FOOD

Feeding Frenzy

Restaurants opening, closing and pending


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Published: Sep 23, 2008

NOW SEATING

Brown Betty Petite, 269 S. 20th St., 215-545-0444, brownbettydesserts.com

The cupcakes have been flowing like cupcake-flavored wine at this week-old outpost of NoLibs' Brown Betty Dessert Boutique. Focusing exclusively on the tiny portable sweets was a smart move for the BB team (founded by mother and daughter Linda and Norrinda Brown), as Rittenhousers have been known to maim one another in the name of cute boutique-y sweets. This past weekend's four-pack: The Carrot Patch carrotcake, "Alice's Two Step" (almond pound cake with choco frosting), a red velvet and our personal favorite, the Strawberry Letter, pound cake flavored with strawberry purée and liqueur and topped with strawberry frosting.

WAITING LIST

Joe's Peking Duck Original 1984, 108 Chestnut St., 215-922-0880

This Sunday, Sept. 28, will mark the grand opening of chef Joe Poon's full-fledged return to Philly restaurantdom after a several-year hiatus. Open for lunch and dinner, the spot features a massive menu, with everything from tortilla sandwiches and pizza to cheap "Asian tapas" (stuffed five-spice calamari, wasabi pork shrimp shu mai) and old-school noodle dishes (the name's a throwback to Poon's original Chinatown restaurant). Oh, and sushi, too! This strikes us as a place capable of thoroughly accommodating big, fickle lunch groups. See you there.

LITTLE VITTLES

>> Mémé (2201 Spruce St.), the rustic new American restaurant from chef David Katz , will open to the public on Mon., Sept. 29.

>> Local 44, the beer bar from Brendan Hartranft and Leigh Maida of Memphis Taproom (2331 E. Cumberland St., 215-425-4460, memphistaproom.com) is opening this November at 44th and Spruce. They'll offer 20 beers on tap (two of those on hand pump) with "low-key, delicious American-style pub grub," says Maida.

>> High-end chain Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House is up for a November opening in the Grande Building at 15th and Chestnut. This place is going to be huge — they're hiring 300 staffers. Three hundred! This is madness!