Michael Klein: Fare is as good as its eco-friendly word

Back in 2009, lawyer David Orphanides and restaurateur Savvas Navrosidis were using such terms as organic, eco-friendly, healthful, and locavore to describe their restaurant/wine bar project at Fairmount Avenue and Corinthian Street in Fairmount.

That line of thinking - unusual just two years ago - is being tossed around everywhere now.

Fare, opening Thursday at 2028 Fairmount Ave. (267-639-3063), has made very good on its responsible-sounding promises, under general manager Robert Amar. Virtually every aspect of the modern decor (and chef Tim Bellew's moderate-priced menu of right-sized portions) is green: Light fixtures are reflectors from old traffic lights; carpets are made of recycled fiber; tables are made of recycled wood. Organics dot the wine and beer lists.

It's open daily for dinner; weekend brunch starts June 4. Menu and more details are here.

Buddies Aaron Matzkin and Dean Kitagawa have opened Rotisseur, a cafe-takeout in an address-less storefront on 21st Street south of Chestnut St. (215-496-9494). For now, their rotisserie is putting out all-natural chicken plus sides. More proteins will be rolled out in time. It's open in the evenings, and lunch will be added by the end of June.

Xilantro, the modern Mexican in downtown Wayne from Los Sarapes/El Sarape owner Luis Marin, opens next week at 103 N. Wayne Ave. Info is here.

Tony Rim, who owns Raw Sushi at 1225 Sansom St. (and The Corner at 13th and Chancellor), plans to open another Raw in the never-occupied Speck space at the Piazza at Schmidts in Northern Liberties. Its soft opening will be in early June, but he said he expects to keep odd hours as he refines the concept before opening for real at the end of June.

MilkBoy Coffee is eyeing early July for its new spot on the southwest corner of 11th and Chestnut Streets. Espresso bar; salad and sandwich menu.

August Moon, the Korean-Japanese mix in Norristown, has reopened, eight months after closing for renovations. It now has a serious sake program of about two dozen varieties.

Brown Betty Dessert Boutique has moved its flagship location from Liberties Walk to 722 N. Second St., coincidentally at Second and Brown. It's triple the size of the former spot.

LoBianco vacated its location on Powell Lane in Collingswood in a hurry last month at the end of its lease. It's now in a larger location in Margate.

The Farmers' Cabinet (1113 Walnut St.) now serves weekend brunch.

Burger Brawl will assemble 17 patty experts who will grill 'em up the afternoon of June 4 in the schoolyard of Meredith Elementary in Queen Village. It's a $60-a-head fund-raiser to cinch a computer lab for the school. Details are at www.philly.com/burgerbrawl.