Tony Clark - who raised eyebrows six months ago when he landed as chef at Serafina off Rittenhouse Square - has moved on to Valley Forge Casino Resort as executive chef of its showcase restaurants Pacific Prime and Viviano. Clark's background includes the Four Seasons; his eponymous restaurant at Broad and Sansom Streets; a 10-year private-chef engagement; and a very short stint at Harry's Savoy Grill. He also still owns the Old Grange in Cape May, but he said it is closed for the season.
In the works
House-made pasta, mozzarella, and doughnuts, salads made tableside, wood-fired pizzas: Lots of hot buttons are being pressed by restaurateur Scott Morrison, who is planning a casual but high-minded Main Line spot called Avero. It's being teed up for an early 2013 opening in Devon Square Shoppes (821 W. Lancaster Ave., Devon), where a Wine & Spirits Shop was, in the same center as the Whole Foods. Morrison, who had a hand in some big projects such as Chelsea Tavern, Nectar, and Maia, is working with Vince Schiavone on the fast-casual restaurant. Morrison said it would be affordable.
The Chestnut Hill Hotel - now undergoing a major spruce-up that includes a November reopening of the farmer's market in the rear - has a tenant to fill the prime restaurant space previously occupied by the Melting Pot. Bardea ("bar-day-ah") will be Italian-leaning American with a wood-fired pizza oven, salumi bar, fresh pasta, wines/cocktails, outdoor dining via newly installed huge windows on Germantown Avenue. "Affordable sophistication" is how operating partner Scott Stein describes it. Chef/partner is Jay Caputo, the James Beard best-chef award nominee and former executive chef at Tangerine, who now owns the chic Espuma and more lively Cabo in Rehoboth Beach, Del. They're talking about an early spring opening.
The branch of Northern Liberties' Honey's Sit IN Eat at 21st and South Streets is shooting to open in early December.
Briefly noted
Hogfish, which opened in summer 2011 in the former Osaka space next to Flavor, at 372 W. Lancaster Ave. in Wayne, is closed - according to the answering machine, "temporarily."
The Ambler branch of Rosey's BBQ has shuttered its smaller shop after 16 months. Owner Chad Rosenthal is being really tight-lipped about his plans, other than to hint that he'll resurface on Butler Pike. Which brings to mind one vacant spot: the former Shanachie, around the corner.
Photos, menus, and additional details about these restaurants, plus dining news, can be found at www.philly.com/mike. Contact Michael Klein at mklein@philly.com.
