IN THE NEWS: Starr Restaurant Organization has some major growth plans — and only part of them involve Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Business Journal reports. The Old City-based company, which has 16 restaurants in three cities, will roll out a host of in-hotel restaurants with food-and-beverage services in Philadelphia, Atlantic City, New York City, Las Vegas and South Florida. Growth in stand-alone restaurants is also in the works. The company will offer “sister” versions of proven restaurants like Barclay Prime, adding to a track record of rolling out Buddakan, Morimoto and The Continental to new locations and markets. Plans linked to hotels include: At the planned W Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the Starr organization will open a sister restaurant (as yet unnamed) to Philadelphia’s Barclay Prime, a steakhouse on Rittenhouse Square. Starr will also oversee all food-and-beverage operations, room service, banquets and catering. The contract also calls for putting out breakfast, lunch and dinner — the first time Starr has provided breakfast (though brunch is often on the menu). philadelphia.bizjournals.com …
Philadelphia Weekly’s Kirsten Henri reviews City Tavern (138 S. Second St. 215.413.1443, www.citytavern.com) and notes the opening of French bistro-ish Cochon (810 E. Passyunk Ave. 215.923.7675. www.cochonbyob.com). philadelphiaweekly.com … City Paper’s Trey Popp reviews Trio (2624 Brown St., 215-232-8746, www.triobyob.com) and visits Cobre (812 N. Broad St., 215-235-1881), while Felicia D’Ambrosio visits Tinto (114 S. 20th St., 215-665-9150). … Drew Lazor notes the openings of Gardenia Restaurant (251 S. 18th St., 215-732-3606), and Gaja Gaja (627 South St. 215-923-0313). citypaper.net …
The Inquirer’s Craig LaBan gives two bells in reviewing Italian restaurant Salento (2216 Walnut St., Philadelphia, 215-568-1314) … Michael Klein’s Table Talk column notes the opening of Pietro’s Prime (125 W. Market St., 484-760-6100), Cochon, Greek BYOB Kuzina by Sofia (Cherry Hill’s Sawmill Shopping Center, 404 Route 70 East, 856-429-1061), Euro BYOB Dream Cuisine Cafe (Cherry Hill’s Village Walk, 1990 Route 70 East, 856-751-2800), and the area’s first Pei Wei Asian Diner (Springfield Square, 950 Baltimore Pike, Springfield, Delaware County). philly.com … PhillyFoodGuys.com visit Mustard Greens (622 S. 2nd Street in Philadelphia, 215-627-0833).
Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com
Filed under: Philadelphia Restaurants | Tagged: City Tavern, Cobre, Cochon, Dream Cuisine, Gaja Gaja, Gardenia, Kuzina, Mustard Greens, Pei Wei, Pietro's Prime, Salento, Starr, Tinto, Trio
