Photo by Christie Green Photography.
>>Autograph Signing: We’ve been anticipating the opening of restaurateur Marty Grims’ Autograph Brasserie in the former Peppercorn, Georges’ and Le Mas Perrier space in Wayne’s Eagle Village for some time. The doors finally swung open on May 4, and it was worth the wait.
Grims is no stranger to elegant cuisine—he also owns and manages Moshulu on Penn’s Landing and the three White Dog Café locations in University City, Wayne and Haverford. For his latest venture, he’s partnered with his former executive chef at Moshulu, Ralph Patrick Fernandes (also formerly of Exton’s defunct Forage) to bring his modern American brasserie concept to fruition.
The menu is inspired by the flavors and classics of France, Spain, Italy and America. Dinner entrees range from an omelet to a prime burger to an 18-ounce dry-aged Angus Kansas City New York strip with two side dishes. Prices equally range from $19 to $69, with plenty of appetizers, salads, small plates of house made pasta and Fernandes’ signature toasts to round out the menu.
David Semerjian and Barbara Balongue, who also worked on the White Dog Cafés, transformed the former Peppercorn space into Grims’ vision. The restaurant is separated into different rooms, the walls adorned with autographed pictures of politicians, actors, actresses, models and musicians. The lounge is inspired by music spanning the 1950s through the 1990s, with over 550 album covers on the walls. Each album represents the musician’s own artistic autograph. A large square bar is the centerpiece of the room, complete with a custom brass horn light fixture made in Portugal. Dark wood, booths and banquettes surround the room in brilliant teal blue.
Autograph Brasserie’s service team is led by general manager Christian Leo, previously of White Dog, and director of operations Jean-Mario Irigon, who brings his knowledge and passion as a Michelin-star operator and certified sommelier to Autograph Brasserie. 503 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne, (610) 964-2588, www.autographbrasserie.com.
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Photo by Ed Williams. |
>>Bigger Pizza: Sean Weinberg, of Malvern’s Restaurant Alba, just opened Biga Pizza + Beer in Bryn Mawr. The décor in the 40-seat restaurant includes exposed ceilings and brick walls with a full wall mural by local Philly street artist NTel. Blond and black-shellacked communal trestle tables and aluminum gray and red metal chairs fill the dining room, along with some bar seating. There is also street-side seating in the warmer months.
The menu includes house made pastas, elevated wood-fired pizzas like The Kingdom (bacon, beer-braised onions, scamorza and parsley) plus plenty of vegan and gluten-free options. The craft beer is flowing, too, with six rotating taps and over 80 bottles and cans. The kitchen is helmed by executive chef Steve Fulmer, who migrated from Alba. 810 Glenbrook Ave., Bryn Mawr, (610) 525-4800, www.restaurantbiga.com.
