Bye Bye Summer Staples

Hello New Fall restaurant openings!
Just as I was getting tired of the restaurant scene at the NJ shore, summer season ended and I was suddenly transported back to reality.
Good thing that there’s a slew of new restaurant openings to make the transition less painful.  Bad thing, I had planned on starting my diet like right now!
Since so many of you ask me where to dine when visiting Philadelphia, wanted to share a few new additions to my tried and true faves list like Abe Fisher, Zahav, Sampan, Vernick, Rouge and Alma de Cuba.  So read on for the new and noteworthy to try come September-ish…cheers!

From chef Michael Schulson (Izakaya, IBG, Sampan) Double Knot is a reference to the combo concept of coffee/curio shop upstairs and Japanese izakaya downstairs set to open this month at 120 S. 13th Street.  In my #foodie world, there really couldn’t be a better duo than coffee and sushi.
With sushi chef Kevin Yanaga from Izakaya at the helm, Double Knot is sure to be another MJS Restaurants winner!

Also on 13th, Greg Dodge opens a Mediterranean enoteca, Tredici which literally means ‘thirteen’ in Italian across from his flagship Zavino.
Looks like Philadelphia’s ‘Gayborhood’ is going to be happier than ever come Fall!

She’s baaack…
After 9 years in Radnor, Susanna Foo closed but as Foo says, “when one door closes, another opens.”
Foo and son Gabriel closed to focus on their next project, SuGa opening soon at 1720 Sansom Street.
SuGa marks Foo’s return to Center City with Chinese cuisine only this time, it’s not fusion…how modern of them!

Suddenly, Sansom Street is my one stop for all life’s necessities from Food and Footwear to Brazilian waxes and Blowous but I digress.

In recent years, East Passyunk Ave has blossomed into a bonafide restaurant row and now, eclectic global dining rooms are the culinary mainstay of this ever-evolving main street.  The latest epicurean destination is from chef Nicholas Elmi’s French-inspired BYOB, Laurel.  TV-watching foodies may recognize Chef Elmi from his appearance as one of 19 “cheftestants” on the 11th season of Bravo’s Top Chef, hosted in the 2nd greatest food city New Orleans.

Noord duo Joncarl Lachman and Bob Moysan’s French/North African bar/restaurant Neuf is set to open Wednesday, September 16th in the Italian Market.
Leading up to the opening, Lachman and Best of Philly winning bartender, Jesse Cornell (who will be the head man at Neuf) offered a preview at American Sardine Bar where they tested out several cocktails including a Cynar Sour and a riff on a cognac French 75.  While the wine will feature Southern French and even Moroccan offerings, Cornell will play around with French spirits and herbs and spice blends that will also be in the food.

Could Queen Village, the slice of South Philadelphia that’s also believed to be the oldest residential neighborhood in the city be the next “hot” restaurant area?  With 5 significant openings by fall, it could very well be.
One opening you might not have heard about is Fabric Row’s Hungry Pigeon (743 S. Fourth St.), a partnership of two longtime friends, chef Scott Schroeder (South Philadelphia Taproom, American Sardine Bar) and pastry chef/bread specialist Pat O’Malley (Balthazar Bakery) who met a decade ago at the former ¡Pasion! in Center City.
Hungry Pigeon will be a casual American restaurant – “playful and creative but not wacky,” said Schroeder.  Open for cafe-style breakfast and lunch and waiter service at dinner and yes, pigeon will be served.

Jose Garces retools his Cuban diner Rosa Blanca Cafe to be more of a…are you ready for this? A Cuban cafe!
Sometimes the best ideas are the first and simplest.  Re-opening soon at 707 Chestnut St.

And finally, if you find yourself outside the Center City limits, check out the following and let me know what you think cause chances are, I’ll never make it to any of these.

Lorenzo & Son’s (High and Gay Streets, West Chester), the South Street pizzeria heads into downtown West Chester.

Pour House (Route 309, Airport Square, North Wales), a branch of the popular South Jersey pub.

Besito (Suburban Square, Ardmore), a Main Line branch of a Long Island-rooted Mexican mini-chain, taking over the former Plate.

So much for my diet, I think I gained 5lbs just writing this.  I’m lying, it was last night’s Vernick #foodporn

Alya