L’anima: Italian BYOB in South Philly from Melograno duo
Theme is Roman seafood, and menu is priced for the neighborhood.
L'anima — "the soul" — is the third Italian BYOB restaurant for Rosemarie Tran and chef Gianluca Demontis, who own Center City's Melograno and Bryn Mawr's Fraschetta.
They've taken the never-before-occupied ground-floor space in Carpenter Square, at the corner of 17th and Carpenter Streets (215-595-2500).
Tran designed the interior, going with clear lines, fieldstone, and fluffy, whimsical light fixtures resembling sea anemones. Ribbon-cutting by the Goldenberg Group, the developers, will be 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 2.
L'anima's theme is Roman seafood.
Though Demontis did not wish to share the menu before the opening Thursday, June 28, I got a look.
It includes a Caprese of Buffalo mozzarella, marinated anchovies, roasted tomatoes, and onion basil oil; swordfish and lardo skewers over garlic bruschetta; and grilled snails as appetizers; pastas including squid-ink gnocchetti and vaccinara (papparadelle with oxtail stew); his signature Roman-style pinsas (a pizzalike flatbread); and entrees such as spigola-roasted sea bass, porchetta, and strip steak served with cacio e pepe fries (the pricest entree, at $29).
Apps are $9-$14, pastas and pinsas $15-$17, entrees $24-$29.
Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday; weekend brunch is on the way.