The long-anticipated opening of the new brewery and winery in the red-brick firehouse building, former Dock Street West location at 50th and Baltimore, is happening on Saturday.

Carbon Copy will open on Dec. 10, at 11 a.m. The menu includes craft beer and wine, pizza and vegetable-focused snacks prepared in the wood-fired oven, well-known to old Dock Street customers.

The new restaurant is owned and run by beer and wine making specialists with a 20-year experience in food service, Brendon Boudwin and Kyle Wolak. The newly renovated space has a brighter, “more inviting” design with a goal of creating a “relaxing neighborhood restaurant and bar for locals.” Continue Reading

Cybille St. Aude-Tate and Omar Tate have brought their considerable food expertise to Honeysuckle Provisions, the Afrocentric grocery and café on 48th Street near Pine set to open this Saturday. (Photo by West Philly Local)

Cybille St. Aude-Tate quickly corrects herself when she talks about the folks who shop at Honeysuckle Provisions, the new Afrocentric grocery and café set to open this Saturday, Oct. 29 near 48th and Pine.

“Not customers … neighbors,” said St. Aude, an accomplished Haitian-American chef who runs the shop with her husband Omar Tate, a Philadelphia native who was named Esquire magazine’s “chef of the year” in 2020.

So why are two food heavy hitters who have been featured in Vogue, Food and Wine and Esquire and made their names in the super-competetive New York dining scene opening a gourmet takeout shop in West Philly? For Omar, it’s about coming home. He grew up in Germantown and his mother has lived in West Philly – on Parrish Street – for years. Continue Reading

A new Ethiopian-owned business is opening soon on Baltimore Avenue, a block away from popular Alif Brew & Mini Mart (and run by the same folks). An Ethiopian chicken house, Doro Bet, is coming to 4533 Baltimore Ave., the space formerly occupied by Greenstreet Coffee. The space has been vacant since March 2022 after Greenstreet had to shut down operations due to a fire.

A grand opening has been scheduled for this Saturday, Oct. 1, from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. (free chicken bites will be offered to first 50 guests).

According to social media posts, the new chicken house will offer gluten-free fried chicken. Teff flour will be used for the coating (teff is ancient gluten-free grain that originated in North Africa). Chicken is battered in your choice of mild lemon turmeric batter (Alicha) or spicy Berbere batter (Awaze) and will come with “some delicious sauces.” Shawarma and sides, like collard greens, fries and mac and cheese, will also be offered.

Doro Bet will also have some vegan options, like fried mushroom strips and a falafel sandwich.

The hours of operation are: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (closed on Tuesdays).

More information and the menu are available here.

Parks on Tap, Philadelphia’s pop-up beer garden, is coming to West Philly’s Clark Park next week. The popular program, a partnership between the Department of Parks and Recreation and Fairmount Park Conservancy, features beers on tap, wine, non-alcoholic beverages and fresh food. It pops up at different parks throughout the city all summer long.

The traveling beer garden is currently located at Penn Treaty Park in Fishtown and will be at Clark Park (43rd and Baltimore) from Wednesday, Sept. 7 through Sunday, Sept. 11. The hours of operation are the following:

Wed-Fri: 4 p.m.-10 p.m.

Sat & Sun: Noon – 10 p.m.

Special events include a Happy Hour with the Friends of Clark Park on the opening day (Wed, Sept. 7), from 4-6 p.m. 25 percent of the proceeds will directly support Clark Park.

For more information about Parks on Tap, click here.

One of University City’s most popular restaurants, Distrito, has closed its doors while chef Jose Garces, who owns the establishment, is “re-evaluating the business,” according to reports.

The upscale-casual Mexican restaurant, which opened in 2008 at 40th and Chestnut, was struggling financially due to the lack of customers during the summer months and closed abruptly on July 9th, according to a report by The Philadelphia Inquirer.

There is hope though that Garces will reopen the restaurant in late August when students return to campus after the summer break. By that time he hopes to have a “solid business plan going forward.” Garces did not give a definitive answer and said he would make the decision based on the economic situation (rising food costs, etc.) at that time.

The Distrito staff who lost their jobs as a result of the closure will be offered jobs at other restaurants owned by the famous chef, according to the report.

The popular local restaurant promotion, University City Dining Days, is returning this week. Beginning Thursday, July 21 and through the end of the month, West Philly residents and guests are invited to enjoy the diverse West Philly restaurant scene with a little less stress on their wallet.

This year’s deals begin at $20 for a three-course lunch or dinner at some participating locations, including such popular restaurants and eateries as Dahlak, Loco Pez, El Taco, New Deck Tavern, Jezabel’s and more. You can also explore more expensive options – for $30 or $40 – from such great establishments as Renata’s Kitchen, Booker’s, Aksum, City Tap House, Dim Sum House, White Dog Cafe and more. Continue Reading