By Shannon McDonald

Tomorrow is the grand opening of JT’s Philadelphia House, a new restaurant at 7312 Castor Ave. off Cottman.

The day begins at 1 p.m., and the live music starts at 7 p.m. with Sue Teears Trio and Charlie Gracie. There’s no cover in honor of the grand opening, so use the extra money to sample some things from the pretty varied menu and let us know what’s good. We’re especially interested in the funnel cake.

Plus, don’t miss the meet and greet with members of The Orlons, one of Philly’s own hit music groups. At the very least, stop in for a break from the heat.

By Donna Ward

Where can you go in Northeast Philadelphia for a great Brazilian steakhouse? Picanha! Located at 6501 Castor Avenue, Picanha is open seven days a week from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and offers a wonderful buffet and array of Brazilian foods. Having been open for about two years, Picanha has seen a steady increase in clientele and many returning diners for this $21.99 per person feast. At this all-you-can-eat buffet and steakhouse, you are sure to leave satiated and content.

Picanha offers a very lax and informal dining experience. The restaurant is kept relatively clean, and the food is warm on most counts. The décor could use a little help, as it looks a bit aged but overall not tacky. Parking is not always easy to find, as it is usually on the street. The staff seemed friendly, and many could speak Portuguese fluently. continue reading »

Enjoying a tasty tomato pie from Tony's. Photo by John Suder

By Christopher Wink

Tony’s Place wasn’t always on Frankford Avenue, technically speaking.

When the pizza landmark opened in Mayfair in 1951, Tony’s originally promoted itself as being at Barnett and Sackett streets, the same location it has today.

“But no one ever heard of Sackett when we opened,” said Joe Mallamaci, who took over the shop from his father Dominic and brother Tony in 1976. So, in time, they took on the 6300 Frankford Ave. address that most know today.

The shop, famed for its tomato pies, has grown at least three fold since then, and sudden buzz comes in no small part because of last week’s much celebrated reopening of the Devon Theater across the street.

continue reading »

View Larger Map

By Donna Ward

Travel around the world in your own neighborhood! Uzbekistan is a lively Russian restaurant located at 12012 Bustleton Ave. in Somerton and opened directly across from the old Uzbekistan about a year ago. Uzbekistan is named after a province of the former Soviet Union.

For a stylish, upscale evening out where the food seems endless and the dinner more of a party, Uzbekistan is a wonderful restaurant with delicious food and a vibrant atmosphere. From the moment you pull into the parking lot, which provides ample spaces for the usually crowded venue, you feel as though you have stepped into another world.

continue reading »

By Donna Ward

This Turkish restaurant is located on 9825 Bustleton Ave. and specializes in bringing Mediterranean tastes to the NEast. Fish & Grill first opened its doors to the public in 1991, and is owned and operated by Gul and Riza Canca. This family-run eatery focuses on healthily preparation and food recipes. For example, olive oil is used for cooking rather than butter or margin.

Being located in a small strip mall makes parking difficult and sparse. Fish & Grill is very small and has a modest amount of décor ornamenting the walls. The menu consists of a minute but diverse amount of Mediterranean foods, and while the menu is geared more toward seafood lovers than meat eaters, Fish & Grill offers a few traditional-style meat specials. Shish kabobs and lamb chops are just two of the specialties available to satisfy your palate with flavorful meat cravings.

continue reading »

Some changes are coming to NEastphilly.com.

We’ve got a few new interns we’re excited to introduce you to in the coming weeks, and they’ll bring with them more coverage and newer content.

Keep an eye out for our restaurant column, scheduled to run every other Thursday. Our food columnist will review NEast eateries and tell you which ones have the best deals, which offer the most diverse menus, and which are best to avoid.

We’ll also feature a profile on a NEast guy who just released his first album. You can read about his journey to the debut and get a taste of his music.

There’s much more to look forward to on NEastPhilly in 2009!

Wanna contribute to NEastPhilly or tell us about something you think needs more attention? Contact us here.

By Shannon McDonald

Your votes are in!

In last week’s poll, we asked where your favorite place to eat is in the NEast. Here are the results:

• Chickie’s: 29%
• Montesini’s: 29%
• Mayfair Diner: 23%
• Nifty’s: 4%

The Bandwagon Poll closes in 3 days, so don’t forget to vote!

Image courtesy of the Chronicle.