Table Talk: BYOB newcomers ramping up N. Wayne Ave.
Neapolitan North Wayne Ave. North Wayne Avenue has always been a worthy dining destination (Xilantro, Matador, Teresa's, Christopher's, La Cucina Di Paola). Two BYOB newcomers on either side of the street are ramping up the Neapolitan quotient.
North Wayne Avenue has always been a worthy dining destination (Xilantro, Matador, Teresa's, Christopher's, La Cucina Di Paola). Two BYOB newcomers on either side of the street are ramping up the Neapolitan quotient.
There's Vecchia Pizzeria (134 N. Wayne Ave., 484-580-6135), a Main Line outlet for Frank Nattle's Phoenixville pizza emporium. Nattle and new business partner Tim McGowan hired a Neapolitan craftsman to build the oven and retained Berzinsky Architects to create an Old World-meets-contemporary look. Menu is just pizza and salad. It's open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Ardé Osteria (133 N. Wayne Ave., 484-580-6786) has not only wood-fired pizzas, but also charcuterie and cheese plates served from a salumi and mozzarella bar, pastas, and entrees priced in the $20s. Backstory: About three years ago, pizzeria owner Pino DiMeo heeded the wishes of his son, Antimo, and opened a high-level Neapolitan eatery, Pizzeria DiMeo's, in Andorra Shopping Center, taking on Scott Stein as partner. At Ardé ("blaze"), the contemporary dining room has subway tiles and large murals. For the year or so that Arde has been in the works, Antimo DiMeo has been in Naples working for Gennaro Esposito at the two-Michelin-star La Torre Del Saracino. Arde is open daily for lunch and dinner.
What's new
Loco Pez (2401 E Norris St.), the Mexican-theme bar in Fishtown, has opened a bottle shop and lunch spot next door. Pez Veloz sells tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tortas, and the like at the counter. Lunch is on from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, with dine-in till 3:30 p.m. The bottle shop serves six- and 12-packs, as well as takeout food, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. After 10 p.m., food and beer are available at the bar till 1 a.m.
Rash of openings
Three high-profile restaurants are on the way this month. Mere days away is Brigantessa, the Southern Italian from Le Virtù's crew at 1520 E. Passyunk Ave. V Street, the bar from Vedge's Richard Landau and Kate Jacoby at 126 S. 19th St., is targeting mid-month. Marc Vetri and partners are looking at Oct. 27 for the opening of Lo Spiedo, an Italian rotisserie specialist, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. A second Pizzeria Vetri is on the way for spring; it will be on Chancellor Street, behind the Icon 1616 building (1616 Walnut St.).
Dan Creskoff, a former manager for TLA Video, has the blockbuster idea of twinning a coffee shop and arty-video-rental shop. He hopes to open CineMug at 1607 S. Broad St. this fall.
UrbanFarm, being readied for a winter opening at 20th and Ludlow Streets (10-12 S. 20th St.), will have a healthful bent. Owners plan a roof bar as well as what they call a "market-style" dining experience, where consumers walk through a line, choose food, and pay by weight.
Briefly noted
The days are numbered for David Ralic's nearly two-year seafood run at 117-119 South St. Headhouse Crab & Oyster Co., which opened in late 2012 as Ralic's on South, will close soon, as Ralic won't renew his lease. He said he was looking for a new spot.
Paris Bistro in Chestnut Hill has added Monday dinners.