Now Seating
Bufad Pizza | The new pizzeria from Michael and Jeniphur Pasquarello (Prohibition Taproom, Café Lift) entered the soft-opening phase last week, mere hours after passing its final inspection. The cozy 30-seater is serving up Neapolitan-style pies in just six iterations as well as scissor-snipped slices a la Romana. For now, the tidy selection ranges from a simple margherita to a potato-and-egg pie gilded with prosciutto, scallions and fontina cheese. Accompaniments come in the forms of antipasti and salads, including crostoni with toppings of salt cod and potato, chicken liver and guanciale, or herbed cannellini-bean puree. Cash only. Open Tue.-Sun., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. 1240 Spring Garden St., 215-238-9311, bufadpizza.com.
KeVen Parker Soul Food Café | After longtime Reading Terminal soul-food stop Delilah’s closed up shop, news that KeVen Parker (Ms. Tootsie’s) would be taking over the spot was met with sighs of relief. Parker is renowned for soul classics like fried chicken, slow-cooked collards with smoked turkey and sweet-potato pie served up in a sleek setting — the seating area perks up the Market atmosphere with leather-upholstered chairs and orchids on the tables. Try the crab-mac-and-cheese balls or chicken and waffles. Open Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Reading Terminal Market, 12th and Arch streets., kevenparker.net.
Valley Shepherd Creamery/MeltKraft | Also new at Reading Terminal is this top-notch cheese shop from the Long Valley, N.J., sheep farm and creamery. They’re making some of the cheeses on-site, including clothbound cheddar, Stilton-style blue and fresh mozzarella they’re hand-stretching every day to provide a good show while you shop. On the take-out tip, chef Rebecca Foxman is serving up specialty grilled-cheese sandwiches. Go simple with fresh mozzarella and roasted tomatoes on a baguette, or go for the gusto with the Valley Thunder, which marries cheddar, brisket and mac and cheese. Any sandwich can be custom-grilled in duck or bacon fat, if you so choose. Open Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Reading Terminal Market, 12th and Arch streets., 267-639-3309, valleyshepherd.com.
