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Small Business Saturday

15+ New Restaurants Now Open In Philly

by Elisa Ludwig, writer for Uwishunu Philly

Seasons may come and go but the question of where to eat is timeless.

Of course, when the local restaurant scene is as bustling and innovative as Philly’s, there’s never a shortage of great new eateries to try out, and that’s particularly true this fall.

Washington Square gets a new ristorante to call its own. BYOB Aroma promises contemporary Italian fare like grilled octopus with fennel over ceci beans; mascarpone gnocchi with lobster; and grilled baby lamb chops with rosemary.

Ristorante Aroma: Italian BYOB on Pine Street

by Michael Klein, Staff Writer for Philly.com

Ristorante Aroma, an Italian BYOB, is looking at a Friday, Aug. 12 public debut in the dreamy corner spot at Pine and Quince Streets in Washington Square West last occupied by the Farm & Fisherman (and Paul, before that).

Antonio Cardillo, a Neapolitan native who was the longtime chef-owner of Tulipano Nero in Mount Laurel (and cooked at La Veranda, La Buca, La Collina, and most recently, Center City’s Cibo), and business partner Susan Dennis have brought the snug dining room up to 30 seats.

Cardillo promises modern Italian cooking and a total average price of $35 to $40 a person. It’s white (rather, cream) tablecloth all the way.

Zagat: Ristorante Aroma

With two Italian natives in the kitchen, this Washington Square West white-tablecloth BYO offers straightforward Northern and Southern-inspired cuisine that feels like a tour of Italy, including everything from truffle-stuffed tortellini and Milanese risotto to fettuccine Pulgiese with fresh crab meat.