Michael Klein: Late of Le Bec-Fin, chef Nicholas Elmi arrives at Rittenhouse Tavern

Bluefin owner Yong Kim prepares sushi at the eatery's new location in East Norriton. It has triple the space and a 17-seat sushi bar. (MICHAEL KLEIN / philly.com)

By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

Posted: March 08, 2012

Nicholas Elmi - chef/partner at Le Bec-Fin, which last weekend ended its 42-year run under Georges Perrier - has landed as chef at Rittenhouse Tavern, expected to open in April inside the Art Alliance on Rittenhouse Square.

The deal for Elmi seems like fate.

Restaurant Associates, which is setting up and overseeing the restaurant, had been searching for a chef for months. "I had kind of gotten a bit disillusioned" with the applicants, said Ed Brown, the chef who is managing Rittenhouse Tavern on behalf of RA. When Perrier cinched the sale of Le Bec-Fin and it was clear that new owner Nicolas Fanucci wanted his own chef, Elmi's buddies encouraged him to look up Brown.

Elmi performed a tasting as a tryout. "His turbot dish with a red-wine sauce blew my socks off - perfectly cooked and clean and simple," said Brown, a French-trained seafood specialist.

Rittenhouse Tavern's American brasserie menu is "in my wheelhouse," said Elmi. "The [menu] idea is to be simple and elegant and fun."

In other Le Bec-Fin news, Fanucci says he will accept gift certificates in the new incarnation.

What's new

Bluefin, which sits atop many critics' lists of best sushi in the region, has relocated a mile north of its original home in Plymouth Meeting to Northtowne Plaza (2820 Dekalb Pike, East Norriton, 610-277-3917). Owner Yong Kim has double the seating - including a 17-seat sushi bar - and triple the space. Photos: www.philly.com/bluefin.

A branch of J.D. McGillicuddy's opened this week at 118 N. Wayne Ave. in Wayne (610-971-2628), replacing Flanigan's Boathouse. American crafts make up the entire draft list.

Buttonwood Grill, a bar-restaurant, opened this week at Peddler's Village on the former site of the Spotted Hog and Sweet Lorraine's at Route 202 and Street Road in Lahaska, Bucks County (215-794-4040). Enviable beer program: 20 on draft (10 crafts, 10 macros) plus two nitro lines and 50 by the bottle.

Miller's Ale House has opened its Mount Laurel location at 554 Fellowship Rd. (856-722-5690).

Changing

SoWe Bar & Kitchen - as in "SOuthWEst Center City" - will replace Divan Turkish Kitchen in April at 918 S. 22d St. Concept: modern bistro cuisine, craft beers, wines, cocktails. The look: earth-tone walls, reclaimed wood floor, and bar crafted from weathered oak, mood lighting, cool soundtrack. The churn continues for Turkish restaurants. Besides Divan, we've lost Konak (228 Vine St.) but recently added Leyla Turkish Cuisine at 113 Chestnut St. in Old City.

Healthy Bites' cafe at 2521 Christian St. will close March 18. Katie Cavuto-Boyle's catering/chef business remains open.

Contact Michael Klein at mklein@philly.com or @phillyinsider on Twitter. Read much more on his blog, www.philly.com/insider, and follow him at www.philly.com/food.