Birra to Open on East Passyunk in May
Last week, buried in a press release announcing the upcoming East Passyunk festival, Flavors of the Avenue, was word on two new restaurants opening up on the Avenue — a very nebulous project from the people behind the Green Eggs cafes — and Birra, a restaurant and bar at 1700 East Passyunk Avenue, from Gordon Dinerman, most recently of City Tap House. We spoke with Dinerman today and got some preliminary details.
Location: 1700 East Passyunk Avenue, at Morris. It will take occupy the corner space that has been Doggie Style’s dog daycare. The Doggie Style retail store will stay put (Doggie Style owner Ira Goldfarb is Dinerman’s partner in Birra).
Food: Dinerman says he’s designing and engineering the menu himself and has a sous chef in line, who he can’t yet name, to execute his vision. He describes it as “not spaghetti and meatballs. It’ll be rustic, not extremely complicated and seasonal, with a lot of smaller plates.” The food will only be prepared in brick ovens; there will be pizzas, roasted meats and panini.
Drink: As the name, which means ‘beer’ in Italian, indicates, beer is important here, although he will serve wine and cocktails. The selection will be more “worldwide craft,” including some of the new Italian craft beers and “a lot more bottles than taps. I think I can do a better selection with bottles,” he says. He expects to have about 10 beers on draft, plus an engine on the bar. There are also plans for growlers.
Capacity: 50 inside, 30 to 40 seats outside.
Serving: Dinner to start, then lunch and brunch shortly after opening.
Anticipated opening date: Mid to end of May.
Birra, 1700 East Passyunk Avenue
