Farm & Fisherman adding second location
Josh Lawler has plans in Cherry Hill.
Here's a South Jersey shakeup:
Chef Joshua Lawler, riding high with his cozy, white-tablecloth Pine Street BYOB The Farm and Fisherman, is opening a second farm-to-tabler in Cherry Hill. Lawler and partners will set up at what is now Andreotti's Viennese Cafe at 1442 Route 70 East.
Andreotti's Marianne Andreotti, who also has the catering business at the Battleship New Jersey, says she plans to continue the catering side at an another location.
The deal came down simply, she said. "They came in for lunch one day and made me an offer I couldn't refuse," said Andreotti, whose father, Mark, opened in June 1983. She now owns it with chef Richard Marsh. "The timing was right."
Andreotti's is very much still open, pending the transfer of the liquor license, which is expected in June.
Why Cherry Hill?
"There are a lot of chains over here and not a lot of healthier options," Lawler, a Cherry Hill resident, told me.
Lawler and his wife, Colleen are expecting their third child.
He has families in mind with The Farm & Fisherman Tavern & Market. Though a natural extension of the Center City restaurant, The Farm & Fisherman Tavern & Market will be a more casual operation: a 100-seat tavern with a market selling seasonal and local products such as sustainably, humanely raised meats and fish, fair-trade coffees, craft beers, produce and cheeses. (Andreotti hopes Lawler will sell her signature cheese spread at the market.) Lawler has forged a great relationship with suppliers in his two years in business in Philly.
The tavern side will serve small plates, house-cured salumi and other snacks, entrees and family-style meals, craft beers, small-production wines and cocktails.
The timetable is not set, but Lawler hopes to open in the fall.
Farm & Fisherman review is here.