New Restaurants
| Name |
Address |
City |
Phone |
| Copper Bistro |
614 N. Second St. |
Philadelphia |
215-627-9844 |
| Giwa |
1608 Sansom St. |
Philadelphia |
215-557-9830 |
| Ha Long Bay |
816 W. Lancaster Ave. |
Bryn Mawr |
610-525-8883 |
| Umai Umai |
533 N. 22nd St. |
Philadelphia |
215-988-0707 |
New Nightspots
Coming Soon
Doc Magrogan's Oyster House
Look for a mid-October opening of this old-fashioned West Chester seafooder (117 E. Gay St.) from the folks who run Kildare's Irish pub.
Fleming's
This outpost of the high-end steakhouse chain, run by ex–Smith & Wollensky GM Patrick English, is aiming for an October 27th debut inside the Radnor Corporate Center (555 E. Lancaster Ave.), next to the forthcoming Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen.
Fogo de Chão
A Center City locale of this Brazilian churrascaria chain will open in late November in the former JE Caldwell space at Chestnut and Juniper streets.
Oceanaire Seafood Room
Philly's first branch of this upscale seafooder is set for a mid- or late-October debut on the ground floor of Washington Square West's new St. James apartment building (700 Walnut St).
Osteria
This more casual Italian undertaking from Marc Vetri (Vetri) will house a wine bar and a wood-burning oven when it opens in early January at 640 N. Broad St. in North Philadelphia.
Rae
Gayle chef-owner Daniel Stern's New American spot in the Cira Centre, next to 30th Street Station, is shooting for a December debut.
Xochitl
Pronounced like "so cheat," this posh Head House Square Mexican (408 S. Second St.) from the partners behind Marigold Kitchen will feature a menu by Puebla-raised chef Dionicio Jimenez, who should be cooking by mid-October.
Good Deals and Other News
This fall, executive chef-owner Nick Farina hosts "Smokin' Tuesdays," drawing drinkers on the veranda with an outdoor grill, martini bar and tapas-style menu.
Guillermo Pernot, chef-owner of ¡Pasión!, has stepped out of the kitchen to take on executive chef duties at Cuba Libre, a competitor. Ben Davison, Pernot's sous-chef at ¡Pasión!, moves up to executive chef; Pernot maintains his co-ownership of ¡Pasión! with Michael Dombkoski. At Cuba Libre, Pernot replaces Guillermo Veloso, who resigned.
Georges Perrier's Center City institution has rolled out a $90 four-course dinner menu offered in the main dining room Monday through Thursday. And bucking tradition, it's in English. The restaurant has also trimmed lunch service (now served Wednesday through Friday only, with seatings at 11:30 AM and 1 PM), though lunch (and dinner) is available in the downstairs room, Le Bar Lyonnais, Monday through Saturday.
This West Philly BYO now serves dinner on Sundays, as well as three-course dinners for $35 on Sundays and Tuesdays.
In a first, this circa-1860 Center City bar is open Sundays for Eagles games (11 AM–midnight). Beers are $1 with the purchase of a custom McGillin's mug from an hour before to an hour after game time.
Has opened a fish market on premises. In addition, the restaurant now offers a $20 three-course weekday lunch menu (11 AM–4 PM) that gets customers out the door in 40 minutes.
Pif
Chef David Ansill is serving a $30 three-course classic French dinner menu that changes weekly.
On Fridays (5–10 PM), this Commerce Square New American offers a $35 three-course dinner.
A Friday night wine-and-cheese series in the Lobby Bar will feature cheeses from Di Bruno Bros. paired with five wines from Lauber Imports. Each session will focus on a different region, including South Africa on October 6th, Italy on October 13th, the Northwest U.S. on October 20th and Australia on October 27th (5–8 PM; $24.95 per person; 215-563-1600; www.westin.com).