Partners Rebecca McGhee and Ane Ormaechea bring the bold flavors of Spain's Basque region to Philadelphia with this month-old, cash-only BYOB. The menu is stocked with choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and while they feature everything from hot sandwiches to authentic churros, the real treats are the pinchos, traditional bite-sized snacks served atop little slices of bread. Bite This: The grilled chorizo sandwich is served hot with immaculate greens and a sauce you could die for. (See Small Bites)

You know that TGI Friday's commercial where the faux-manly dudes bellow the names of the meat dishes they've ordered? Stan's menu makes those guys look like PETA-boosters. Howard Levin and Stan Rultenberg collaborated in opening this West Philly takeout and offer lots of quality meat for not a lot of dough. Rultenberg, who's also part owner of Sheinman Provisions, produces about 70 percent of the sandwich meats himself. Bite This: At just $5.75, Stan's colossal half-pound corned beef sandwich is cheaper (and smells better) than most cab rides.

Designer Owen Kamihira is allowed to have a multipage resume—he's already designed Stephen Starr's Buddakan and worked with hard-ass Jeffrey Chodorow on his famous Red Square. Now, he's blessing NoLibs with Ferdinand, a take on "the cuisines and wines of Spain." Local artisans contributed mosaics; look for an opening toward the end of June. Bite This: The bar will feature a rotating roster of 10 beers, including rare imports from España.

Chef Daniel Stern, whose Queen Village spot Gayle was just named one of the top 10 hottest new restaurants in the nation by Bon Appetit, recently announced that he'll debut a 6,000-square-foot space at the brand-new Cira Centre by late 2006. "Franklin's Kite" came up as a name possibility, but DAS, the firm designing the restaurant, says Stern's looking for something better. Dear Danno: Thank you. Love, Philadelphia.