Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard

Table Talk: Asian diner opens tomorrow in NoLibs

Tomorrow is the planned rollout of Ken Shin Asian Diner (301 Spring Garden St., 215-925-8887), at Third and Spring Garden Streets, across from Northern Liberties' Finnigan's Wake.

Tomorrow is the planned rollout of Ken Shin Asian Diner (301 Spring Garden St., 215-925-8887), at Third and Spring Garden Streets, across from Northern Liberties' Finnigan's Wake.

Restaurateur Kenny Poon, partnered with his brother Shin, envisions it as a casual but stylish BYO on the order of Pei Wei.

Menu runs the gamut of familiar Chinese, Vietnamese, and Japanese cuisines and dishes are priced at $10 and under. It's open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

What's new

Owners of Old City's Amici Noi have redone the place, renaming it Bocca (236 Market St., 215-625-6610), extending the bar, adding high-backed banquettes, broadening the Mediterranean menu to include tapas and small pizzas, and adding a post-10 p.m. DJ, six beers on tap. It's open from 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Deli time: The Center City branch of Cherry Hill's the Kibitz Room (1521 Locust St., 215-735-7305) opened Monday. It's open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, till 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays. Also in the corned-beef realm: The second location of Famous 4th Street Deli is up for July at 38 S. 19th St.

What's coming

David Garry and Heather Gleason of Center City's Good Dog are opening a spot called the Swift Half at the Piazza at Schmidt's, the new mixed-use development along Second Street south of Girard in Northern Liberties. "Upscale comfort food with a western European twist" is how Garry, a native of County Cork, describes it. Target is May 16. The "swift half," by the way, is that last gulp from your pint on your way out. Also in the complex: Vino, an Italian lounge, and Darlings, a diner, both due to open within weeks.

Briefly noted

Ansill in Queen Village now allows BYOB Tuesdays through Fridays in the dining room with no corkage fee. It's also offering a flashback to its predecessor, Judy's Cafe. Patrons get coupons good for 50 percent off the second entree of equal or lesser value when they return for dinner within two weeks. Ansill is closed Sundays and Mondays; happy hour has been extended to Saturdays from 6 to 8 p.m. at the bar.

Gilmore's in West Chester and the Fountain at the Four Seasons made OpenTable.com's list of its "best overall" restaurants nationally.

Positano Coast is starting a sidewalk cafe at Second and Walnut Streets, in addition to its open-air lounge on the second floor.