Feeding Frenzy

Restaurants opening, closing and pending

by Drew Lazor

>> NOW SEATING

This new Italian BYO is all the Art Museum rage, and owner Jack Henderson (who ran South Street's What's On Tap) says the restaurant's 46 seats have been all but filled since he debuted about six weeks ago. He was scoping the location for nearly five years before meeting head chef/partner Luca Garutti, who hails from the Lake Garda region of Italy, on Craigslist. The menu's big on unorthodox meats—venison, rabbit, wild boar and the like. Bite This: Henderson touts his chef's cauliflower souffle, dressed with shrimp, asiago cheese, asparagus and artichokes.

Old City residents, lend me your four-panel graters: Y'all finally have your own cheese shop. Co-owners Peter Morera and Alex Baute opened in the storefront that housed Petit 4 Pastry Studio about a month ago. Their deli case is bursting with nearly 75 varieties, including choices from Italy, France, Switzerland and England. (We recently snagged a brick of Idiazabal, a sheep's milk Basque cheese with a strong, smoky flavor) Bite This: In addition to the cheese board, the guys offer a daily selection of homemade soups, sandwiches and pantry goods (pastas, balsamics, nuts, etc.).

>> WAITING LIST

In a few weeks, we'll be blaming this Middle Eastern home-cooking spot for making the just-down-the-street Maoz chain green with falafel envy. The venture's a partnership between Victor Agiv (G-Ho's LaVa Café) and Shauly David of Mama's Vegetarian. Look forward to sampling everything from freshly shorn shawarma to hummus platters. They should be slangin' couscous by the end of the month.

The state's Clean Air Council has buddied up with Iron Hill Brewery —all six brewpubs are now smoke-free.

If you were munching at Jim's Steaks on Jan. 3, you witnessed unprecedented history. Competitive eater "Humble Bob Shoudt , a Royersford native, devoured 13 cheesesteaks in an hour and a half, shattering the previous house record of 12.