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Openings
Critical Mass made note today of the debut of Morgan's Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.), Four Corners nightlife capo Avram Hornik's takeover of the old Rock Lobster/Octo spot right on the water. The revamped dockside spot is poised to draw live-music fans in with its promise of live open-air shows/DJs weekly (look out for Dave P and Sammy Slice tomorrow, then Lee Jones and Rich Medina for a Sundae dance party this Sunday), but the food's also a lure. Hornik, along with partners Mark Fichera and Joe Crouse, brought on David Katz of Mémé (2201 Spruce St.) to develop a menu reflecting what'd it be like to hit up a weekend cookout at a chef's house — nothing fancy or over-the-top, but more ambitious and finessed than a ripped-open packet of Dietz & Watson wieners.
The word is July for Bliss Juices and Ice Cream, a Lebanese-style ice cream/dessert parlor and juice bar from the crew behind Manakeesh Café (4420 Walnut St.). General manager Abd Ghazzawi says they're in the process of breaking through into the adjacent building for Bliss, which will seat 15 and serve Lancaster County ice cream, fresh waffles, crepes, exotic juices and Lebanese fruit cocktails, which "consist of fresh juice, fruit pieces and ashta, a ricotta-based sweet cream, topped with honey and ground nuts," according to Ghazzawi. They're typically eaten for dessert after lunch or dinner. If the picture above is any indication, we'll take 'em for breakfast, too.
Photo: nogarlicnoonions.com
It's been about three weeks since Rice & Mix (1207 Walnut St.) got fixin' on the opposite side of Broad from owner Yong Chi's Giwa (1608 Sansom St.). Chi, who opened that quickie Korean restaurant in 2006, says franchising has long been a goal of his, but he realized Giwa's menu was too varied to spark in markets lacking a familiarity with Korean cuisine. Since bibimbop — the popular mainstream specialty of pork, beef or chicken mixed with egg, rice and vegetables, often in a lava-hot dolsot (stone bowl) — accounts for 70 percent of food sales at Giwa ("That clearly says it all," says Chi), he figured a separate concept focusing on this dish would have broader appeal.
Around three times the size of Giwa, Rice & Mix (first mentioned here in the fall) operates on a burrito shop or Subway-style point-and-shuffle system — you can watch R&M build you a custom bibimbop bowl or select from a menu of four predetermined favorites. Other menu items include dup bop (simply meat over white or multigrain rice in a bowl), jap chae (the most famous Korean noodle dish), galbi (grilled short ribs) and, soon, bulgogi cheesesteaks and Korean fried chicken. A slew of traditional banchan, or Korean sides, are available to go, too. Full menu after the jump (click to enlarge). Hours: Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
The third location of Sabrina's, on Drexel's campus, opened at the beginning of the school year last fall. Along with that September '11 debut at 34th/Powelton came the promise of an associated stop from Robert and Raquel DeAbreu called Spencer ΣTA Burger, grilling a bunned-up selection of sandwiches separate from the café menu. Choices at the patty-centric concept, which properly opened over the weekend, include "Dr. I's Burger" (pictured), topped with Sabrina's huevos rancheros sauce, guac, lime sour cream, tomato, pepper jack and a fried jalapeno; the breakfast-y "Wakey Wakey," a burger on a biscuit topped with grilled sausage, caramelized maple/onion/shallot jam and two over-easy eggs; and the "Ultimate Spencer Burger," a beast boasting everything from poached apples to turkey bacon. Full menu's after the jump. ΣTA Burger will be open on weekends only to capitalize on munchie-stricken party crowds — Thursday from 8 p.m. to midnight, Friday/Saturday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday from 4 to 10.
View galleryJeanne Chang has officially opened up her Lil' Pop Shop in the former Unitea in West Philly (265 S. 44th St.). We went yesterday to try some of the pops she told us about a couple months ago — our favorites from Chang's diverse selection were the peanut butter curry and lime mint, but we agreed with everyone else that the salted caramel brownie and Vietnamese coffee pops are some of the best we've had.
Back in January I wrote about Gary Reuben's Underground Arts basement theater in the Wolf building (12th and Callowhill) was gearing up for a restaurant addition called Underground Eats, run by GM Mike Staldi and producer Mike Thatcher and featuring a menu designed by drummer-turned-chef Tom Stalling. The space underwent its last formal inspection on Tuesday, and looks to open its doors within the next two weeks.
Brian Nagele, the CEO of Cities2Night/Philly2Night and the owner of the The Piazza's Kings Oak, opened his most recent acquisition, the North Shore Beach Club, two weeks ago without tons of fanfare. If that name sounds familiar, that’s because NSBC is the name of the joint that used to be the private Arrow Swim Club. The price of memberships has lessened ($500), and this weekend (May 11) Nagele's popping the top on his new tastefully colorful Cuban-themed Havana Room, cheffed by one-time Stephen Starr staffer Sean Elstone (Il Pittore, Parc) in the adjacent restaurant space last known as Chenango. Lucky friends, family and press types will be sniffing around the H-Room Thursday night for a soft opening. Here is their opening menu (PDF). Pictured above is Elstone's lechon asado, oven-roasted suckling pig in a tamarind sauce with baby carrots and smashed boniato, a Caribbean sweet potato variant.
Photo: Courtesy of North Shore Beach Club
Lauren Aukett, a first-time owner, has taken over the Queen Village space that's been Gayle and Hoof + Fin (617 S. Third St.) for Zen-Nor, a "zen-themed" restaurant opening next Wednesday, May 16.
Aukett, a retail manager up to this point, describes the revamped spot as a tribute to her parents — the "Nor" in "Zen-Nor" is her mother Eleanor's nickname, while the concept itself is in honor of her dad, a professional chef who passed away a year and a half ago. The "zen" thing has worked its way into both the décor (they've installed an idyllic pond in the space's beautiful back patio area) and the food, from chef Michael O'Mara, late of South Jersey's M/O Global Bistro. O'Mara, who also worked at Old City's La Truffe (where Swanky Bubbles was) back in the day, has both Asian and French elements on his menu for the BYO. Zen-Nor will serve brunch, as well; both menus are after the jump (click to enlarge).
The mobile-biz brainchild of childhood friends Joe Cohen and Mike Neal, Gozen Yogurt is Philly's first self-serve froyo truck, traveling the city in a retro-fitted military vehicle. The business started back in October 2011, with Gozen setting up shop at various events and festivals. Once the weather got cold, they closed for the winter, reopening three weeks ago for spring. Now Gozen stations itself at several locations in town — Love Park Mondays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and at 33rd and Arch Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. The weigh-and-pay truck serves eight flavors at a time, with numerous toppings options; chocolate, vanilla and original tart are staple flavors, with the other five rotating biweekly. Lately, they've been offering cookies and cream, cake batter and blueberry acai tart. They also feature special seasonal flavors (think pumpkin or berry sorbet). Follow them on twitter at @GozenYogurt or peep their website for menu updates, locations and news.
Photo: Courtesy of Gozen Yogurt
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