing and advertising while offering prix-fixe meals.
Michael Klein, Philly.com
David Katz - consulting chef at Morgan's Pier and late of Center City's Meme - will be doing the I-295 shuttle as he has landed at the forthcoming Tavro 13 - the former Old Swedes Inn in Swedesboro. Katz will consult with Terence Feury at the opening in mid-October and will develop the wine list to be complement the menu. (Meme's next occupant will be the crew from Pub & Kitchen, as I reported the other day.)
Eric Paraskevas has been named executive chef of the forthcoming Bainbridge Street Barrel House, due to open next month at Sixth and Bainbridge Streets, across from Beau Monde. Paraskevas' resume includes the Happy Rooster, Continental, Lolita, Slate, and Terra. Its GM will be Agi Czapka, whose CV includes Paradiso, Fork, and Rae.
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Inquirer restaurant critic Craig LaBan returns to Le Bec Fin to see life under new owners Nicolas Fanucci and chef Walter Abrams. Review runs Sunday, Sept. 23 in the Arts & Entertainment section.
Earlier this year, LaBan dropped LBF - under outgoing owner Georges Perrier - from four bells to two.
What do you think he'll find?
- Poll: How many bells for the new Le Bec Fin? (146 votes)
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Triumph Brewing Co., the brewpub operating at 117 Chestnut St. for six years, is listed for sale with InnSite Hospitality Properties.
According to a flyer making the rounds, it's a turn-key operation including a 13,000-square-foot facility, al assets, liquor license, and brewing equipment. The listing claims $2.4 million annual sales ($1 million in beer alone) and says a "motivated seller" will consider all reasonable offers.
Asking price is $995,000.
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Deck the halls with meatballs.
The Haddon Heights Neighbors Night Out Committee is billing Sunday's alfresco spaghetti and meatball dinner as the world's largest - "or at least Haddon Heights' largest."
Michael Klein, Philly.com
It's not easy being a proper, old-guard dining club in the unbuttoned 2000s.
The Vesper Club, founded in 1941 and run over the years by the Tyrell and later the Harron families, earlier this year sold its landmark building on Sydenham Street (the alley between 15th and 16th) between Walnut and Locust Streets. The purchase price in January 2012 was $1.65 million, according to city documents.
The Vesper, which years ago was the Friday night dining destination of Frank Rizzo, was on a month-to-month lease with the buyers, who own Misconduct Tavern adjoining the property. Over the summer, the Vesper Club board emailed its members that Misconduct, seeking to expand, had broken through to the Vesper kitchen to increase the food-preparation capacity. This presented a challenge to Vesper's staff. The Vesper decided that moving was a viable option.
Michael Klein, Philly.com
One popular parlor game - at least among the nerds who play guessing games about vacant restaurants and their fates - is "Who will take over 2201 Spruce St.?"
That spot, once home of Melagrano, was Meme until late July, when chef David Katz opted out.
The closing sent a bunch of folks rushing to building owner Andrew Krouk. I hear that even Stephen Starr kicked the proverbial tires.
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Restaurant week season is upon us.
Through Sept. 22: New Jersey Restaurant Week. See site for participating restaurants.
Through Sept. 23: Conshohocken's More Than the Curve amasses a dozen or so restaurants for $30 and $35 prix-fixes.
