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Fairmount's restaurant scene is gaining a wine bar, courtesy of and adjacent to London Grill. (Photo courtesy London Grill)

“I see London, I see France” is what you’ll say when owners Terry and Chef Michael McNally of London Grill open their second restaurant, Paris Wine Bar, next door on Thursday, February 9 with a reception featuring free hors d’oeuvres and live jazz.

Although “an ode to the winsome storefronts of Paris’ Le Marais neighborhood,” in Terry’s words, the comfortable lounge and cafe will focus on wines produced here in Pennsylvania.

Food-wise, Chef McNally’s cafe-inspired menu will include comfort fare like steamed mussels, mustard-crusted calf’s liver and his own take on the classic croque madame served with duck confit.

The 50-seater, adorned with French sconces, chandeliers and draperies from the McNallys’ personal collection, will be open Thursday through Sunday from 4 p.m.-midnight as well as for private events.

And, if you can’t visit the City of Lights this Spring, be sure to check out the wine bar’s outdoor cafe which will open with the welcoming of warmer weather.

Paris Wine Bar
2303 Fairmount Avenue
www.londongrill.com/paris

LeBron James is in town today for the big showdown pitting the Miami Heat against your first-place Philadelphia 76ers. The Heat were out and about yesterday and King James was spotted during an afternoon visit to the popular Fairmount location of Philly’s lunch/brunch staple, Sabrina’s Cafe. Word on the street is that it’s a “go-to” spot for LeBron and company when they’re in town. While it’s good to see Bron Bron visiting authentic Philly restaurants, we have a feeling that no matter how good the meal was, it’s not going to help him tonight against your 76ers. Go Sixers! [@SabrinasPhilly]

Watch the Super Bowl at Lemon Hill, fueled by an all-you-can-eat buffet featuring classic New York vs. New England foods. Pastrami fried chicken wings (pictured here)? Yes, please. (Photo by Andrea Monzo courtesy Supper)

Chef Mitch Prensky’s latest endeavor, Lemon Hill, is hosting a “Supper Bowl” in honor of Super Bowl 46, February 5.

In a culinary match-up to mirror the geographical battle on the football field, Lemon Hill will pit classic New York and New England foods agains each other. Chow down on Coney Island Style Mini Supper Dogs, Cape Cod Clambake Rolls, Brooklyn Style Sausage & Peppers pizza, New Haven White Clam Pie, Pastrami Fried Chicken Wings and more.

The restaurant will open at 5 p.m., with the buffet opening at 5:30. Turnover for desserts is at halftime.

Supper Bowl is $42 per person (all-you-can-eat), with drink specials all night including $7 Old Fashioned and $3 Miller High Life and High Life Light. There will also be a football pool with prizes, so bring your betting game.

There is limited space for the Supper Bowl, so call to reserve a spot: (215) 232-2270.

Alternatively, Supper, Prensky’s original restaurant on South Street, is offering a delicious Super Bowl take-out package, including their popular bacon-wrapped hot dogs, birch beer glazed wings and BBQ Pigskins. All items will be packaged and include instructions, for easy assembly at home. Orders need to be placed by noon on Friday, February 3.

Full Supper Bowl menu, below.

“Supper Bowl” at Lemon Hill
Where: 25th & Aspen Streets
When: Sunday, February 5, 5 p.m.
Cost: $42 all-you-can-eat
More info: www.lemonhillphilly.com

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Chef Tim Spinner and Brian Sirhal of Cantina Feliz in Fort Washington, which just recently celebrated its one year anniversary, have opened a new Mexican joint called La Calaca Feliz (that’s “The Happy Skeleton”).

Spinner, whose resume includes El Vez, Amada and Distrito, has created a contemporary menu featuring takes on classic south-of-the-border fare like tacos, nachos, Mexican pizza and skewers all prepared by Chef de Cuisine Lucio Palazzo, formerly of Xochitl in Headhouse Square.

The full bar stocks more than 50 types of tequila offering daily happy hours from 5-7 p.m. and late night deals on Saturday beginning at 10 p.m.

At the moment, La Calaca Feliz, which seats 60, is only open for dinner seven days a week but will be adding lunch and brunch to the mix, as well as a greenhouse expansion which will welcome an additional 30 diners.

Call (215) 787-9930 for reservations.

La Calaca Feliz
2321 Fairmount Avenue
www.lacalacafeliz.com

Kick the Monday blues at London Grill with delicious meatballs. (Photo courtesy London Grill)

Fairmount’s London Grill is giving you something to look forward to on Mondays.

Every Monday night, Chef McNally dishes up a sampling of three delicious meatballs for $6, with the flavors varying each week.

