Some Details On The Opening Of The Little Lion

The Little Lion didn’t make our latest list of upcoming fall openings because, at the time we were putting that list together, we didn’t really know enough about the place to say anything.

Now, though, we’ve got a few details about the new restaurant going into the 3rd and Chestnut space in Old City. We know, for example, that its name pays homage to founding father Alexander Hamilton. We know, for example, that there’ll be an upscale but casual vibe (which means nothing). That they’re hoping to get open sometime in November (which also means nothing until there’s an actual date).

Oh, and now we know who the chef is going to be, too.

Executive chef Sean Ciccarone  will be running the kitchen at the Little Lion. Ex of Haru, Pennsylvania 6, Farmer’s Cabinet and the Mainland Inn, Ciccarone knows his way around comfort food and gastropub menus. Here, he’ll be creating a menu that embraces the flavors of Americana cuisine with comfort food influences and an upscale raw bar including oysters, clams and ceviches.

The menu will have both small plates and full-sized entrees with farm-to-table product sourcing. The selection includes house-made pastas, seafood, steak, sandwiches, salads and house-made desserts. So, you know, a menu. With food on it.

The restaurant also plans to feature a house pickling, smoking and curing program. And behind the bar, there’ll be 16 draft lines with craft beers, draft cocktails and draft lattes all available.

The architecturally historic building will feature hand-stained tabletops and restoration of the 150-year-old, 8 foot window panes in the dining room.

With all the space available to them, the restaurant plans to host private parties, and the building’s former sushi lounge at the 3rd Street entrance will now be an interactive chef’s counter and raw bar (which should be interesting, and is a nice use for some existing real estate).

The Little Lion [f8b8z]