Stephen Starr's Il Pittore Now Open In Philadelphia

(Philadelphia, PA) - The flavors and feel of Italy arrive in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square neighborhood with the opening of STARR Restaurants' latest venture, Il Pittore (Italian for "the painter") on Oct. 27, 2011. Named for its Executive Chef, Chris Painter, the 80-seat, two-story restaurant located at 2025 Sansom Street features modern Italian fare, coupled with an extensive wine list, offering guests a refined and authentic taste of regions such as Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Piedmont and Sicily.



Before opening Il Pittore, Chef Painter traveled throughout Italy, drawing inspiration from the diverse array of towns, eateries and markets he visited along the way. The restaurant's menu offers a selection of antipasti, pasta and mains. Antipasti's include Ricotta with moscato poached pears, rosemary, and black pepper, and Lightly Smoked Cod with saffron baccala, and calamari salad. All of Il Pittore's pastas are made in-house daily with selections such as Malloreddus with blue crab and uni crema, as well as Pappardelle with fall-spiced wild boar ragu, rosemary, and parmesan. Main dishes feature Black Bass with spinach, ruby red shrimp, and spicy soppressata; Suckling Pig with pear mostarda, roast baby carrots, and cavalo nero; and Bistecca for Two accompanied by salsa verde, Tuscan bean salad and chestnut honey glazed turnips. Diners can round out the meal with a selection of dolci, such as Apple Crostata with blackberry compote and almond gelato and Chocolate Bomboloni with nutella filling and vanilla sauce.



Master Sommelier Laura Maniec consulted on Il Pittore's expansive Italian themed wine list, including a 200-bottle wine list, along with 18-20 wines by the glass, which has been carefully curated to complement the cuisine. Imported artisanal beers from Italian brewery Menabrea's "Ambrata" and "Bionda" lagers will be featured, while Italian-classics such as an Aperol Sour and Negroni, alongside specialty cocktails such as the 'Godfather' with Famous Grouse Scotch, Lazzaroni Amaretto; and 'Pennello' with Old Overholt Rye Whiskey, Cynar, Dolin de Chambery Vermouth, will complete the beverage offerings.



The Stokes Architect-designed space is modern with rustic tones. A variety of wood accents the interior, including reclaimed pine, acacia wood bar stools and a bubinga community table, adding to the ambiance of the restaurant, while a selection of black and white photographs depicting Italian culture adorn the white-washed brick walls. As guests walk up the stairs to the second-floor dining room, they pass an 11 ft. by 16 ft. mural, a replica of the iconic pasta grandma, or "Pates Baroni" poster by famed Italian artist Leonetto Cappiello-a second mural, featuring a "Bitter Compari" poster ad by Cappiello dresses the west wall of the first floor. Continuing upward, Il Pittore's ceiling is pocketed with three large skylights, which offer glimpses of Chef Painter's herb garden.



Chef Painter first joined STARR Restaurants in 1999 to open the restaurant Tangerine, where he received a coveted three-bell review from Philadelphia Inquirer dining critic Craig LaBan, while the newspaper later named him "Best New Chef 2000." For the last three years, he has served as STARR's Director of Menu Development, assisting with the launch of such concepts as Philadelphia's Frankford Hall and Pizzeria Stella (which also received a three-bell review), as well as Makoto in Miami, and various other STARR properties.



Il Pittore is located at 2025 Sansom Street in Philadelphia. The restaurant serves dinner Sunday through Thursday from 5PM to 10PM and Friday through Saturday from 5PM to 11PM. Phone: 215-391-4900 Website: www.ilpittor