NOW SEATING
Ramen Boy | Philly at long-noodled last has a dedicated ramen restaurant to call its own. Owned by the same team that's behind Yakitori Boy, Ramen Boy is a narrow space specializing in Japanese soup. Chef Ben Watanabe is doing four bowls — pork, miso/chicken, oxtail broth with ribeye and a soy-based soup with vegetables — plus various dumplings and sides. There's a tight amount of table seating; for quicker eats, opt for a stool at the kitchen bar. They're open for lunch and dinner every day but Monday. More photos and full menu on Meal Ticket. 204 N. Ninth St., 267-687-1355.
UPDATE [16feb12]: Ramen Boy is currently closed due to a gas line problem and hopes to reopen by this coming weekend. Management encourages people to call the restaurant ahead of time to confirm it's serving.
Russet | Andrew and Kristin Wood opened this BYOB on Valentine's Day. Veterans of Philly spots like Fork and James, the Woods are taking local sourcing seriously, getting almost all of their product from Lancaster County. Menu items will change frequently based on availability, but opening plates include dry-aged ribeye with purple-top turnips, baby carrots, sweet onions and bone marrow; and seared brook trout stuffed with organic maitakes. Russet will do dinner Tuesday to Sunday from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.; Saturday/Sunday brunch will start Feb. 25, and thrice-weekly lunch service is coming soon, too. More on Meal Ticket. 1521 Spruce St., 215-546-1521, russetphilly.com.
Cup & Saucer Café | New to the Bella Vista a.m. scene is the Cup & Saucer, a cute lil' venture from husband/wife team Albert and Bridget Coccia and partner Domenic Collaretti. Open? 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day but Monday, C&S specializes in both breakfast (French toast, crêpes, frittata) and lunch (a signature filet mignon pizza steak, Italian tuna on "peasant bread," chicken cutlet). More info and the full menu on Meal Ticket. 743 S. Eighth St., 267-639-2035.
LITTLE VITTLES
Check out two-month-old Iron Tower (56 N. Ninth St.) for $3 banh mi on Ba Le Bakery rolls. More on Meal Ticket.
Archie's Restaurant (1030 S. Eighth St.) is a new Mexicano joint in the Italian Market specializing in tortas. More on Meal Ticket.
Fish, settling into its new digs at 1234 Locust St., has launched happy hour: $3 beers, $5 wines and $6 cocktails weeknights from 5 to 6 p.m. They're also doing late-night HH Friday and Saturday from 11 p.m. to midnight.
