» Build it, and they will come: Dining at Bryn Mawr’s Verdad Restaurant & Tequila Bar (theverdad.com) just got a lot more comfortable after owner Nick Farina brought in a construction crew to transform the idle second floor into private dining and overflow space. Previously accessible only from the back alley, the upper level now beckons customers with a brawny African mahogany staircase. A steady stream of patrons and long waits prompted the renovation—a great problem to have in this down economy. A portion of the new dining area overlooks the bar, and there’s also an outdoor balcony that’s well suited to private parties as an al fresco cocktail venue. Farina is set to launch his spring menu later this month, and tequila enthusiasts can look forward to tastings and tapas pairings in the not-too-distant future.
» If you’re heading to this year’s Philadelphia Flower Show, look for 333 Belrose and Firecreek Restaurant + Bar chef Carlo deMarco, who will host a 1:30 p.m. cooking segment on March 3. Then he’ll head up to New York City to oversee a five-course dinner and wine pairing at the James Beard House March 5. From what I’ve seen of the menu, it should be well worth the trip.
