There's a new driving force behind the restoration of the Black Bass Hotel, a rustic, circa-1745 landmark along the Delaware River north of New Hope (3774 River Rd., Lumberville, 215-297-9260).

It's Doylestown auto dealer Jack Thompson, who bought the shuttered eight-room inn/restaurant in March 2008 and ordered a top-to-bottom renovation.

The hotel - now air-conditioned - reopened last week under chef John Barrett (who worked there previously), serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Breakfast is $24.95 per person, gratis for hotel guests. Lunch is under $15. There's a tavern menu served most days from midafternoon through dinnertime.

Entrees on the dinner menu run from $20.95 (red-beet ravioli with wild mushroom cream sauce) to $39.95 for a grilled dry-aged New York strip steak.

Thompson also owns the Lumberville General Store across the street, which serves as a cafe and bakery.

What's new

Luigi Basile (Radicchio, Bistro Juliana) recently moved Laceno Italian Grill into new quarters across the parking lot at Echelon Village Plaza, and the result is La Locanda (1120 White Horse Rd., Voorhees, 856-627-3700). Prices are lower, as he has focused on pizza from a wood-burning oven and a crudo of the day. It's still a BYO.

The Righi family, which owns Mama Yolanda's in South Philly, has ventured across the street with Righi's Café, a 50-seater at 743 S. Eighth St. (215-238-5755). Kim Righi-Spina and daughter Ashley are running the cafe, open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, dispensing breakfast fare (omelets, pancakes) and lunch stuff (wraps, cheesesteaks, pork sandwiches). Kim Righi-Spina still helps her mother, Delores, at Mama Yolanda's.

Meritage (20th and Lombard Streets) has hired Anne Elizabeth Coll, who was chef de cuisine at Susanna Foo on Walnut Street for nearly seven years before it closed last month. Coll, who previously cooked at Le Bec-Fin, officially starts Tuesday, says owner Michele DiPietro, who owns the bistro with Irene Landy. They still have to hash out the menu, though the concept and pricing will be aimed at the neighborhood. They're planning a short closure in August for renovation to expand the bar.

On the way

Tiffin, the Indian juggernaut that started on Girard Avenue and opened a branch last year in Mount Airy, is going into Elkins Square (8080 Old York Rd.) in Elkins Park. Owner Munish Narula would like to open in September or October. Next door to the original Tiffin (710 W. Girard Ave.), Narula is about two weeks from opening Tiffin Etc., an Indian pizzeria.

Jason and Delphine Evenchik of Time and Vintage in Washington Square West are venturing into 1309 Sansom St. (next to Time) with a neighborhood bar they'll call Bar. Simple, eh? "Straight-up, classic neighborhood bar," with games such as pool tables, dartboards and foosball. Plan is to open in October.

Leigh Maida and Brendan Hartranft, who own Memphis Taproom and Local 44, are taking over Yello'bar, which opened at 2425 Grays Ferry Ave. in April 2007. Resurrection Ale House's concept is "beer bistro," with 12 on tap and 50 (mainly Euro varieties) by the bottle. They also hope to open in October.

Briefly noted

Azie on Main, the new branch of the Media pan-Asian restaurant in the former Maia in Villanova, should be open late next week. Decor will be pretty much as it was under Maia.

Pickled Heron, the long, long-in-the-works American bistro from Ritz-Carlton alums Todd Braley and Daniela D'Ambrosio at 2218 Frankford Ave. in Fishtown, is now aiming for late summer.

October is the new target for Tap House at the Radian (39th and Walnut Streets).

Bella Luna in West Conshohocken, which closed in April for renovations that have been delayed, is serving its menu for lunch at its nearby sister restaurant, Stella Blu.

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Contact columnist Michael Klein at 215-854-5514 or mklein@phillynews.com. See real-time restaurant info at http://go.philly.com/insider.