Table Talk | Murray's Deli in W. Chester redone as a steakhouse
West Chesterians should be familiar with the crew behind the new Pietro's Prime (125 W. Market St., 484-760-6100). Marisa Powell, who owns the handsome steakhouse/martini bar with her husband, Sean, is a Giunta, and Giunta's Market was part of the local scene for decades until 2005. Pietro is the name of her grandfather, a butcher who emigrated from Italy in 1908. Marisa's father, Frank, works with the couple.
West Chesterians should be familiar with the crew behind the new
Pietro's Prime
(125 W. Market St., 484-760-6100).
Marisa Powell, who owns the handsome steakhouse/martini bar with her husband, Sean, is a Giunta, and Giunta's Market was part of the local scene for decades until 2005. Pietro is the name of her grandfather, a butcher who emigrated from Italy in 1908. Marisa's father, Frank, works with the couple.
They took over Murray's Deli earlier this summer. Aside from moving the bar, adding restrooms and some minor touches, it's pretty much as it was - amazing how exposed bricks can serve a steakhouse as well as a deli. Marisa Powell says she doesn't want it to be stuffy; hence, tan tablecloths, not white.
It's between the existing Chester County Courthouse and the justice center under construction down the street. They've brought in Tami Oelkrug, formerly at Dilworthtown Inn, to work with Sean Powell in the kitchen. It's open for lunch Mondays through Saturdays, dinner nightly; dinner entrees are mostly in the $20s, ranging from $15 for grilled salads to $48 for a 32-ounce porterhouse. It will get its breads and some desserts from Carlino's Market, opening soon across the street.
What's new
Tomorrow is the expected debut of
Cochon
(801 E. Passyunk Ave., 215-923-7675), the country-French BYOB that replaced Cafe Sud at Passyunk and Catharine in Queen Village. (It shares the broad intersection with Trattoria Alla Costiera and Little Fish, and is across the way from La Golosa, the cafe under construction across the street in the former Dessert.) Cochon's homey, basic decor takes advantage of the building's wall tile and mosaic floor. Chef-owner Gene Giuffi, a vet of Davio's, Pasion, Nan and La Boheme, will offer such second courses as braised lamb shank, Cornish game hen, and pork chops, priced about $18 to $23. It's cash-only.
A Sofia indeed is behind Kuzina by Sofia, a Greek BYOB, which recently joined the mini-United Nations of restaurants in Cherry Hill's Sawmill Shopping Center (404 Route 70 East, 856-429-1061) - that is, Masil (Korean), Nagoya (Japanese), Bobby Lou's Brew (teahouse), and Saladworks (guess that's American). Chef-owner Sofia Karakasidou is doing dishes from her native Thessaloniki - simple, grilled meats and fish - but "none of the sautees and [stuff] you usually find around here at Greek restaurants," says her husband, Assad Khoury. The simple dining room is decorated with peach walls and glass-topped white tablecloths; dinner entrees top out at $24.95 for lamb chops. It's open for lunch and dinner daily.
Vincent Fanari, chef at Old City's The Plough & the Stars since its opening, has joined his partner Beth Malesich in Dream Cuisine Cafe, a Euro BYOB, in Cherry Hill's Village Walk (1990 Route 70 East, 856-751-2800). Dream Cuisine, a cozy affair with red-covered chairs, bold walls and an open kitchen, represents a homecoming of sorts for Fanari. He was born in Nice, so his food has a French bent. Also, he and Malesich live nearby. They're serving lunch and dinner Tuesdays through Saturdays, with top entrees only in the low $20s.
The area's first Pei Wei Asian Diner, a fast-casual offshoot of P.F. Chang's Asian Bistro, is due to open Monday in Springfield Square (950 Baltimore Pike, Springfield, Delaware County). The next one is scheduled to open Oct. 22 at 4040 City Ave., next to the new Target. Pei Wei (that's "PAY way") specializes in made-to-order, pan-Asian wok dishes from an open kitchen; nearly half its business is takeout, and the average check is about $9.
Briefly noted
As reported last week on "Food & Drinq," The Inquirer's new food blog, chef Todd Lean has closed
Mandoline
, his BYOB in Old City. Lean this week started as chef at
Deuce
in Northern Liberties. The new occupant of Mandoline's space will be a Korean BYOB.
Cheeseburger in Paradise, across from Exton Mall, has added lunch daily.
Oceanaire's new executive chef is David Wiederholt, who's worked at an assortment of local restaurants - most notably the late Bleu on Rittenhouse Square.
Table Talk |
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