Feeding Frenzy

Restaurants opening, closing and pending

by Drew Lazor

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Published: Nov 25, 2008

>> NOW SEATING

This little Thai BYO opened in early November. (It's owned by the sister of Jason Lay, who opened Mi Lah Vegetarian at 16th and Chancellor.) The menu, which has a sizable veg section of its own, touches on all your favored Thai dishes, but there are also exotic entrants (sautéed gator meat with veggies and green peppercorn sauce!) and assorted SE Asian dishes from Vietnam, Indonesia and Burma.

>> WAITING LIST

This giant white-tablecloth chain steakhouse will officially open to the public for dinner on Fri., Nov. 28, with weekday lunch coming Dec. 9. Del Frisco's menu varies within its seven current locations, but think big, bold and unapologetically American: 16-ounce bone-in filet mignon; prime strip steak for two, carved tableside; cold-water lobster tails with enough heft and fortitude to survive an air raid, etc.

Glam's Andy Cosenza is in the process of converting his Old City club into an Ugly Mug franchise. The original Ugly Mug in Cape May, which was in franchise boss Bob Ransom's family for the better part of 30 years, has been sold, and Philly's forthcoming Mug will serve as the template for national expansion. They're putting in dinner seating and bars on both floors. The food is straight-up American tavern fare, with signature shore-y items like the Maryland burger (topped with lump crab).

>> LITTLE VITTLES

Novità Bistro (1608 South St., 215-545-4665) will start brunch this weekend — Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. >> New chef at The Sidecar (2201 Christian St., 215-732-3429, thesidecarbar.com): Amos Pedersen, formerly of Barclay Prime, 707 and Meritage. He's introduced some new dinner platters and sandwiches and bar munchies like carnitas tacos.

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