Feeding Frenzy

Restaurants opening, closing and pending

by Drew Lazor

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Published: Sep 12, 2007

>> NOW SEATING

Vilna Gaston and Mike Gurley's Caribbean restaurant/lounge will host its official grand opening Sept. 22. The bilevel space, which accommodates 400, replaces Hollywood Palace, a live music destination in its heyday. Gaston, who hails from Dominica, and her husband, who's Trinidadian, are continuing that tradition in their own right, with DJs spinning soca, zouk, dancehall and more. They plan to stay open until 4 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Bite This: Trini head chef Eldon Quintyne's specialties include oxtail, baked macaroni pie and his signature rum punch.

>> WAITING LIST

Turns out yet another husband-and-wife team is planning on bringing some south-of-here flavor to the city. Beth and Oscar Acuna's Arbol will spin the defunct Ground Floor Coffee into a café serving up Paraguayan specialities like the lomito (sliced beef, turkey, ham, cheese and a fried egg on a soft roll) — and "Sopa Paraguaya," which is something like dense corn bread with baked-in cheese and onions. Beth says that the outdoor garden will be able to accommodate prebooked barbecue parties. The couple hopes to open the place before the end of September.

"Global dim sum" is the word on Ben Byruch's upcoming BYOB, which replaces the short-lived Table. What's that mean? The local boy, who's cooked at Pod and Exton's Brickside Grille, is taking all sorts of influences — American, African, Asian — and crafting fusion-y portions, 24 in all, that he hopes will "spin the norm" on small plates. The dining room will accommodate 44; Byruch says his staff will be trained to offer quality BYO pairings. He hopes to be rolling by early October at the latest. Bite This: One plate will bring together tuna nigiri with rice patties dredged in jerk seasoning.

>> LITTLE VITTLES

This past weekend marked the official debut of Saturday (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) hours at John's Roast Pork (14 E. Snyder Ave., 215-463-1951). >> The old South Street KFC/Taco Bell that "closed for the season" and never reopened will soon be a Venuto's Old World Pizza. Check back next week for more.

 

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