Table Talk | Xochitl is set to bloom on South Second St.

Steven Cook of West Philly's Marigold Kitchen says he was going for a modern take on traditional Mexico with the look of his new

Xochitl

, which opened last night across from the Head House Square shambles (408 S. Second St., 215-238-7280).

Dionicio Jimenez, a native of Puebla, is in charge of the kitchen, and entrees range from $15 to $25.

Guacamole ($8) is made tableside. Parrillada for two ($39) is a mixed grill of pork, shrimp, duck, blood sausage and melted Chihuahua cheese, served with corn tortillas.

There's a warm, intimate 30-seat dining room and mahogany bar on the first floor, and a sexy lounge in the basement. (The building is not handicapped-accessible.) Lots of tequila on the menu.

It's open Tuesdays through Sundays for dinner and bar; a late-night menu ($7 to $15) comes out until closing.

What's with the name? Xochitl - say it like "so cheet" - was the daughter of a nobleman in 11th-century Mexico, and her name means "flower." She's credited with inventing pulque, the fermented juice of the agave plant, an early forerunner of tequila. (Make sure you tell that to your cab driver, who'll wonder why you're ordering him to cheat.)

Narberth's newcomer is

Margot

(232 Woodbine Ave., 610-660-0160), an intimate, candlelit BYOB run by first-time restaurateur Margot McGinley. She's partnered with John Mims, who previously had Carmine's Creole Cafe in the space. (Carmine's, in an expanded incarnation complete with a blues bar, is looking for a Tuesday rollout at 818 W. Lancaster Ave. in Bryn Mawr.) McGinley says she devised Margot's new-American menu, which chef David Manion is executing. Entrees are $15 to $28. It's open Tuesdays through Saturdays. Neat feature: A take-out window in the alley should be open next week.

New pan-Asian BYOB in King of Prussia: It's the Blue Dolphin (240 N. Gulph Rd., 610-337-0221), next to the Ruth's Chris steak house. Owner is the Yin family, which also runs Hunan Village in Abington. The Blue Dolphin's exterior is reminiscent of the building's previous uses as a Denny's and as King of Prussia Diner, but inside it's handsome, with dark woods. It's open daily from lunchtime through late night. Lunch specials run $7 to $9, and the rest of the menu is moderately priced. Entrees top out at $20, though Peking duck is $30. It's BYOB, until a liquor license is in hand.

Murray's Baederwood

, which dished deli to the Jenkintown/Abington crowd since 1964, closed New Year's Eve. A note on the door cited a deterioration of the business climate after the 2005 sale of Baederwood Plaza to Brandolini Companies, a developer based in Berwyn. Abington Township and Baederwood occupants have been waiting for Brandolini to unveil a plan for the center, anchored by Whole Foods along the Fairway. Brandolini development director Rodger A. Bucchianeri said a plan was forthcoming. Murray's Baederwood - unrelated to the Murray's Delis in Bala Cynwyd and West Chester - is not expected to resurface elsewhere.

Hershel's East Side Deli - which cites Katz's in New York in its heritage - is about three weeks away from opening in Reading Terminal Market's Center Court area.

Also on the horizon: A branch of

Mexican Post

in Three Parkway at 16th and Cherry Streets - which I first mentioned in this space back in August 2005 - will soft-open Jan 26-ish.. . .

The Table

, a new-American BYOB from Liberties alumnus Duran Smith, is up for a Jan. 23 opening at 223 South St., where Next was.

All six Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant locations have gone smoke-free.

Chris Dhimitri, formerly of Chris' Jazz Cafe and most recently at Cherry Hill's Olive, now manages food and beverage at Oyster Bay Beach Resort on St. Maarten.