Next

Last week was Philadelphia Weekly’s annual Next issue, for which we gladly put together a few predictions on local food trends. The next foodie neighborhood? East Passyunk, obvi. We told you about gastropub Stones & Stones, which Nick Melgino of Felicia’s hopes to open in April, and Stogie Joe’s, the old Passyunk Tavern being revamped by Kristian Leuzzi of Kristian’s. We had dinner at Marra’s last night. The new black-and-white-tiled front looks just spiffy, the inside, refreshingly, is dated as ever, and the veal parm is still perfectly crispy.

This week alone we’ve got word on two new spots: an unnamed (and much needed) sushi sanctuary from Lynn Rinaldi of Paradiso at the corner of Passyunk and Tasker and a second outpost of Manayunk’s Southwestern steakhouse Adobe Café. Honestly, we’d rather have seen a gourmet market or brewpub slide into the old Villa di Rita/Elements/I Love Lucy Love Café space, but we’re not complaining. Word is the asking price for the super-sized shell was over a cool mill. Holy adjustable rate mortgage, Batman!

What we really wanna know though, is what’s going on in this space on East Passyunk between Mifflin and Moore. We can’t even remember what used to be here, a shoe store maybe? Construction workers have been toiling away for a few weeks now on the brick front and interior. Looks like apartments upstairs, but what’ll anchor the ground-level retail. We’re voting Indian tandoor house, but we won’t be surprised if it’s another daycare.

Photo: PW, blogalicious