Rittenhouse Tavern Opens In Philadelphia With Chefs Ed Brown And Nicholas Elmi

Rittenhouse Tavern (located at 251 South 18th Street in the Philadelphia Art Alliance) brings refined, contemporary American tavern fare to its namesake neighborhood, Rittenhouse Square. Michelin-Star Chef Ed Brown serves as Chef Collaborator, teaming up with local Philadelphia chef Nicholas Elmi, who will assume the role of Executive Chef.

Guests can expect offerings such as Local Fluke Crudo with radish, herbs, lemon and pink peppercorn; Deviled Eggs with pork scrapple; New Jersey Striped Bass with Tuscan kale, hedgehog mushrooms and hibiscus-red wine; and Rack of Berkshire Pork with crisp belly, purple mustard, quinoa crust and endive. Diners can also enjoy "The RT Burger," featuring a special LaFrieda dry-aged blend, topped with Ed's special sauce and sharp provolone on a Yards ESA roll, and Sunday Fried Chicken Supper, family-style whole fried Amish chicken with buttermilk biscuits and a daily side-served exclusively on Sunday evenings. For dessert, indulge in Brown Butter Cake with rhubarb, lavender, creme fraiche sorbet; Blueberry Red Wine Soup with thyme and lemon-sage ice cream; or Dark Chocolate Tarte with milk crumble and caramelized milk ice cream, amongst other delectable selections.

Rittenhouse Tavern will offer a complementary beverage menu, featuring 16 beers by the bottle, including favorites from local breweries such as Appalachian Brewing Company, Yards, Yuengling, Flying Fish and Dogfish Head. Rounding out the beverage offerings is a 30-bottle wine list-many of which are available by the glass-and a selection of specialty cocktails, including the Garden Sazerac with Bulleit Rye, Vieux Carre Absinthe and bitters; and Paloma Fizz with Sauza Tequila, pink grapefruit and house-made lemon-lime soda.

Brown is the Chef/Owner of Ed's Chowder House in New York City, as well as the Senior Vice President of Restaurant Associates, which oversees all food and beverage operations at such institutions as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in New York City; the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston; and Longwood Gardens just outside of Philadelphia. Elmi brings with him an impressive resume, having most recently been the Executive Chef at the venerated restaurant, Le Bec Fin. He has also worked at Brasserie Perrier in Philadelphia, as well as Lutece, Union Pacific and Oceana Restaurant in New York City.

The restaurant is located in the historic Wetherill Mansion-one of the last surviving grand private mansions built on Rittenhouse Square-now home to the Art Alliance of Philadelphia, a museum of contemporary craft and design. The 100-seat restaurant, designed by Elisabeth Knapp of Elisabeth Knapp Architect, keeps the classic tone and elegance of the mansion's iconic character. The restaurant features four unique indoor/outdoor spaces-the main dining room, salon, bar area and outdoor garden. One of the more unique features is the original 1920s mural created by artist Richard Blossom Farley, depicting a flock of geese and other bird imagery, which flows above the room's blue-green walls in the main dining room. The bar and lounge room is anchored by a Carrera marble fireplace, while custom-made wood and marble shelves line the Eastern wall. Distressed leather upholstery and hand-made reclaimed wood plank tables balance the entire space. The inviting outdoor garden area, studded with cobblestones, offers the perfect place for guests to enjoy their meal, surrounded by lush greenery, as well as potted fresh herbs-the chefs' secret garden.

Rittenhouse Tavern is located just steps from Rittenhouse Square Park in the Philadelphia Art Alliance building at 251 South 18th Street in Philadelphia. The restaurant will serve dinner Tuesday through Thursday 5PM to 10PM, Friday through Saturday from 5PM to 11PM and Sunday 5PM to 10PM, and will be closed on Mondays. Lunch and brunch to come. For reservations call 215-732-2412 or visit www.ritten