Michael Klein: Two new spots opening in Conshohocken

Two newcomers in Conshohocken are on opposite ends of town and approach.

Isabella, a polished but casual Mediterranean, opens Thursday in a former shot-and-a-beer at 382 E. Elm St. (484-532-7470) under local developer Tom Richter. He has installed restaurant veteran Peter Dissin (Henry's and Crazy Horse Saloon, to name two from many years ago) and chef Michael Cappon (whose past includes Marathon and El Vez). Isabella is a knocked-out bi-level with vaulted ceilings and huge windows. Downstairs, the dining room features Neapolitan pizza (mozzarella made in-house and, get this, the oven is outside) and modestly priced Spanish-inspired small plates, plus six entrees ($11 for a Kobe burger, up to $22 for a New York strip steak) - and plenty of gluten-free options. See menu at http://go.philly.com/isabellamenu. Bar includes craft beers, grappa, and a small wine list. Upstairs is a dance studio, where they'll do lessons. It's open nightly.

Opening in the next couple of weeks is 8 East, an American bistro/pub under construction for eons in the former Toad's at 8 E. First Ave., next to Spamps and Spampinato's. Brad Craig and Bob Storti are setting up an accessible menu of moderately priced salads, sandwiches/burgers, appetizers, and entrees, plus 23 beers on draft, 20-plus by the bottle, and cocktails.

As noted at the Conshy-centric site MoreThanTheCurve.com, the town seems to be thriving.

Coming along shortly is El Limon Taqueria, a budget Mexican pairing a small dining room and a Mexican grocery at 103 Fayette St.

Maloney's Pub has set up at the Old Mansion House at 641 Old Elm St. as a branch of the Maloney brothers' original location in Bryn Mawr, and a Five Guys Burgers & Fries is coming to the Plymouth Square Shopping Center at the corner of Butler and Ridge Pikes.

South Philly's Green Eggs Cafe has opened its second location, at 719 N. Second St. in Northern Liberties (215-922-3447). It's similar to Dickinson Street in menu, casual breakfast-lunch-brunch approach, and comfy seating.

Bliss, on Broad Street, has installed as chef Dan O'Hara, whose background at age 24 includes stints at Smith & Wollensky and the former Twenty21. Bliss has expanded operation on Saturdays and Sundays to include lunch and dinner.

Michael DiBianca has retooled Moro in Wilmington, opting now for simple Euro-inspired farm-to-table cooking and a farmhouse-chic atmosphere, complete with a manually operated, fire-engine red Berkel slicer in the dining room. Prices are moderate, with starters between $7 and $14, and top entrees in the mid-$20s.