Feeding Frenzy

Restaurants opening, closing and pending

by Drew Lazor

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Published: Jun 12, 2007

>> NOW SEATING

South Philly natives Tony and Millie Aloi are dealing with heavy business the best way they know how � keeping 'em well-fed. Open for a month and a half, their sandwich shop has two specialties � roast beef and roast pork. And that's it. The Alois buy their meat in the Italian Market and prepare it using top-secret family techniques. "People [say] it's great we don't have 99 things on the menu," says Millie. "We've got two simple things." Getting over there might be a slightly less simple endeavor: They're only open Monday through Friday from 11 to 6, so plan your Fishtown adventure jawn accordingly.

James Beard award winner Guillermo Pernot, who earned accolades for his work at the just-shuttered ¡Pasion! before taking over as Cuba Libre's concept chef, has released his revamped dinner and brunch menus for the restaurant's Old City and Atlantic City locations. Choice cuts include pulled pork, chicken and beef picadillo empanadas and deconstructed gazpacho salad. Bite This: The pescado de oriente is Australian sea bass served with fried rice and chili-citrus sauce.

>> WAITING LIST

Owner Jon Myerow says "early July at the latest" for the opening of Tria's second location at 12th and Spruce. It took time to find the right property, but Myerow is confident he's getting in on a good thing � early. "The neighborhood itself is thriving and growing," he says of the just-off-Broad locale, a few steps away from the Kimmel Center. The space will have a capacity similar to the original Tria, accommodating around 45 people inside with room for 15 outdoor diners. The bar here will greet guests as they enter, as opposed to the set-back orientation of the Rittenhouse branch.

>> LITTLE VITTLES

Ava (518 S. Third St., 215-922-3282) will begin serving brunch on Sunday, June 17. >> Keep your eye on that abandoned video store on 22nd between Spruce and Pine � a little caffeinated birdie tells us someone's looking to turn it into a café complete with garden access. >> Old Original Bookbinder's (125 Walnut St., 215-925-7027) will debut its new sushi bar June 20. Morimoto/Swanky Bubbles alum Adan Cabrera's heading up the program, which offers choices like a nigiri/sashimi plate for two.

 

 

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