This spring, Vernick Food & Drink (2031 Walnut Street), an inviting neighborhood bistro from Cherry Hill, NJ native Chef-owner Greg Vernick, will open in the Rittenhouse Square area.  Drawing from his world travels and work abroad, Chef Vernick, will use extraordinary regional products to create a menu of approachable, globally-inspired dishes.  The bi-level restaurant’s modern industrial accents and rustic decorative touches will create a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere, a perfect backdrop for Chef Vernick’s inventive-yet-familiar dishes.  Along with an enticing selection of wine, local beer and classically prepared cocktails, it is sure to be become a local favorite.

“Since embarking on my career, I’ve wanted to open my own restaurant and I’m thrilled to return to Philadelphia and do so for the first time,” says Chef Vernick, who honed his skills in lauded kitchens such as New York City’s Restaurant Tocqueville, Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Jean-Georges and Kenneth Oringer’s Clio in Boston, MA.  “We want this restaurant to feel like the vibrant cafes that my wife Julie and I visited in Europe, a place where guests can casually stop by to relax while enjoying great food and drink without a lot of fuss.”

The menu will feature a wealth of plates that range in size from simple snacks to hearty entrees meant to be shared and will be divided into several categories:  Toasts, crostinis and bruschettas;  Raw, shellfish and tartares;  Vegetables, salads and side dishes;  Small Plates, appetizers and share-able snacks;  Large Plates, entrees;  and Simply Roasted, platters that are served family-style with greens and herbs, ideal for sharing among several guests.

Selections will change, depending on what is in season, to best capitalize on the freshest flavors in the area.  Highlights may include: Charred Spinach and Leek Toast;  Beef Tartare with gaufrettes; Marinated Artichokes and Ramps;  Ocean Trout with crispy skin and chili;  Market Lettuces with seasonal vegetables, seeds and citrus vinaigrette;  House-Made Mozzarella with rhubarb jam and sea salt;  Steamed Mussels with cherry tomatoes in a basil broth;  Potato Ravioli with lamb ragu and English peas;  Braised Beef Cheek with fava beans, celery and a herb salad;  Hand-Cut Buckwheat Pasta with broccoli rabe, spring garlic and lemon;  Pork Blade Steak with onion marmalade, cherries and mustard;  and a Seafood and Shellfish Roast.  Prices will range in price from $5 to $26.

The “Drink” side of Vernick Food & Drink will feature refreshing homemade sodas, a carefully crafted selection of domestic and imported wines and beers and perfectly poured cocktails.  Wine will be reasonably priced, with glasses ranging from $8 to $14.  Beer will be poured on draught and offered by the bottle from their extensive list which will include local and imported craft varieties, such as Yards and Flying Fish, ranging in price from $5 to $15.

Light earth tones will enhance the restaurant’s comfortable, airy ambiance throughout three distinct dining areas.  Downstairs will feature large bistro windows that open out onto the street as well as an industrial 10-seat bar made of natural slate with stained concrete top and high-top cocktail tables, perfect for a casual drink and a few small plates.  Beyond the bar area, an intimate, rustic dining room with partially exposed brick walls and a seven-seat chef’s counter will give diners a close-up view of the lively open kitchen and custom-built wood-burning oven.

The stylish upstairs dining room, which will be decorated with personal photos of Chef Vernick and his wife Julie’s world travels over the past decade, will boast floor-to-ceiling windows offering views overlooking bustling Walnut Street.  Maple wood tables and chairs, along with handcrafted benches, will offer seating for up to 45 guests.

Vernick Food & Drink will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 4:30 p.m. until 11 p.m.  The restaurant will be closed on Monday.  For more information, please visit www.vernickphilly.com

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