Feeding Frenzy

Restaurants opening, closing and pending

by Drew Lazor

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One of the most romantic dinner spots in the city is looking to become one of the, uh, most romantic lunch spots in the city. They're keeping the new daytime menu simple, with burgers, wraps and a few salads. They've also installed French doors, and the once jet-black exterior is now burgundy. Bite This: The flounder filet is served with capers, lemon and butter in a white wine sauce.

For years, Philly had but one Filipino restaurant—Wilson Encarnacion's Manila Bay (6724 Castor Ave.). Now, he brings the archipelago to Old City with Cebu, named for the historic province. GM Adam Solomon says that while many diners "are aware of [Filipino cuisine], a lot of people haven't tried it." If you haven't, think loads of seafood and pork dishes with well-played Hispanic influences. The menu features national staples like kare kare (braised oxtail), adobo (pork in a vinegar-and-bay-leaf marinade) and sinigang (sour tamarind soup). Bite This: Solomon's pushing a full-size Kobe steak, a 10-ouncer dressed in a citrus soy marinade and melted sweet onions.

In July, Joe and Brenda Lazar closed Tori's Brickhouse to make the two-block move to the space that formerly housed Mallorca. The new location is three times the size of the original, seating more than 120. Chef Joe added plenty of personal touches, from new Southwestern/Mediterranean starters (duck spring rolls, grilled lamb lollipops) to a banquet room mural of Atlantis that he painted himself. Bite This: One new entree is the crawfish-stuffed filet mignon, served with a bordelaise sauce, poblano mash and sauteed string beans.

Executive chef Gunawan Wibisono, who earned a name for himself as Morimoto's top maki man, will test the oft-choppy dining waters of Old City with this new sushi venture opening today. His three different menus (kitchen, sushi bar and sushi roll) explore the possibilities of Japanese "modern-traditional fusion," with entrees like seared Arctic char and caviar-tomato-portobello salsa in a pineapple miso foam. Good news for the phonally challenged: Zento's Web site (www.zentocontemporary.com) is teasing an online ordering option. Bite This: The Old City Roll features shrimp tempura and asparagus topped with eel and avocado.