Michael Klein

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Michael Klein, editor/producer of philly.com/Food, writes about the restaurant scene in his Inquirer column, Table Talk. Have a question? E-mail it, and he'll answer in print or on his blog.

Read Michael's blog The Insider
Latest post: Jerry's Bar, new from ground up - 05/20/2013

Wayne's upscale Xilantro to open this month

By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

05/04/2011

On this cinco de Mayo, the final touches are being put on Xilantro, an upscale, modern Mexican restaurant with an expansive tequila bar at 103 N. Wayne Ave. in Wayne, in anticipation of an opening within two weeks.

Owner Lorival Felix mans the pizza oven himself at Massa Pizza & Grill, a contemporary Italian-Portuguese BYO in Ambler.

Table Talk: May 13 debut for Starr's Frankford Hall

By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

04/27/2011

Stephen Starr is talking about a May 13 debut for Frankford Hall, his beer garden at 1208 Frankford Ave. in Fishtown. This will be a casual spot set up in a former commercial building whose interior brick walls were simply punched out to make doorways.

Table Talk: Mexican restaurant fills a void in Media 04/20/2011: By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

Media Borough may have had a wealth of dining options, as locals Greg Quintiliano and Alan Reh knew, but there was no Mexican restaurant.
Buy-it-then-bake-it pizza in Bryn Mawr 04/13/2011: By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

Fifteen years after creating the Peace A Pizza chain, Peter Howey and Aaron Nocks are going after a different slice: a bake-at-home shop opening next week called Bake 425 (1012 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, 610-525-6425).
Mango Moon closing; owner has fall plans 04/07/2011: By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

A bit of a shuffle is underway in Manayunk. Saturday will be the final night for Mango Moon, the exotic Thai street-fooder that Moon Krapugthong opened in late 2008 at 4161 Main St.
New BYOB in 'Mayberry' (a.k.a. Hatboro) 03/30/2011: By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

When three friends, all restaurant veterans, went shopping for a restaurant location, they toured and ruled out spots in Center City, Manayunk, and New Hope.
Utley does an adopt-an-animal ad 03/27/2011: By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley has done an adopt-an-animal ad for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and he'll unveil it at noon April 4 at Seger Dog Park, near 11th and Lombard Streets.
Inqlings: Brad Pitt could return to make film 03/24/2011: By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

Brad Pitt could be coming back here to work. If the stars align - and that means celestial bodies, even more than Hollywood big shots - Philly is in line to host shooting of the film adaptation of World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, the horror novel by Max Brooks.
A second Pepperoncini, in Phoenixville 03/23/2011: By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

Nearly six years ago, the Italian bar-restaurant Pepperoncini joined the restaurant boom in Conshohocken. This week, its second location is opening in another bustling burg: Phoenixville.
Exhibits at Union League 03/22/2011: By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

Seven score and nine years ago, the Union League opened to support the North in the Civil War. Starting June 16, the staunchly private club will open a section to the public. The Heritage Foundation, a center for Civil War research, programs, and exhibits, is being built on the ground level at Broad and Sansom Streets.
Ballpark Krimpets? Batter up! 03/20/2011: By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

The ad jingle "Nothing goes better with Phillies baseball than a Tastykake" will come true this season at Citizens Bank Park.
Schmidt angles for a contest 03/17/2011: By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

For Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, spring means working with the Phillies hitters, to be sure, but what it really means is that he'll be going fishing more.