Feeding Frenzy

Restaurants opening, closing and pending

by Drew Lazor

>> NOW SEATING

This neighborhood eatery, run by brothers Jonathan and Barry Williams (pictured, L-R) along with their mother, sister and other family members, specializes in homey grub at tremendously fair prices. They're currently open Mon.-Sat., 7 a.m.-4 p.m., with plans to expand into dinner service later this month. For breakfast, hit up omelette specials ($3.75-$5.95), hot cakes, steak and eggs and our favorite, fish (fried flounder or salmon cakes) and grits; for lunch, you've got assorted platters, salads, sandwiches and burgers. For the full menu, visit citypaper.net/mealticket, category: Menu Time.

>> WAITING LIST

Three or four weeks should see the opening of the Gold Standard, a modern redo of the restaurant that Roger Harman and the late Duane Ball originally founded in 1979. Harman and partner Vincent Whittacre, who've skipped around to various West Philly locations over the years, most recently sold Abbraccio (820 S. 47th St.) to Vietnam owner Benny Lai. The new space is small (1,500 square feet), but it's more than enough room to accommodate two dining areas — a front room with breakfast/lunch fare and La Colombe coffee and a BYO rear dining area, open Wednesday to Sunday, where chef/partner Joey Balaaldia will dish up a small comfort food menu (country-style meatloaf, roast chicken, osso buco, etc.).

>> LITTLE VITTLES

>> Bistrot La Minette (623 S. Sixth St., 215-925-8000, bistrotlaminette.com) now serves lunch Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Order a la carte or opt for a two- or three-course prix fixe meal. The menu reads like le déjeuner at Jacques Pepin's house: Chef Peter Woolsey touches on the classics, including escargots, salade nicoise, coq au vin and steak au poivre.

>> BLATANT PLUG: Come to The Sidecar (2201 Christian St., 215-732-3429, thesidecarbar.com) this Friday, March 6, starting at 6 p.m. for a Beer and Cheese Smackdown that'll pit Michigan breweries Arcadia and New Holland against each other in a pairing competition. I'm hosting. More info in Brian Howard's Editor's Letter (p. 4).