Restaurant notes: Fathom gets closer; Khyber comes back

Props for cleverness go to Mike Stollenwerk of fish, who is about two weeks from opening Fathom Seafood House at Girard Avenue and Shackamaxon Street in Fishtown. The name initially was Fathom Seafood Bar, but "House" makes the initials so much closer to "f-i-s-h."

The Khyber is returning as ... the Khyber Pass Pub. After months of hemming and hawing, operators of the Old City landmark (56 S. Second St.) are relaunching Nov. 9, with a grand opening Nov. 18. In a statement, operators say the Southern-influenced pub will have a 20-tap beer system with a rotating draft beer menu and many bottles. There also will be two cask ales served on beer engines. Now, you may ask, what is to become of Todd Dae Kulper, the Japanese chef who was supposed to turn the Khyber into an izakaya? He's still on board, as management intends to open a Japanese bar in Center City. A lease has not been signed, but owner Stephen Simons tells me that the location in play is the former Genji at 1720 Sansom St.
 
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