What's new
There's a rough-hewn beer side and a more formal, Victorian cocktail side to the dimly candlelit Farmers' Cabinet, which opened last week in the former Joe Pesce space at 1113 Walnut St. (215-923-1113) from Matt and Colleen Swartz and partner Matt Scheller, who also own Fork & Barrel in East Falls. Beerheads will see a wall of 26 taps (22 will be used at first, and four will be added when brewmaster Terry Hawbaker starts making beers in his "nano-brewery," a two-barrel system in the kitchen that's visible from the dining room). There's also a walk-up meat and cheese counter. Also on that side are long tables, random hanging beams, and barrels for show. The cocktail side, done up in damask, has a Victorian-style cocktail bar and more sumptuous seating. Chef Peter Felton's rustic, farm-type menu is priced from $5 to $32; see it at www.philly.com/farmerscabinet. Opening hours will be 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily; lunch and brunch will be added.
Chef Shawn Sollberger and concert promoter Bryan Dilworth have opened Gunners Run, a pub, in the former Swift Half space at the Piazza at Schmidts (1001 N. Second St, 215-923-4600). A long communal table on weekends becomes a make-your-own-Bloody Mary bar, with dozens of ingredients. Sollberger's resumé includes Davio's, Capital Grille, and his former Montco restaurants Blue Horse and Ravenna. Dilworth expects music acts to perform on the Piazza's stage, outside the door.
The quick-serve Panchero's Mexican Grill opened a franchise this month in Evesboro Plaza (221 Greentree Rd., Marlton, 856-267-5357).
Briefly noted
Tickets are on sale for June 14's 2011 Great Chefs Event, for which Marc Vetri and the Vetri Foundation assemble a huge roster of chefs for a feast benefiting Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation at Urban Outfitters' headquarters at the Navy Yard. Details at www.philly.com/2011chefs.
Contact columnist Michael Klein at mklein@phillynews.com. Follow his blog at http://go.philly.com/insider and on Twitter @phillyinsider.
