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Friday, March 12, 2010
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Wishing Well Public House (Ninth and Catharine), which A.D. Amorosi told you about back in the fall, is ready to open — but their liquor license is lagging a bit behind. For the past few weeks, owners Chris Martino and Carmen Cappello (also the chef) have been hosting dry-run tastings to get their bearings, and some feedback, so they're ready to hit it hard once Harrisburg gets all that paper pushed. (They hope to hold a grand opening within the next three weeks.) The duo was kind enough to invite us last night in to check out a truncated version of their opening menu.

Those who remember the tight quarters of former tenant Pat Bombino's will be surprised by the altogether open feel of the Well's interior, which features a long bar along the north wall abutted by high-top tables; the space opens up to a casual dining room, with lots of group seating, toward the back.

Here's what we sampled, in order (that burger is gonna be a serious contender, mark our words):

  • SHAME burger: scrapple, fried egg, American cheese, house fries (housemade ketchup for the fries, too)
  • Grilled octopus: shaved fennel, red onions, frissee, red wine vinaigrette
  • Grilled ribeye: sautéed mushrooms, foie gras, roasted shallots and potatoes, horseradish sauce
  • Shellfish "pirlau": clams, mussels, calamari, shrimp, Italian sausage, smoked tomato sauce
  • Poached pear: streusel, oatmeal crumble, butterscotch ice cream
  • Deconstructed black forest cake: chocolate pot de creme, brandied cherries, chocolate gastrique

FM Fats
Posted 2010-03-14 19:58:33
Philly's re-gain is Atlanta's loss. Chef Carmen introduced the SHAME Burger at his late lamented Lamplighter on Memorial Drive in the ATL about a year and a half ago. It was a fun place, and Carmen gave the Ghetto Burger a couple of miles down the road at Ann's Snack Shop a run for its money.

Wishing Well opens next Monday :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper
Posted 2010-03-25 10:37:41
[...] the public house from Chris Martino and Carmen Cappello, officially opens April 5? Check out our March 12 sneak-peek post for details on Cappello’s food, including the intense scrapple- and egg-topped SHAME Burger.   [...] 
Posted by Drew Lazor @ 6:40 PM  Permalink | File Under: Openings | | Photos | Post a comment
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Founded in October 2008, Meal Ticket is a City Paper blog about food, drink and assorted other things that make you go mmm. We do recipes, interviews, restaurant news, commentary and much more. We don't do restaurant reviews herethose are handled in print, mostly by our critic (and Meal Ticket contributor) Adam Erace. Got a tip, question, thought or concern? Just want to say hello? Please shoot a note to drew.lazor@citypaper.net.

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