Michael Klein reports that Bistro Evviva, a 50-seat French/Mediterranean joint with former Taquet and Pond/Cassis chef Abde Dahrouch at the helm, will open this fall in the Montgomery Ave. mansion that currently holds a catering business and private party venue. Evviva opened as a restaurant in 1983, but converted to catering-only in the late 80s.

The bistro will both have a full bar and allow BYOB.

Evviva is owned by the Wakim Restaurant Group, who also owns Gemelli in Narberth with chef Clark Gilbert, Aldar Bistro in Bala Cynwyd, and Murray’s Deli in Narberth.

[Evviva Official Site]

TJ's Burger

New feature at Main Line Dine, where we take a highly-regarded food experience in Philadelphia and compare it to a similar offering out here in the burbs. Will it be worth the trip to the city, or are you better off staying close to home?

Starting out we have Village Whiskey, Jose Garces’ happening burger joint and whiskey bar, selected recently by Philadelphia Magazine as one of the best burgers in the city, versus TJ’s of Paoli, who won Main Line Today’s “Best Burger” award in 2009.

(more…)

The Trattoria San Nicola space at 668 Lancaster in Berwyn (they closed in April, supposedly due to an “expired lease”) will be filled soon by Alfredo, a BYOB from the same people who bring you Alfredo’s in Newtown Square (thus, it is named after the owner — Alfred Giannaccari — not the pasta sauce).

Expect a southern Italian menu with antipasto, pasta and plenty of fresh fish.

For those of you who love San Nicola, the Paoli location is still going strong.

We previously reported that Jake’s Frozen Custard will be serving up the self-proclaimed “best burgers in Paoli”… but did they include the soon to Ashys Burger & Fries in that evaluation?

Located in the former Cold Stone Creamery location within the Paoli Shopping Center (who knew they closed? I guess we were too busy waiting in line at Handel’s), the folks behind Ashys are the latest to jump on the “burger joint” craze that swept Philly proper last summer.

If you have any more details, please share.

A sign for Martini’s Italian Market – Specialty Food & Gifts has gone up in the space that formerly held First Class Travel Goods (between Testa Jewelers and Snappy Auctions) in the Paoli Village Shops.

Pattye Benson reports that the owner of Martini’s is the son of the owners of the old Martini’s Restaurant that was on Lancaster Ave. in Devon for many years.

Feel free to post more info if you have any.

First Whirled Peace brought frozen yogurt, now Jake’s is bringing a new concoction known as “Wisconsin-Style Frozen Custard” to the center of Paoli (in the building just east of Saxby’s on 30).

We don’t know what this custard is, but according to Jake’s, “Once you’ve tried genuine Wisconsin Style Frozen Custard, it is difficult to go back to regular ice cream, almost impossible to soft serve.”

In addition to frozen custard, Jake’s will serve “hot off the grill Brats, Deep Fried Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese Curds and the Best Burgers in Paoli.” (According to them at least!)

There’s plenty more info at Jake’s website. (Special Kudos to the people behind Jake’s for having a website launched and functioning when they put their sign up!)

PB and U peanut butter creation is opening on August 27, 2010 in Wayne, in the location of the old Stern’s costume shop, on E. Lancaster Ave by Margaret Kuo’s.

Sounds like a take on NYC’s Peanut Butter & Co., where you have all kinds of crazy sandwich creations or you can invent your own. Surely they’ll have something inspired by Elvis!

More info at their website.

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Floret has closed as of July 1, 2010.

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