Darling's (1033 N. Second St., 267-239-5775) - a retro diner from Harry and John Arnold, who have two Darling's Cafes in Center City, where their specialty is cheesecake - is keeping long hours: 7 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. weekends. Hearty breakfasts and weekend brunch. New lunch/dinner menus, going into effect this week, include sandwiches and salads ($8 to $13) and a rotating selection of entrees priced a few bucks higher. Step south into the courtyard and in front of you is . . .
Vino (1001 N. Second St., 215-923-2014), a sumptuous, indoor-outdoor Italian wine bar/lounge from Michael Maglio with antique furnishings and a menu of popularly priced panini, brick-oven pizza, and a collection of small plates known as aperitivi. Fifty wines by the glass, 30 beers by the bottle. It's open from noon to midnight daily. And south of that is . . .
The Swift Half (1001 N. Second St., 215-923-4600), an industrial-meets-modern pub with a strong outdoor scene from David Garry and Heather Gleason of Center City's Good Dog. (It's the closest restaurant to the Piazza's stage and large-screen TV, which have become magnets.) Chef Jessica O'Donnell's early menu includes a muffaletta, a burger, fish and chips, a rack of molé ribs, charcuterie and cheese plates, soup and salads. Hours are 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Mondays through Fridays, 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. weekends. Kitchen is open till 1 a.m. Ten beers are on tap.
July 1 is the tentative rollout of P.Y.T., a modern lounge and burger bar at the north end of the Piazza from promoter Tommy Up, who also promises alcohol-infused milkshakes to wash them down. P.Y.T. - "the drinks are pretty, the music is young, and the food is the thing," explains Up - will have a private burger party room.
Two other bits of info regarding Northern Liberties:
Copper Bistro, on Second Street near Green, closed after three-plus years.