Some examples of the meatballs the chef has been known to whip up: Moroccan Tuna Balls with Tomato Jam; Veggie Balls; Pork meatballs with roasted poblano rajas; Lamb & Feta meatballs with rhubarb tomato sauce, Duck Meatballs with cherry mostarda, Chicken & proscuitto with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella; and Foie Gras Meatballs.

Pair your meatballs with one of London Grill’s local beers, including Dock Street Justin’s Moustache, Victory Helios, Yards Love Stout or Stoudt’s Fest Willie Sutton Lager.

Then you can head around the corner to Eastern State Penitentiary to take a Winter Adventure Tour.

Kick the Monday blues at London Grill! You officially have plans this evening.

London Grill
2301 Fairmount Avenue
www.londongrill.com

Chef Mitch Prensky has amped up his partnership with The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. to present Lemon Hill, a tavern-like joint in Fairmount boasting delicious American food and great craft cocktails. (Photos by M. Edlow for GPTMC)

In a continuation of the innovative partnership between The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. and Supper that began last spring, The Franklin’s Managing Partner Mike Welsh and Supper Chef Mitch Prensky will debut Lemon Hill tonight, December 28.

Since March, patrons at The Franklin have been enjoying bar snacks by Chef Prensky and Supper’s diners have been sipping Franklin-created cocktails.

Now Lemon Hill will wed The Franklins top-notch tipples with Prensky’s seasonal American cooking, all under one roof, in a cozy neighborhood tavern-like joint.

Location

Located in Fairmount in the old Lucky 7 spot, Lemon Hill takes its name from the historic mansion located just up the street.

The restaurant will take a more casual approach to food than does Supper, with a large portion of the kitchen’s fare will be made in the beautiful centerpiece brick oven, pictured above.

Green

In keeping with his tradition of sustainably sourced ingredients, Prensky will be serving Creekstone Farms beef and turning out a signature burger blend, from La Frieda, for the Classic Pattymelt. Local produce will be sourced from Newtown Square’s Blue Elephant Farm, which serves Supper & Lemon Hill exclusively.

Drinks

The beverage program’s well-curated wine and beer list (six taps will contain a mix of local and non-local brews), in addition to coffee by Stumptown Roasters, will complement the craft cocktail list, created by Al Sotack of The Franklin.

Fun fact: Lemon Hill is the only bar in the neighborhood and one of the few in the city to use Kold Draft Ice, the purest available in the industry.

Overall, Lemon Hill’s casual setting (think exposed brick, and frosted windows salvaged from The Architects Building on 17th & Sansom Streets) and approachable food and drink menus are a perfect addition to an up-and-coming neighborhood, and the Philadelphia culinary scene in general.

Call (215) 232-2299 for reservations. Check out the full menus, below.

Lemon Hill
727 N. 25th Street
www.lemonhillphilly.com

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McCrossen's is proving it can do more than great beer with a decadent champagne and truffle dinner this Thursday. (Photo courtesy McCrossen's Tavern)

Since arriving at McCrossen’s Tavern in July 2010, Chef Townsend Wentz has slowly seduced his clientele with French-inspired dishes, weaving in elements and techniques from his culinary past at the Fountain and Lacroix at Rittenhouse.

He will continue the seduction on Thursday, December 29 with a four-course black truffle dinner that showcases the highly prized delicacy.

Each serving will be paired with premier French Grower Champagnes carefully selected by GM and Sommelier Lauren Harris.

So, what exactly is a truffle? It’s a relative of the mushroom that is typically found around the roots of hardwood trees in late autumn and winter. The truffle has a pungent perfume and intense, earthy flavor synonymous with umami, that elusive and savory fifth taste sense.

The black variety, or the Périgord truffle, will arrive from southwest France and be presented in four unique dishes.

As Wentz says of the truffle, “It is a worthwhile extravagance that everyone deserves at least once a year, or in their lifetime. We wanted to give our guests a high-quality dinner at a reasonable price to thank them for their patronage. I want this to be an unforgettable taste memory for them.”

Make your reservations now by calling (215) 854-0923.

French Black Truffle Dinner at McCrossen’s Tavern
When: Thursday, December 29, 6:30 p.m.
Where: 529 N. 20th Street
Cost: $100, plus tax & gratuity
More info: www.mccrossens.com

The full menu is included below.

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The holiday season is all about tradition, and for Philadelphians in Fairmount, the annual Reindeer Romp is not to be missed.

Back for its 14th year, this holiday-inspired bar crawl will kick off at 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 22.

Each “romper” will be given a pair of reindeer antlers which will entitle them to drink specials at more than a dozen different participating bars.

