Feeding Frenzy

Restaurants opening, closing and pending

by Drew Lazor

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Published: Oct 16, 2007

>> NOW SEATING

Now approaching three weeks of operation, Las Bugambilias brings authentic Mexican cuisine to the rising Headhouse Square area. The restaurant, which occupies the space left after the closing of Ristorante Primavera, is owned and operated by chef Carlos Molina, who spent 15 years behind the line at Tequilas (1602 Locust St.), and wife Michelle Zimmerman, who works the front of the house in addition to serving as pastry chef. The homey design theme is based around classic south-of-the-border cinema from the 1940s, exemplified by elegant black-and-white photos of Mexi thespians adorning the dining room walls. Specialties include flounder ceviche; grouper or jumbo shrimp doused in traditional salsa Veracruzana (olives, capers, serrano chiles, tomato, parsley and Mexican oregano); and bistec tampiquena (skirt steak grilled a la plancha and wrapped around a cheese-stuffed chile pepper).

>> WAITING LIST

Annie DiAntonio and Charlotte Altimare, both with cheese-mongering experience at Whole Foods, hope to open this 600-square-foot neighborhood café no later than early December. In the early stages, they'll operate as a "basic coffee shop," offering all of your favorite caffeine fixes in addition to pastries and bagels; as they settle in, however, DiAntonio says they hope to expand the food offerings to include cheese platters and stuff from local purveyors. The duo will bring in beans from Small World Coffee, a microroaster out of Princeton. The shop looks to be a commercial catalyst for the Brewerytown neighborhood. Which leads us to an unconfirmed rumor: DiAntonio mentioned that a staffer at Bar Ferdinand is poking around for a restaurant space at 28th and Girard. We reached out to Ferdy, but no one's talking just yet; more on this as it does or totally does not develop.

>> LITTLE VITTLES

Taylors Bar and Grill (2310 W. Marlton Pike, Cherry Hill, N.J., 856-486-1001), the dancey/sportsy concept that replaced Top Dog in South Jersey about six months back, is finally making an official mark with "unveiling" events throughout the month. Among them: a party for the Silva vs. Franklin UFC fight this Sat., Oct. 20, and an Oct. 23 kickoff with adult film star Gina Lynn. Hee. >> Oldster Italian standby The Saloon (750 S. Seventh St., 215-627-1811) is celebrating its 40th birthday this month. Drop by for some veal chops and reassure 'em that 40 is the new 20, or however it goes.

 

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