Table Talk: A Mexican uprising in Northern Liberties
¡Uno dos tres! Looks like a Mexican revolution is about to blow in Northern Liberties. Dave Frank and Stephen Simons (Royal Tavern, Cantina Los Caballitos) let on that Cantina Dos Segundos is the name of their project in the former Azure (931 N. Second St.), and they hope to open mid-month. They're going for vivid colors and a candlelit int
¡
Uno dos tres
!
Looks like a Mexican revolution is about to blow in Northern Liberties.
Dave Frank and Stephen Simons (Royal Tavern, Cantina Los Caballitos) let on that
Cantina Dos Segundos
is the name of their project in the former Azure (931 N. Second St.), and they hope to open mid-month. They're going for vivid colors and a candlelit interior, much like Cantina - which opened two summers ago on East Passyunk near 12th Street. Chef Mark McKinney's daily specials will focus on regional Mexican cuisine, such as Mexico City, Veracruz, Oaxaca and Michoacán; he was chef de cuisine at the now-closed ¡Pasión! The name has "pun" written all over it - as
dos segundos
means two seconds, the bar is on Second Street, and it is the owners' second cantina. It will be open nightly; weekend brunch will start shortly after opening.
Up the street, meanwhile, Bar Ferdinand's Owen Kamihira and crew are working on
El Camino Real
, the Mexican "border bar," for an August opening in the former Deuce at 1030 N. Second.
As for
tres
: The week of July 20 is the targeted opening of
Distrito
, Jose Garces' Mexico City-themer at 3945 Chestnut St., at the Hub.
Indian boom
King of Tandoor
, one of the city's posher Indian restaurants, is new at 1824 Callowhill St. (215-568-0750) in Franklintown, down the block from Sabrina's and a few doors from the still-under-construction Kite & Key Tavern. Owner Mohammed Islam, who also has Joy Indian restaurant in Flatbush, Brooklyn, emphasizes lamb and chicken dishes on his menu; most entrees are $12.95 to $14.95 and there are "box lunches" to go ($10.95 and $11.95). It's open daily for lunch and dinner.
The return of
Minar Palace
seems about two weeks away as the Singh family earlier this week was waiting for the Philadelphia Gas Works to arrive at 1304 Walnut St. to hook up lines. Next steps will be health and building inspections. Minar built a cult following in its 15 years at 1605 Sansom St. before the Singhs lost their lease in July 2006 in the name of redevelopment. See the new Minar dinner menu at
» READ MORE: http://go.philly.com/foodanddrinq
.
Au Bon Pain
will be the new occupant of the former Champions sports-bar space in the Philadelphia Marriott's Market Street side. The megahotel across from the Convention Center recently upgraded its lounge and renamed it
Circ
, and it revamped and renamed its restaurant, Allie's American Grill; it's now
13
, after the original colonies.
Green pizza
Tony A's
locations in Conshohocken and Spring House, and
Tony Roni's
at 4504 City Ave. will give patrons $1 off of their pizzas for recycling their pizza boxes. "I was standing in the grocery store last weekend watching customers bring in their own bags, and thought, 'Why can't I do this?'" says owner Tony Altomare. The program is called BYOB, as in bring your own box.
Briefly noted
Kujaku
, the pan-Asian that opened in January at 17th Street and Ben Franklin Parkway, has closed.
The Old City District has followed the Center City District into the discount game as selected restaurants/bars offer $4 cocktails, $3 wine, $2 beers and appetizer specials from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursdays through Sept. 11; some retailers stay open till 9 p.m. The list is at
» READ MORE: www.oldcitydistrict.org
. The Center City District does the same thing Wednesdays through Aug. 27.