Feeding Frenzy

Restaurants opening, closing and pending

by Drew Lazor

This West Philly space, which has seen all manner of concepts come and go (Koko Bongo, shudder) is ready for a done-right redux now that Ned Taddei, Patrick Hughes and chef Ross Essner (Django, Taproom on 19th) are at the helm. Open Friday, the Blockley is a pub and live music venue with room for 800. Essner's bar menu (prices top out at $14) features eats like poutine, lobster pierogies, curried buttermilk onion rings, IPA-battered fish and chips and a New England clam roll. The second half of the team's space, a beer- and wine-focused gastropub called Mary Oaks, is lagging a bit behind; look for an early August debut. Check out the menu on Meal Ticket.

Chef Mark Tropea, late of the Desmond Hotel in Malvern, will open this 45-seat BYO, in the location of R.I.P. mac 'n' cheese restaurant Swallow, in the second week of July. The contemporary seasonal American menu will boast dishes like housemade duck prosciutto with frisee salad and summer melon; and free-range organic chicken with Boursin whipped taters, asparagus and a morel mushroom sauce.

Lucky Old Souls, a two-story bar, restaurant and music venue from G-Town Radio jazz host Matthew Feldman, is in its infant stages on the 1700 block of McKean Street in Newbold. Feldman's excited by the early support for his project. "This is happening because of the Newbold Neighbors Association," he says. "It's exactly the kind of thing they want to have in their neighborhood." Should be open in early 2010. >> Maryland-based 'rito-rolling franchise California Tortilla has put its Mexiroots down in the Great Northeast (10000 Roosevelt Blvd., 215-543-5713, californiatortilla.com).