The cost of the crawl is $10 per person, plus a small toy or a new or gently used coat. A portion of all proceeds, as well as all of the coats and toys, will be donated to Feel The Warmth, a non-profit charity that provides winter coats and toys to Philadelphia’s less fortunate.

Stop by any of the following starting points to sign in, drop off your donation and pick up your complimentary antlers:

• The Brown Street Pub (formerly McKenna’s Irish Pub): 795 N. 24th Street
• St. Stephens Green: 1701 Green Street
• The Green Room: 1940 Green Street
• McCrossen’s: 529 N. 20th Street
• Philly Pub ‘n Grub: 2001 Hamilton Street

Let the romping begin!

Reindeer Romp Bar Crawl for Charity in Fairmount
When: Thursday, December 22, beginning at 6 p.m.
Where: Multiple locations in Fairmount
Cost: $10 and a toy or coat donation, then pay as you go
More info: www.upcomingevents.com

Eastern State Penitentiary is even more beautiful in the stark months of winter. (Photo by E. Feist courtesy Eastern State Penitentiary)

This Thursday, December 1 marks the opening of the latest installment of seasonal fun at Eastern State Penitentiary: the annual Winter Adventure Tours.

This year’s tours provide an hour-long look at the historic prison, including a glimpse at Death Row, the massive central surveillance hub and a walk through Al Capone’s infamous cell.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to unlock one of the Penitentiary’s “escape-proof” cells and check out murals painted by actual inmates. And new this year will be a “Hands-On History” interactive experience to keep you and your friends and family on your toes.

If you reserve your spot for Thursday, December 15 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., you’ll be treated to special holiday performances by the University of Pennsylvania Glee Club. Visitors will also be able to donate new or used books to Books Through Bars, an organization that provides reading material to inmates.

Parts of the tour can get a bit chilly, so you’ll want to dress for the weather. But, back by popular demand will be the complimentary hot chocolate, so you should stay nice and toasty.

Advance tickets are strongly recommended for Saturday and Sunday tours, and are available online.

Winter Adventure Tours at Eastern State Penitentiary
When: Opens Thursday, December 1 and runs through March, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: 2027 Fairmount Avenue
Cost: $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 for students and children
More info: www.easternstate.org

The Craft Beer Express returns this Saturday, November 12, melding the palate-pleasing microbrews of Philadelphia’s best bars with the fun and safety of the CBX bus.

The marathon bar crawl goes from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. and can be started at any of the participating pubs. This time around twelve bars are participating, each with its own awesome event day offerings. Check out the specials, below:

• Kraftwork will be featuring a selection of “nitro-brews.” Not familar? Typical drafts are carbonated with CO2, where a nitro draft contains a mixture of CO2 and nitrogen. Why should you care? That special kind of pressure creates a pint with a thick, creamy head and mouth feel a la Guinness and Boddington’s.

• On tap at Johnny Brenda’s will be a variety of wet-hopped (made with fresh hops) brews both local and national. They’ll also be featuring an extended huevos rancheros brunch.

• Standard Tap will be serving from the Dogfish Head’s Ancient Ale Series. These selections are one of a kind brews based on centuries-old recipes from all over the world, served as flights as to allow for maximum sampling.

• The Institute’s selections include porters and stouts sourced from Shangy’s of Allentown. Be sure to check out their recently overhauled menu featuring all new appetizers, burgers, desserts and more.

• At Bishop’s Collar they’re celebrating Bell’s Brewing of Kalamazoo Michigan with 12 different beers, and a firkin for good measure.

• Kite & Key is keeping it Belgian style with an Ommegang tap-takeover.

• Jose Pistola’s embraces funk in all of its glorious forms. Smelly cheese, sour beers, brass monkey cocktails and live funk bands featuring The Blue Crunk.

• A mixture of the tried and true and a few off the beaten path beers from Founder’s Brewing will be flowing at The Sidecar.

• It’s an extended Oktoberfest at the P.O.P.E with a variety of seasonal ciders, pumpkin brews and autumnal beers.

• Devil’s Den is keeping it seasonal as well with every single tap pouring fall brews from Bella Vista.

• Brauhaus Schmidt’s shares their “Bock-It List,” a selection of 10 dobbelbock beers to drink before you die.

• Last but not least, Race St. Cafe will be having a Midwest brewery battle with Great Lakes Brewing facing off against New Holland. A representative from each brewery will be in attendance, bringing their favorite rare and limited release beers to share.

Buy tickets online. And check out a map of the day’s route, below.

Craft Beer Express
Where: Twelve participating bars
When: Saturday, November 12, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Cost: $10 to ride for the day, then pay as you go
More info: www.craftbeerexpress.com

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