Table Talk | Woods' Knock energizes 12th and Locust location

Opportunity did knock for brothers Bill and Steve Wood.

After selling their popular Woody's Bar last year, they couldn't stay away. They've applied more polish with Knock, a contemporary resto-bar that opened last week at 12th and Locust Streets, in the corner that's seen a series of eateries, including Lula, Sukothai, Pamplona and a branch of Dmitri's.

Knock (225 S. 12th St., 215-925-1166) is named after the Knock Shrine in County Mayo, Ireland.

The Woods have brought in Jim Petrie from the former Deux Cheminees to manage, and Steve Huey, who worked for them at Woody's before he headed to culinary school, as chef. Menu is American with a few global influences; entrees range from $17 to $26.

Knock, open nightly, maintains the room's bar area just inside the door, and a baby grand piano for show. Tables in the comfy dining rooms are cleverly designed with lifts; they're in the down position (and covered with linen) for dinner but can be raised later to bar height in the evening. Lunch and brunch will follow in due time.

What's coming

Philadelphia Java Co. is days from opening a second cafe, at Second and Christian Streets in Queen Village. Let's say Philly Java is reproducing, because the new location was a photocopier-repair shop. The original Java is at Fourth and Gaskill Streets, and it has a juice bar inside the Sweat Gym on Passyunk Avenue. Menu includes soups, salads, panini and baked goods by co-owner Alia Banna and her mother, Fadwa Kashkash.