After two false starts — first at Third and Bainbridge, and later at 12th and Locust — Il Pittore, Stephen Starr’s on-again-off-again partnership with his culinary director, Chris Painter, is back on. And, get this, it’s going in where Noble’s been doing its noblest effort for the past two years at 20th and Sansom. Meal Ticket dropped this doozy yesterday, reporting that Noble’s Bruno Pouget and Todd Rodgers cut a deal with Starr to take over the space, and that Noble would close for good last night. Minutes later, the Insider followed up with more details, including a projected opening date (mid-October) and that longtime Starr collaborator, Stokes Architecture was planning on “modest renovation.”
Last summer Grub Street mentioned that Starr’s original plan was to place what then was being described as a “neighborhood Italian” restaurant in the former home of Ansill (or Judy’s if you must). Later that plan fell through, and Il Pittore seemed all but certain for the former Deux Cheminees space on Locust Street. That plan fell apart, too. And now Vedge, the next effort from Horizons’ Rich Landau is slated to go there this fall. At 20th and Sansom, Il Pittore is being touted as a “upscale modern-Italian,” with “per-person tabs north of $60 a head.” So much for “casual” and “reasonable” price points.
Noble to close; Starr moves in [Meal Ticket]
Starr strikes again in Rittenhouse [Insider]
