PhillyBYOB.com

Wall Street and financial lenders aren’t the only ones being hit hard by this sluggish economy. The ripple effect has hit the service industry quite hard with sales off in Philadelphia restaurants 15-20% year over year. Some have attempted to adapt while others have relied on promotions to bring in the lost revenues and yet others seemingly are going unaffected.

Chris Mullins, owner of McGillin’s Olde Ale House in Center City, said: “I hate to sound like I’m gloating, but we’re thriving. Mugs of beer for a buck-twenty? You can’t beat that,” he said.

Whatever the case may be, as a consumer, the next six to nine month should be a great opportunity to avoid the rising prices and seek out the restaurants willing to bargain.

[Restaurants Adapt to Leaner Times]

Michael Klein has provided us with a quick update on Soul which just recently opened in Chestnut Hill.

“Soul represents a joint effort of Creole chef Angie Brown (Angie Brown’s, Mount Airy Cafe) and her daughter Samantha Johnson. There’s no sign yet; it’s the red door to the right of Stagecrafters Theater in Chestnut Hill. The tiny, white-tablecloth BYOB, with white-draped chairs and family photos on the walls, is open for dinner Tuesdays through Saturdays; it’s cash only. Entrees run $17 for jambalaya to $22 for New York strip, and appetizers include baked oysters and fried sardines. Sunday brunch is to start in December, and cooking classes for adults and children will start in January.”

[Table Talk]

An Italian gem in Voorhees, Trattoria Spaghhetto has always drawn rave reviews from diners. The hearty authentic cooking of Sicilian owner and chef Giovanni Amaru continues to lure patrons back for seconds and even thirds.

[Trattoria Spaghetto]
[Trattoria Spaghetto Worth the Search]

Join Chaddsford Winery at Brandywine Prime for a tasting and dinner on November 14th for only $65 per person. Don’t miss this great opportunity to barrel-taste the ‘08 vintage in the Chaddsford cellar, and then move to Brandywine Prime for a great regional dinner. Winemaker Eric Miller loves the local flair of the menu which features items grown in Brandywine Prime’s own garden.

If your busy, you can always try Brandywine Prime another evening as they offer a BYO option in the restaurant of one bottle per couple with a $10 corkage fee.

[Brandywine Prime at Chadsford Inn]
[Chadsford Winery]

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Len Lear has written up in great detail a solid review on Langostino’s Restaurant in South Philadelphia. Owner and Chef Irina Datsko has assembled a menu around the ingredients of the Italian Market with no entree over $20.

“Datsko is clearly capable of delivering the warhorses like Caesar salad, pasta primavera, linguini with clams and chicken parmigiana, but she also creates elegant presentations that leave quality ingredients to the solitude of an artfully crafted sauce.”

[Ukrainian artist runs a gem of an Italian BYOB]
[Langostino's Restaurant]

Over at uwishunu.com, Jon Wetstein is showing his love for his favorite BYO La Viola. We share the same sentiment as this cozy restaurant has been serving some of the best authentic Italian cuisine in the city.

We recommend the Girigliata Di Calamari to start and Jon likes the Fettuccine Al Salmone entree. So if you find yourself wandering around the Rittenhouse area with an empty stomach, give this place a try.

[La Viola: Is The City’s Best Italian Cooking]

Savona’s sommelier, Melissa Monosoff, will be hosting Friday night wine tastings for patrons. She was recently named by Wine & Spirits as one of America’s “Best Young Sommeliers” and is also the first woman in Philadelphia, as well as one of the first in the country, to be a candidate for both Master Sommelier and Master of Wine.

Although Savona is not a BYO, the French and Italian Riviera cuisine has been drawing rave reviews and they offer one of the largest wine lists in the state.

Cost is $25 and includes six wines (3 reds/3 whites) and hors d’oeurveres prepared by Chef Andrew Masciangelo

[Savona Restaurant]

Restaurant.com is having yet another sale through October 31st. Enter the code “TREATS” upon checking out and receive 80% off of dining certificates. Check out the rest of the post for a list of participating BYOB restaurants in the Philadelphia area.

$10 value certificate for $3, or $0.60 after 80% coupon code
$25 value certificate for $10, or $2 after 80% coupon code
$50 value certificate for $20, or $4 after 80% coupon code

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Chef David Katz opened up Mémé in late September after the neighborhood favorite Melograno decided to move a few blocks away. Katz is still awaiting a liquor license and they are currently a BYO, so enjoy it while it lasts.

Check out the menu after the jump!

[Mémé Restaurant]

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Rick Nichols of the Philadelphia Inquirer has put together his thoughts on Philly’s newest Japanese BYOB. We reported that Izumi opened up back on Ocotober 9th in the much revived Passyunk Square area.

[Sushi Comes to East P'unk]