Feeding Frenzy

Restaurants opening, closing and pending

by Drew Lazor

>> WAITING LIST

Chef Michael O'Halloran, who owns Bistro 7 with wife Sophia Lee, says spring is the season for his second restaurant, which has been in the works since they opened their popular Old City sit-down about three years back. The named-for-its-cross-street space, which O'Halloran says will be American in approach, will have a liquor license (Bistro's BYO); the bar and dining room combined will be able to seat more than 90 guests. ("It could beat up Bistro 7," the chef jokes.) Phillip Manganaro, a graduate of the French Culinary Institute, will handle the day-to-day in Old City while O'Halloran concentrates on getting the new place up and running. "Our favorite restaurants, regardless of what city we're in, are neighborhood restaurants," says O'Halloran. "They're approachable, they're not pompous — and they're always good."

Big plans for the Academia del Caffé brand — co-owner Massimo Taurisano tells us he has just co-branded with Le Bus' Rittenhouse location (129 S. 18th St.). The bakery will now offer Academia's coffee, espresso and panini in addition to its well-loved breads and sweets. Outside the Square, the company is making some serious moves on Broad — in 2008, Academia shops will pop up in Dranoff Properties' Avenue of the Arts location (777 S. Broad St.); Eric Blumenfeld's Marine Club Condominiums at Broad and Washington; and a still-in-the-works Blumenfeld building at 600 N. Broad, right near Osteria. Taurisano also lets on that he's close to finalizing the purchase of three existing coffee shops — competitors, no less (he can't say which just yet).

Miguel Castañeda, owner of Chestnut Hill's upcoming ¡Cuba! (8609 Germantown Ave.), says he'll be open to the public no later than the very beginning of February. >> Davinder Singh, operations manager for the soon-to-be-reincarnated Minar Palace (1304 Walnut St.), says they've finally received their zoning and building permits from the city after a long delay. They'll be open no later than March. Gimme that vindaloo.