What's new
Appalachian Brewing Co., founded in 1997 in Harrisburg and now including locations in Camp Hill and Gettysburg, has taken over the Henninger's space in Collegeville Station (50 W. Third Ave., Collegeville, 484-973-6064). Barnlike quarters will include brewing, due to start in July. Menu ($18 and under) includes burgers, pizza, panini, shepherd's pie, and Mile High Meatloaf, served on Texas toast and topped with mashed potatoes. It's open daily for lunch and dinner.
Chenango, attached to Northern Liberties' private Arrow Swim Club (1031 Germantown Ave., 215-606-7402), features an American menu in its indoor-outdoor setting. It's open daily from 5 p.m. and serves brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekends.
Smokin'
It's a long story (with a Byzantine legal subplot), but Fat Jack's - one of the region's longer-running barbecue operations - is in growth mode. Founder Glenn Gross has set up in a Far Northeast strip mall behind a Dunkin' Donuts off Red Lion Road and Roosevelt Boulevard (10090 Roosevelt Blvd., 215-613-7091, www.fatjacks.net). From the smoker parked outside comes a geographic melting pot of BBQ (Texas, Memphis, Carolina), plus such rarer dishes as Brunswick stew, fried pickle chips, and barbecue pork belly. It's open for lunch and dinner daily. There's still a location in Vineland, N.J.
Briefly noted
The Chart House will open next Thursday at the Golden Nugget Atlantic City, as the casino known as Trump Marina changes hands.
Jolly Weldon of Jolly's Dueling Piano Bar, now at the Academy House (1420 Locust St.), was found not guilty last week of threatening Timothy Smith Sr., his onetime business partner's father, outside the bar's former location on Chestnut Street. The case fell apart after Weldon's attorney, Michael Engle, pointed out that Smith had waited a month to report his allegations to police.
Contact Michael Klein at mklein@philly.com. Follow his blog at http://go.philly.com/insider and on Twitter @phillyinsider.
