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Al Paris' Mantra to reopen Feb. 11 as Bar Amalfi
Al Paris' Mantra to reopen Feb. 11 as Bar Amalfi
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Chef Al Paris, who opened Mantra at 18th and Sansom in 2006, is closing the restaurant this weekend to reconceptualize it as Bar Amalfi, a casual, wine-friendly Italian neighborhood spot. "This concept is very dear to me," says Paris of the pan-Asian idea. "But there's a reconfiguring of the marketplace here in Philadelphia. If people want Asian, they're going back to their favorite Asian restaurants in Chinatown."
In other words, people like it when you stick to your roots. So that's what Paris is doing — he's Italian by heritage, and his other restaurant, Ninth Street's Pat Bombino's, is a nod to that. Amalfi, named after the city in Salerno, will carry a slightly more "delicate" feel than Bombino's, Paris says, with a definite nod toward seafood — think mussels cinzano (garlic, sweet vermouth, leek, tomatoes, parsley) and salmon capri (in a puttanesca with pignoli nuts) in addition to standbys like chicken and eggplant parm, skillet-fried homemade mozzarella and a mozzarella caprese salad. Meat choices will include pulled short rib ravioli, braised beef brasato and and a sausage and polenta dish. They'll be doing a 30-bottle wine list, with 12 by the glass, in addition to a retro cocktail list that'll feature classics like Sidecars and Gimlets.
You might remember reading about how Paris painstakingly built Mantra with his bare hands. But he's not sweating the transition too much — much of the tiling and woodwork is not Asian-specific, he points out, so they're focusing mostly on easily swappable augmentations like artwork, paint (the walls'll become an apricot color) and plateware.
Grand reopening is this coming Wednesday, Feb. 11. It'll just be dinner at first, but Paris adds that he's considering opening for lunch Thursday to Saturday in the near future.
UPDATE: Check out a draft of the menu after the jump.
RELATED: Don't Forget Paris: The behind-the-scenes man of the restaurant scene finally comes into his own.
Appetizers
Mussels Cinzano $9
Roast garlic • sweet vermouth • tomato • leeks • olive oil • parsley
Calamari Fritti $10
Cut fresh • lightly breaded• green beans • red onions • rosemary aioli
Homemade Skillet Fried Mozzarella $8
Fresh Mozzarella • tomato • Caper vinaigrette
Pulled Short rib Ravioli $11
Ricotta Ravioli • short rib • Barolo Ragu • Onion Raisin Jam
Eggplant Rollantini $8
Roast eggplant • goat cheese • Parmesan • mozzarella • marinara
Tuna Tartar Amalfitana $10
Fresh cut tuna • bruschetta toast • tomato • basil • onion cruda
Honey Balsamic Suckling Ribs $9
Slow roasted • grilled with 20yr balsamic glaze
Chicken & Tortellini en Brodo $6
Light broth • chicken • tortellini pasta • carrots • escarole
Grey Goose Shrimp Cocktail $12
Cool poached King Shrimp • vodka • lime • cocktail Sauce
Salads
Italian Green Salad $6
Arugula • Radicchio • Romaine • Escarole • tomato • white balsamic & evoo
Bar Amalfi Chopped Salad $9
Italian greens • peppers • sharp provolone • salami tomato • chick peas • red onion $9
The Caesar Salad $7
Crisp Romain Hearts • garlic croutons • classic dressing
Roast Pepper & Mozzarella Caprese Salad $9
Fresh Mozzarella • Black Olive • Onion Caper • basil • Olive Oil
Warm Chicken Cutlet Salad $10
Arugula • parmesan • tomato • onion • olive toss • honeyed balsamic
Mediterranean Seafood Salad $14
Mussels • shrimp • tuna • calamari • Crab • basil Onion • olive oil • grilled lemon
Venetian Poached Salmon Salad $10
Pickled Onion • caper • Romaine lettuce • white balsamic
Pasta
Neapolitan Spaghetti and Meatballs $13
Homemade meatballs • gravy and shaved pecorino cheese
Rigatoni with Shortrib Bolognese $17
Crimini mushrooms • Chianti • tomato sauce
Tortellini a la Vodka $15
Prosciutto • sun dried tomato• red onion • Vodka • garlic cream
House made Goat Cheese Gnocchi $16
Light dumplings • red gravy • tomato cruda • mozzarella • basil
Cavatelli Sweet Sausage & Escarole $14
Smashed chic peas • pepper flakes • extra virgin olive oil
Classic Linguini & Clams $16
Chopped clams • broth • orevieto • garlic • extra virgin olive oil • herbs
Lobster Ravioli with King Shrimp $19
Green beans • little red tomatoes • basil • extra virgin olive oil
Calabrese Seafood Risotto $21
Seared shrimp • crab • mussels • calamari • Rosa sauce
Specialties
Sausage & Polenta $12
Italian fennel sausage • peppers & polenta
Eggplant or Chicken Parmgiana $13
Lightly breaded • sautéed crisp • marinara • Mozzarella • Parmesan • spaghetti
Chicken Scallopine a la Marsalla $15
Sauteed Marinated Chicken • Mushrooms • rosemary • Linguini
Roman Roast Tuna Mignon $16
Seared & sliced with caper • raisins • crispy Ravioli
Herb Grilled Salmon Capri $16
Sauce Putanesca • garlic • green beans • pignoli nuts
Braised Beef Brasato $18
Tender Brisket • vinegar • peppers on polenta
Orange Honey Glazed Pork Chops $17
Fire grilled bruschetta • arugula salad
Desserts
Chocolate Raisin Bread Pudding $6
Served warm with Frangelico cream
Strawberry Tiramisu Martini $6
Whipped cream • mascarpone • ladyfingers • fresh strawberries
Sophia’s Cheesecake Brulee $6
Creamy cheesecake • burnt sugar • Orange Sauce
Amalfi Homemade Cannoli $5
Crispy pastry shell with Sicilian Cream
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