Feeding Frenzy

Restaurants opening, closing and pending

by Drew Lazor

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Published: Sep 16, 2008

NOW SEATING

"It was awful," says Jimmy Herman of the Penalty Box, the Front-and-Thompson Kenzo dive that now houses his new bar, Kung Fu Necktie. Part-owned by Erik Foss and Dave Schwartz of NY's Lit Lounge, the fully remodeled KFN takes aim at the area's music/art faithful. There's a brand-new stage on the main floor (booker Steven James is waiting on his PA before shows start), the upstairs is being converted into a gallery and an entirely separate basement bar is in the works, as well. The eight-beer tap system currently features the likes of Flying Fish, Brooklyn, Victory, Tröegs, Stoudt's and PBC.

This 250-seat offshoot of the Roxborough "Santa Fe steakhouse" (4550 Mitchell St.) opened on Sept. 7. Décor (holler @ the cow skull), food and drink are largely the same as Adobe Uno, with menu items like steak tips with smoked jalapeño mayo, homemade tamales, etc. GM Jason Ladd, who tended bar at the original for a decade, says there's talk of converting the second floor of the space into a venue for jazz nights. Hours are Mon.-Thu., 4-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 3-11 p.m.; and Sun., 2-9:30 p.m.

No, that Indian restaurant at 13th and Walnut is not a hologram. Touch it. It's living and it's breathing and it's Minar Palace, and after close to a year of agonizing delays, it's finally open. Version 2.0 of the restaurant (the Sansom Street original closed in 2006) is again helmed by father/son team Tarsem and Davinder Singh, who've kept the original menu intact. Typical Minar order over at Feeding Frenzy HQ: goat vindaloo, shrimp nirgisi, chana masala, keema paratha. Now you try. Seriously, they're open.

LITTLE VITTLES

>> Le Virtù (1927 E. Passyunk Ave., 215-271-5626, levirtu.com) has introduced an outdoor beer garden with picnic table seating and a grilled-fare menu.

>> The first kinda-near-Center-City location of Chipotle is up for mid-December in the Radian building at 39th and Walnut.

>> Speaking of burritos: The long-awaited second location of El Fuego (2104 Chestnut St.) will have its grand opening Mon., Sept. 22.

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