South Jersey Restaurant Week
Six days. More than 60 restaurants. Countless four-course dinner selections for only $35. This epic dining experience started Sunday and lasts until Friday, March 27, so book your reservations as soon as possible. For more information and participating venues, check out www.
An Un-beet-able New Blackfish
New Jersey’s Blackfish Stone Harbor begins taking reservations on April 1 for it’s tentative May 9 grand opening. An endeavor of Philly chef Chip Roman and his business partner John Sprandio, the 200-seat, white tablecloth restaurant will be the shore sibling to Blackfish Conshohocken (which was previously located in Avalon, NJ). Located at 9628 Third Ave. (the 78-year-old tradition known as Old Henry’s), the new Blackfish will feature a list of more than 30 wines to compliment a menu of bar snacks ranging from $3 to $14 and entrees ranging from $28 to $39.
Iron Chef
Meanwhile, Roman is going Iron Chef-style and offering $45 four-course tastings every Monday at Blackfish Conshohocken, each week focusing on a single unique ingredient. On March 30, he’ll be serving up his “study of asparagus,” which will include white asparagus soup, asparagus tempura, a salmon entrée (with an asparagus side, of course) — and, last but not least, white asparagus ice cream for dessert.
Special Menus, Easter style
During Passover (April 8 – April 15), Zahav will offer a special menu of traditional Israeli dishes, such as hand-made matzah, hot-smoked sable and coffee-braised brisket with horseradish and truffled potato kugel. The cost is $42 per person and reservations are encouraged but not required.
Easter at Nineteen
Broad Street’s sky-high dining destination Nineteen (XIX) is serving up something for everyone on April 12. Atop Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue, families this Easter Sunday will be able to find several buffets tables, including one consisting of mac’ and cheese, pepperoni pizza and chicken fingers — just for the kiddos. The more sophisticated “adult table” will feature empress crab claws, handmade sushi, steelhead salmon and lemon ricotta pancakes (just to name a few) and the dessert table will offer mini cupcakes, cream cakes and pistachio éclairs. By reservation only, this memorable Easter dining experience is available to adults for $65 and kids for $32. Children under 5 eat free.
Cellar Selection Wednesdays
Beginning April 1, Nineteen (XIX) will also be offering some wine-centric events that will educate and delight both novice and expert oenophiles — that’s a fancy word for wine-o, FYI. Each Wednesday evening from 5:30 to 6:30pm, guests will enjoy a light fare and a tasting of five to six wines for $20. One person will even get to take home one of the featured bottles. Beginning April 15, guests can enjoy a pairing event: $55 will include a full dinner and wine tasting menu.
From Happy Hour to Happy Night
Chris Scarduzio, executive chef and co-owner of Table 31, has made a $9 “happy night” bar menu featuring some of the Italian Steakhouse’s signature dishes — including pizzas, calamari, polenta and primavera, just to name a few. And in addition offering $3 beers, $5 wines and $7 martinis all night long Monday through Saturday, Table 31 will offer a $35-per-person three-course meal from 5 to 7 pm.
Sous Vide in Cedars
There’s something special about this new, little, 18-seat BYOB out in Montgomery County. Restaurant Rosalie, located at 2401 Skippack Pike in Cedars, offers a unique French-American menu that changes weekly. In sous vide cooking, ingredients are vacuum-sealed into plastic bags and cooked at very specific temperatures for specific amounts of times, resulting in only the most precisely superb outcome. Drop-ins are welcome for weekday lunch, but reservations are a must at dinner time.
A Early-evening Prix Fixe
Why sit in traffic or fight a packed subway station when you could enjoy a several-course meal right after work? A couple restaurants around town are offering early bird three-course selections for only $35. Allison Two in Fort Washington is offering a prix-fixe dinner Monday through Thursday, and any course can be subbed for a beer or glass of wine. Walnut Street French landmark Le Bec Fin is also offering a $35 three-course meal in addition to its existing five-course $145 menu, but it’s only available Monday through Thursday from both 5:30 to 6:30pm and from 9 to 10pm.
Open For Business
What was La Creole, at 775 S. Front St. in Queen Village, got fancied up and has reopened as Saute (215.271.9300). Owners Hector Torres and Nicholas Cassidy have taken their expertise from establishments such as Roy’s, Alma de Cuba and SoleFood and made a peaceful and romantic BYOB offering unique French-influenced cuisine.
Newcomer
Slate (102 S. 21st St., 215.568.6886), a new Rittenhouse gastropub, has gotten through its first month of business in the former Café Habana locale. Hoping to attract an everyday neighborhood crowd, owner Laurentiu Muras offers a nice beer selection, affordable American food entrées that top out at $20 and appetizers ranging from $7 to $9.
AroundPhilly Staff
