Redhound Grille will open in May 2011 at 128 Paoli Pike in Paoli, in the former Big Easy Saloon space (which closed last October).

Chef/Owner Shane Magee was most recently employed at Places! Bistro; according to an interview posted on Malvern Patch, Magee plans to serve “American food with a twist… There won’t be any cheese steaks or hoagies — but there will be braised short ribs, steaks, lots of fish, risottos … good food like we’ve done at our previous location, but bringing it in at a price point that’s going to be wallet-friendly.”

A wide range of entrees ($10-$22) may include:

• House-brined Berkshire Centre-Cut Pork Chop with grain mustard and apple jus
• Classic Mushroom Risotto with Kennett Square mushrooms, white wine and fresh herbs
• Portabella Ravioli with Gorgonzola cream sauce
• Grilled Black Angus Dry-Aged Hanger Steak with sautéed mushrooms, house steak sauce and homemade fries

On the drink side, Redhound will offer a variety of local beers (potentially including some local homebrews), as well as 30+ bottles of wine under $40.

Redhound aims to apply a community-friendly philosophy, attempting to bridge the gap between a local tavern and an upscale neighborhood bistro. Is this feasible? Only time will tell.

More info to come.

Redhound Grille
128 Paoli Pike
Paoli, PA

Facebook | Website

Gemelli chef/owner Clark Gilbert has sold his Narberth restaurant to John Wolferth (formerly of Sola), which will change name and concepts in a few weeks.

Fear not Gemelli fans — Gilbert will be moving the restaurant to Manayunk (4161 Main St.), in the spot that last housed Mango Moon, which recently closed. The new Gemelli will have a liquor license.

Michael Klein shares a funny story about what brought Wolferth and Gilbert together:

“After selling [Sola] in 2006, [Wolferth] says he took a break and got into quick serve. But when Gilbert opened Gemelli on Woodbine Avenue in October 2009, Wolferth says he showed up at the back door with his chef’s coat and knives. That inspired him to go back into the full-service restaurant game.”

Whole Foods Devon customers will be quite familiar with the recent construction that has expanded the space into the former Homebaked Ham store and revamped their prepared foods area a bit (including the addition of a pizza parlor).

“The Milepost Pub” is now open in the front area of the store (next to the cafe seating area). It offers 300 bottles of beer, 6 local taps for on-site pints or take-away growlers, and a wine-by-the-glass vending machine. The pub also offers a menu of small plates for noshing while you sip. Though the takeout beer area is rather small (and cold!), it is packed with a great variety of local beers, US crafts and imports. In addition, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the selection is different enough from that of nearby Wegman’s, so trips to both stores are warranted for the completist. The Pub is open daily from 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM, and on Sundays, from 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM.

In semi-related news, WP Realty is also in the process of expanding the Whole Foods shopping center (once Devon Village, to be called The Shops at Devon), including the addition of another restaurant. (There’s a second building to the west of where Whole Foods currently stands.) No word on what that might be or when it will be ready.

Another (an actual?) Mexican-themed restaurant is coming to Wayne — in addition to the Spanish/Mexican tapas joint Matador (in the old Vivo/Freehouse space), Xilantro (which apparently is based on the Aztec spelling of the divisive herb), an upscale Mexican restaurant & lounge, will be opening its doors in late May 2011, just across N. Wayne Ave.

The owners hail from existing restaurants El Serape in Blue Bell and Los Serapes in Chalfont and Horsham (as well as a place called Cilantro – traditional spelling – in Salem, MA). Expect a more authentic Mexican theme than Matador, and tequila, as they have acquired a liquor license.

Xilantro’s seasonal menu will feature both “progressive” and “authentic” Mexican fare. Appetizers will include Guacamole made table-side, freshly-made tortillas and Arriba Chihuahua Nachos (which seems like a fancy way to say Nachos). Entrees include Grouper en Papillate, Filete Tres Chiles and Grilled Pork Chops with Tomatillo Sauce and Crunchy Plantain.

At lunch, guests can choose from a wide array of dishes such as Xilantro del Mar Salad, Salmon Tropical and a variety of Tacos, Enchiladas and Fajitas. In addition, all of the dishes that are made with corn products are gluten free.

