Feeding Frenzy

Restaurants opening, closing and pending

by Drew Lazor

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Published: Aug 5, 2008

NOW SEATING

Open since last Friday, the Station replaces Noah's Ark, a bad-rep bar at 16th and McKean just down from the South Philly Tap Room. Same owner, though: The space has been in the clan of Lou Maglio (yes, the sausage fam) for decades. To foster a more positive feel, he's refurbished the 60-seat space with new everything, including giant picture windows, floors, ceilings, tables and tiling. Lots of beer-geek selections on tap, including Ballast Point Calico Amber Ale, Straub, General Lafayette's Chocolate Thunder and Boulder's Hazed & Infused. Chef wants to keep his name hushed for right now, but you will recognize his food if you're familiar with the south-of-South gastropub scene. Specialties include crispy almond-crusted calamari with Kona dipping sauce; the Station cheesesteak, featuring shaved filet tips, fried onions, provolone and long hots; and entrées like jasmine tea-cured pork chops, smoked chicken ravioli and sesame-crusted large eye tuna.

Aug. 1 marked the grand opening of the Coffee Bar, which took over for the venerable Capriccio, soon to resurface at Café Cret at 16th and the Parkway. A tough act to follow, yes, but they've got the ammo: They're offering breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert menus and some surprisingly intricate salads and sandwiches (house-smoked turkey with baby spinach, cran-orange mayo, corn bread stuffing, Colby cheddar and roasted tomatoes, anyone?). House-blend java and specialty espressos and teas for the daytime; boozy smoothies, champagne, wine, beer and aperitifs will keep cheeks rosy at night.

This bilevel restaurant is coming along on the east side of Washington Ave.'s Wing Phat Plaza. (Say it kinda like "volcano," then picture a bunch of fried-rice-filled woks spewing forth from Mt. Hood in lieu of lava. Then giggle a little.) They'll serve Chinese fare in the 200-seat dining room on the ground floor, which also features a bar, private karaoke rooms and pool tables; space for private receptions and events on the second. Ducky Chi, one of several partners, says they hope to open their doors no later than the first of September.

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