Feeding Frenzy

Restaurants opening, closing and pending

by Drew Lazor

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Published: Mar 3, 2010

Restaurant management vet Michael Spector has set off on his own to open Delicatessen, a "modern Jewish deli" that replaced the decidedly not-modern Kibitz in the City. The menu's split between more traditional choices (they micro-brew sodas and micro-batch-brine pastrami, above) and nouveau takes on the deli experience, including the "Benny Rubinson" (poached eggs over grilled pastrami and rye toast with Russian-dressing hollandaise) and "Sephardic Ceviche" (citrus-cured salmon with red onion, capers and herbs). Right now they're open daily from 8 to 6, but extended dinner hours are planned.

The Italian restaurant Vino now has new ownership and a new name: Apollinare. Owners Fabio Auguadro and chef/partner Andrea Scotacci have a restaurant by the same name (he was a Syrian saint) in the Umbria region of Italy; here, the duo has upgraded the facilities to produce some high-end but affordable Euro-inflected Italian fare. Specialties include 10 different pizzas, wild boar braised Umbrian style, Chateaubriand steak with a béarnaise sauce prepared tableside, prawns in a Cognac flambé (also tableside, watch your 'brows) and a slew of housemade pastas.
>>Ro-Zu (700 S. Seventh St., 267-273-0885), the sushi spot that's been in a holding pattern for a few months now, will soft-open this weekend.

>>Hawthornes (738 S. 11th St., 215-627-3012, hawthornecafe.com) has started offering a small-plate dinner menu from Wednesday to Saturday, 5 to 9. There's also a new hand-cut French fry menu with lots of dipping sauces.

>> New team member at Zento Contemporary (138 Chestnut St., 215-925-9998, zentocontemporary.com): Sam Ho, a Morimoto alum who'll handle hot dishes, freeing up chef Gunawan Wibisono to concentrate on his excellent sushi.

>> Argan Moroccan Cuisine (132 S. 17th St., 215-568-8354) has added BYOB dinner hours starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday.

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