Coming and going
Ralph Berarducci has gone back in time with Walnut Street Supper Club (1227 Walnut St., 215-923-8208), a plush, '40s-style reconfiguration of his Center City staple, Portofino. The idea of general manager James McManaman (founder of the Midtown Village Association), it's a supper club with singing waiters who perform nightly to the piano of Jeremiah Downes. Chef Anthony Mignona is back with a mostly Italian menu whose entrees (mainly $22 and under) are priced reasonably by Center City standards.
The ninth Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant has opened in Chestnut Hill, taking over storefronts at 8400 Germantown Ave. (215-948-5600) for a snappy-looking lunch-and-dinner operation that employs about 110 full- and part-timers. A 10th location is being planned for 2013 in South Jersey.
Italian Bistro was ousted in May from its spot on Broad Street near Walnut after 21 years because the University of the Arts wanted the space. The crew may have a new home at the corner of Broad and Spruce Streets, where Ted's Montana Grill was until last month. I hear that the name will be Fratelli's Italian Bistro.
The folks behind the Farmers' Cabinet (1113 Walnut St.) will tackle a new, unnamed project at 600 Spring Garden St., a bank building most recently used as the clubs Transit and 90 Degrees. The main floor may become the city's largest beer hall, with 85 taps. The downstairs will feature tiki drinks, while the third floor will be utilized as an in-house brewery/distillery. The bottom two floors are projected to open in the spring, with the brewery/distillery opening during the fall.
Lafayette Bistro at Fifth Street and Fairmount Avenue has closed, as have Aromatic House of Kebob at 113 Chestnut St. and the Marathon Grill at 10th and Walnut Streets.
Briefly noted
Nicole Marquis has settled on HipCityVeg as the name of her vegan quick-serve spot coming to 127 S. 18th St. this winter.
Chef change at the Moshulu on Penn's Landing, as Anthony Bonett (Du Jour, Opus 251, Alison at Blue Bell, Philadelphia Fish & Co., Tony Clark's) takes over for Ralph Fernandez, who has joined Harrah's Chester casino as executive chef.
Todd Rodgers has not gone far after the summer shutdown of Noble American Cookery, where he was a partner. He's now a manager at a.kitchen, 135 S. 18th St.
Contact Michael Klein at mklein@philly.com or @phillyinsider on Twitter. Read much more at his blog, www.philly.com/insider, and follow him at www.philly.com/food.
