Feeding Frenzy

Restaurants opening, closing and pending

by Drew Lazor

NOW SEATING

Adedotun Adepoju, who runs Blessed Hands Catering out of Wilmington, Del., is moving north with Tastee D's, a West African eatery that's taken over the space that long held Django. Entrées are split up into rice, bean and yam categories, and can be further customized with a diner's choice of meat (beef, chicken, fried whiting, goat). Specialties include moin moin (black-eyed-pea-based bean cakes), jolof rice (cooked with onions, tomatoes, peppers and traditional spices) and whole tilapia served with plantains. For the full menu, check out Meal Ticket.

Debuting to the public this Saturday, Bistro 7 chef/owner Michael O'Halloran's new concept is bringing inspired but affordably priced Chinese street food to Northern Liberties. O'Halloran's wife and partner, Sophia Lee, who's from Hong Kong, helped inspire the chef's menu, which is broken down into small and large plate categories as well as dumpling, bun, noodle and veg sections. Expect eats like crispy fried shrimp with wasabi and spiced walnuts; beef short rib buns with crispy shallots; "forever-braised" lamb with noodles in a five-spice broth; and stir-fried Chinese bacon with chilies and toasted peanuts. There's a liquor license, and they'll be pouring wines as well as a wide variety of Asian beers. For pics and the full menu, check out Meal Ticket.

CHECK, PLEASE

>> Stephen Starr's Mediterranean restaulounge Tangerine (232 Market St.) has closed after nearly a decade in business. Starr Restaurants will hold onto the space for banquets and private parties before reconceptualizing it into something new, with a tentative launch date of summer 2010.

>> Aso Sushi, which has also been rocking since the late '90s at 719 Walnut Street, has opted not to renew a 10-year lease. Its last day was July 31.