Table Talk: Waiting room? It's a wine bar

"Zavino's sophisticated sister" is how Greg Dodge bills the new Tredici Enoteca (114 S. 13th St., 267-928-2092) on the southwest corner of 13th and Sansom Streets in Midtown Village.

The wine bar was initially developed as a waiting room for the original Zavino, his pizza/wine bar across the street. But the concept evolved.

Chef Carlos Aparicio's Italian-inspired small- and medium-plate menu (no pizza) is built on sharing. Even wine - and the list is studded with premiums - is available in smaller pours.

Tredici's look is refreshingly sexy and grown-up: No Edison bulbs or reclaimed wood. John Weckerly of BoxWood Architects and Dodge executed a chic-meets-vaguely-industrial design, including an eight-seat bar and five-seat raw bar. There's open steel shelving and lavish use of light marble and curved Italian glass. Floor-to-ceiling doors open on the 13th Street side, facing Zavino. It's first-come, first-served, with reservations only for parties of seven or more, open for dinner only daily. Lunch will begin in January.

The next two months will bring a wide range of restaurant openings, from pubs to fancy. On Friday, there's the rollout of Craftsman Row Saloon, a reimagination of the old Coco's, the longtime Jewelers' Row bar (112 S. Eighth St.), at the hands of George and Vasiliki Tsiouris of Opa. Monday brings the rollout of Bernie's Restaurant & Bar (391 Highland Ave., Glenside), a relocation of Bernie's Pub in Oreland. Hungry Pigeon, a casual American from chef Scott Schroeder (South Philadelphia Taproom, American Sardine Bar) and pastry chef/bread specialist Pat O'Malley (Balthazar Bakery) at Fourth and Fitzwater Streets in Queen Village, is looking at a January opening. Late December should bring the opening of a fourth location of Circles Thai - at 8 Powell Lane in Collingswood. Susanna Foo and her son Gabe are looking at mid-January for the opening of Suga (1720 Sansom St.), her return to Center City with classic Chinese cooking in a polished atmosphere.

For its first Philadelphia location, the Beltway-based Peruvian chicken quick-serve Sardi's chose a storefront not 60 feet from the busy Boston Market on City Avenue, across from the Bala Shopping Center (4510 City Ave., 215-307-3658). Sardi's birds are marinated in such ingredients as olive oil, lime juice, garlic, and spices and then broiled over charcoal on a spit. Co-owner Louis Yiallouros said a second location would open in 2016 in a new building across from Tony Luke's on Oregon Avenue, off I-95, in South Philadelphia.

Justino Jimenez, a former Vetri line cook, bought Logan Square Pizza at 21st and Race Streets (215-496-9111). He has added tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and the like, and so it is now Logan Square Pizza & Cocina. It's open daily from lunchtime to late night. Jimenez sold Los Jimenez, the South Philadelphia taqueria that bears his name.

Now closed are Snockey's in Queen Village, whose family is selling the property after 103 years, and Derek's, the Manayunk mainstay that began as Sonoma, which was shuttered on the eve of its 24th anniversary.

More restaurant news at www.philly.com/mike