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Big restaurant dealings in Manayunk

Exclusive: Rittenhouse alum Matt Levin and Sovalo founder Joe Scarpone each has a project.

How about two respected chefs setting up in Manayunk?

Just met with Matt Levin and Joseph Scarpone, who each has a project underway on the upper end of Main Street. Both are partners with real estate developers Richard Rivera and Rob Nydick. Both are aiming at mid-fall.

Scarpone, who previously ran Sovalo, a polished, three-bell California-style bistro in Northern Liberties, is going into 4359 Main St. with a paninoteca/wine bar called agiato. It's formerly a store called Susan's New Attic. Think Le Pain Quotidien here: Setup will resemble a Tuscan cafe with a 10-seat community table and 20 other seats. Menu includes small plates, pressed sandwiches, salads, in-house-made mozzarella and breads, and a tight wine list of mainly Californians. It will be open from breakfast till late evening. Here's the menu.

Levin, formerly chef at Lacroix at the Rittenhouse, is going into a former building-supply store at 4445 Main St., next door to the fire station, with Rubb, which he describes as "no-rules, punk-rock barbecue" -- order at the counter, take it to your seat. Levin actually did BBQ at Lacroix -- "except I was making it like octopus and pepperoni." The space right now is a brick-walled shell. Levin says his more ambitious project, Masano, is still in development.

Check back later for photos.