Philly News Briefs 9/22/17: Restaurant Edition
1.) One of the Philadelphia region’s largest bakers will be setting up a flagship store in Center City. Classic Cake will be moving into a first-floor location at One Penn Center at Suburban Station (1617 JFK Blvd.), which was last known some years back as a Marathon Grill outlet. According to Barry Kratchman, the Center City restaurant will be more than just a bakery selling goods. It will have 40 sit-down seats for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, which will be offered on a cafe menu. The front window, 83 feet long, will open to the store’s frontage on JFK Boulevard and will show off Classic Cake’s gelato, chocolate, and candymaking. Classic Cake runs a retail location in Cherry Hill in addition to a commercial bakery in Port Richmond.
A bevy of new restaurants are coming to Center City.
2.) A new Italian restaurant is coming to 24th and Locust Streets, where the beloved Sandy’s Restaurant was open until recently. Called Ambrosia, the eatery will be a BYOB run by Fredi Loka and George Profi, who emigrated in the 1990s from Albania after decades of communist rule. It’s a little-known fact that many Albanians passed through Italy, picking up on the art of their beloved cuisine. Loka says that Ambrosia will specialize in homemade pasta, and will be open for lunch and dinner. The restaurant will feature the same open kitchen that Sandy’s made famous. The owners are aiming for a November opening.
3.) The fast-casual restaurant Real Food Eatery is opening a second Center City location, just four blocks away from the original. Mike Mangold and John Colasante have signed a lease at 1700 Market St., which was formerly a Verizon store. It is next door to the well-known Cosi eatery. The original Real Food Eatery is located near 16th and Walnut Streets. RFE’s concept is simple – you build hearty, healthful bowls or platters by choosing “a base (greens or a grain), a protein (such as chicken thighs, shrimp, sirloin, salmon, or tofu – all seared to order), and two sides (maybe kale salad, roasted broccoli, or sweet potatoes). Total is $8.95 for tofu to $14.50 for salmon.” (As per Philly.com) Salads are on the menu as well.
