Feeding Frenzy

Restaurants opening, closing and pending

by Drew Lazor

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Published: Apr 2, 2008

>> NOW SEATING

Shai Cohen opened this eatery — the name means "meeting place" in Hebrew — last Thursday. Co-owned by his mother, Esther, Hamifgash offers a glatt kosher menu featuring mostly traditional Israeli fare (shawarma, falafel, kabob) with some Mediterreanean touches (baklava, etc.). Prices are affordable, topping out at about $14; they run a lunch special that gets you an entrée and soup for $9.50. The 40-seat space also offers on- and off-site catering. They're open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to sundown Friday; they're closed on the Sabbath (Saturday).

>> WAITING LIST

Last time we spoke with Boots Yair, who co-owned the late Bootsie's (38 S. 19th St.), he said he was looking into a "really cool concept" in the Washington Square area, but wasn't able to share any details. A recent check-in, however, found Yair revealing that he's looking into a second concept in a second neighborhood (he won't say which). "I haven't given up on Plan A," he says, "but I'm kind of intrigued with Plan B. If Plan B does happen, it's a really interesting location we can really go crazy with." If 16 cool/awesome/crazy concept restaurants suddenly crop up here in Philly, you'll know who's responsible.

>> LITTLE VITTLES

Nick Ballias says that he and brother Antonio are a week or two out from opening Cavo Crêpe Café (4356 Main St.) in Manayunk. >> Devil's Den (1148-1150 S. 11th St.) finally opened this past Tuesday, April 1. Hurrah. >> O.N.E. at Rittenhouse, the new incarnation of the Mansion (121 S. 19th St., 215-563-1038), kicked off last Saturday. We were in the house and there were girls scattered about holding really still like mannequins. Not sure if this is a regular fixture. >> Snackbar (253 S. 20th St., 215-545-5655) will reintroduce brunch on Sat., April 19. >>The head chef at Jason and Delphine Evenchik's forthcoming Time (1315 Sansom St.) will be Keith Murphy, currently heading the kitchen at the couple's Vintage Wine Bar & Bistro (129 S. 13th St., 215-922-3095).

 

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