Restaurant notes: The AKA Rittenhouse Square getting a restaurant
Contemporary vibe from Korman Communities and David Fields (ex-Salt).
Eighteenth Street just above Rittenhouse Square has been ablaze lately:
The Dandelion, 11 days old at 18th and Sansom. ... Serafina, under construction at 10 Rittenhouse and anticipating a spring opening... And now, here's the rundown on a restaurant coming to the AKA Rittenhouse Square on 18th Street, across from 10 Rittenhouse, in April.
Larry Korman of Korman Communities Inc. which owns the extended-stay property, is working with David Fields, who ran Salt on 20th Street, on what they're calling a neo-bistro. It's conceived to add an amenity for AKA residents as well as locals. It will occupy the former Le Bus store and Ben & Jerry's shop at the corner of Moravian Street.
They intend a casual-yet-sophisticated approach designed by Edward Asfour of NYC's Asfour Guzy (Blue Hill, Blue Ribbons, Spitzer's Corner), using white oak, patinated black steel, and warm lighting. Fields calls it Casa Mono meets Terroir Wine Bar, as he melds his two Lower Manhattan favorites.
From an open kitchen, there will be a 10-seat, marble-topped eating bar, tables facing the full-length, operable 18th Street windows (30 seats there), and an eight-seat drinking bar.
Kitchen will do cooked-to-order breakfast, which is important for AKA's residents, and lunch and dinner with an unfussy menu of bold flavors inspired by France, Spain, and Italy.
Stay tuned for name and chef.
In other Rittenhouse news... Zama, the Japanese spot on 19th Street, is opening a sushi bar in the lobby of the Shelborne Hotel in South Beach later this month.