The bar at Xilantro will house one of the largest selections of premium tequila in the Philadelphia area, with over 100 tequilas, along with Mexican inspired cocktails including specialty margaritas, Mexican beers and wines from around the world.

Menus (PDFs via Philly.com): Lunch | Dinner

Xilantro
103 N. Wayne Ave.
Wayne, PA
484-580-8415
Website | Xilantro’s Facebook Page

Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 11:30am – 10:30pm
Friday – Saturday: 11:30am – 11:30pm
Sunday Brunch: Noon – 3pm
Sunday Dinner: 3 – 10pm
Catering & Special Parties also available.

A new French Bistro named La Petite Maison will be opening the weekend of March 26, 2011 in Berwyn, sharing the space with the Royal Tea House (where Berywn Coffee Co. used to be). The BYOB is the latest project from chef Maurice de Ramus, who’s had stints at Ardmore’s A la Maison, Philly’s Zen and Cherry Hill’s Onasis.

Dinner only, Tues-Sat 5-10pm. Entress are mid-to-upper 20s. 720 Lancaster Ave, Berwyn, 610-450-6133.

Here’s their opening menu (as written):

A new organic Frozen Yogurt Cafe, Yogo Sano, has recently opened in the space that used to house Cafe Procopio (just above the new Real Pizza location – across from the old Real Pizza location).

Yogo Sano says they are the only frozen yogurt store in the Philadelphia area that serves the highest quality USDA certified organic tart yogurt.

More info at http://www.yogosano.com/.

Hogfish Bar and Grill is coming to 372 W Lancaster Ave. (where Osaka was formerly located – in the same building as Flavor) this June.

It is named for a snapper-like fish native to Florida, and the menu will focus on seafood. Check their website for more details (when they are available).

Our prior speculation that this restaurant was related to the bar and grill of the same name located in Stock Island, Florida, was incorrect.

In unrelated news, Nova Grill is coming soon to 815-817 E Lancaster Avenue in Villanova.

Pattye Benson reports that McKenzie’s Brew House is looking to open a new location in Berwyn’s Valley Fair Shopping Center, in the former Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse space. No date is available at this time.

(Why couldn’t it be Sly Fox?)

For you township politics junkies out there, a hearing is scheduled for March 7, 2011 to discuss the transfer of Basil’s (Willistown) liquor license to McKenzie’s for this (Tredyffrin) location.

If you follow Avalon Restaurant on Facebook, you probably already know that chef/owner John Brandt-Lee will soon be opening Avalon’s Pasta Bistro, although Brandt-Lee has been mum on the location, other than the fact that he recently signed a lease. Many Facebookers have already guessed that it will be located at the former Jasper’s location in Downingtown, and Michael Klein confirmed that today.

According to some recent posts from Brandt-Lee, the bistro will be a “casual pasta bistro, serving complimentary beer & Sangria, Artisanal cheeses and a ‘best of line up’ of Avalon’s most popular homemade pastas.” It will “feature pastas like Pappardelle with poached sea scallops, black truffles in a lobster brandy cream or our 15 item antipasti platter with Preserved tuna, roasted peppers, white anchovies, chili cured olives, eggplant, zucchini, fried risotto, salumi, selection of artisanal cheeses, roasted beets, white beans etc.”

I’m not sure I get the “Pasta” modifier in “Pasta Bistro” (why can’t it just be a bistro?), but it sounds quite good nonetheless.

Darlene Moseng, the chef and owner at French BYO A La Maison in Ardmore, has recently left town for Seattle to develop a restaurant / catering biz at the Amazon Corporate Center. She’ll remain involved in the Ardmore restaurant, while everyday chef de cuisine Sean McMonagle will remain in the kitchen.

Interestingly, Mike Stollenwerk, the chef/owner Little Fish – who has been a busy bee lately with the opening of Fish and the soon-to-be Fathom Seafood Bar — will come on as a consultant. Expect to see his influence starting this Spring.

Here’s the description of a la Maison from OpenTable:

A la Maison is a casually elegant French inspired BYOB bistro located in the heart of Ardmore at 53 W. Lancaster Avenue.

Come & join us for a relaxing evening “at home” with your favorite friends & favorite bottle of wine.