Catching up on a few restaurant plans.
Included here are some projects that are new on the radar screen. And -- for the heck of it -- I took a look at a slew of the eateries that fall into the "will they ever open?" department:
How's this for quick-quick-quick: Ekta, the Fishtown Indian BYOB, will be opening at the former Cafe Fresko (1003 Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr) on Thursday (2/18) -- only 10 days after settlement. Same menu. Lunch and dinner every day.
Floret, the successor to Pond/Passerelle at 175 King of Prussia Rd. in Radnor, soft-opens tonight. The Euro-style restaurant was supposed to open in December but ran into some management issues. The chef who had been affiliated with the project -- chef Dan Kremin (ex-Barclay Prime, Buddakan) -- bowed out. Scott Morrison (Tango) is running it now with Bill Shapiro (BLT's Cobblefish); chef is Dave Walti (ex-Spence Cafe). Entrees are $15 to $19, and for now, it'll be open every night except Sundays.
Katie Cavuto Boyle, alumna of The Next Food Network Star, says she will open Healthy Bites To-Go Market Cafe at 2521 Christian St. on Friday (2/19). Details here. (City Paper's "Mealticket" got inside for photos.)
The pieces of a major Manayunk deal are coming together: Joe Scarpone of Agiato Bread Company (4351 Main St.), a free-standing bakery, is hoping to start baking in the middle of next week. The project is related to a paninoteca/wine bar, Agiato, a few doors away at 4359 Main St., which is on hold pending an appeal of a zoning decision. Once the bakery opens, work will proceed on Main Street Market at Main and Grape Streets.
City Tap House, the more stylish sibling of Public House, Mission Grill, and Field House, is looking at "late February/early March" for its primo spot in the Radian at 39th and Walnut.
Franco's Osteria -- Franco Faggi's relocation from his spot in East Falls across the Schuylkill to the ground floor of the Presidential on City Avenue -- is targeting the "middle of next week," as in Feb. 24.
The Dmitri's in Northern Liberties is targeting Feb. 24-ish.
HeadHouse, the successor to Zot, is looking at late February/early March.
Savvas, an upscale pizza-bar-restaurant at 3501 Lancaster Ave., is targeting early March. Owner Savvas Navrosidis is an investor in Fare, the good-for-you project coming to 2028 Fairmount Ave. in April.
Wishing Well, positioned as a neighborhood joint, is looking at early March at Ninth and Catharine Streets in South Philly, formerly Pat Bombino's. Owners plan to source ingredients from shops in the Italian Market and -- in a novel twist -- donate proceeds from sales of well shots to community groups. Signature dish will be a S.H.A.M.E. burger, based on at least one hamburger patty, fried egg, cheese, and housemade scrapple served on a toasted bun.
Landmark Americana, the sports bar at Drexel's new rec center (3333 Market St.), is saying March.
How about 943, the Argentine-Italian restaurant at 943 S. Ninth St. Owner Pat Cancelliere, who started work here last June, says it's 95 percent complete but he had to hire a new general contractor to fix work that previous contractors had botched. Two more months, maybe? Meanwhile, he runs M, at the Morris House on Eighth Street.
Fare, the good-for-you restaurant/bar at 2028 Fairmount Ave. (fka Meze), is targeting early April.
Nothing really new on Sticks & Stones, a restau-bar at 1909 E. Passyunk Ave. -- which has been in the works for so long, my first mention of it is not available on the Web anymore. Owner Nick Miglino, formerly of Felicia's, said he also is undoing problems with contractors' work and said he was proceeding with construction at his own pace.
Nothing new on a planned revival of Hu-Nan in Ardmore, which was damaged in a fire last fall.