Openings

Spiga Opening Later This Week Near Midtown Village

Pizza from Spiga's wood-fired brick oven.
Pizza from Spiga’s wood-fired brick oven. Photo: Spiga

Restaurant openings show no signs of slowing down. This week will see the debut of Spiga, an easygoing offshoot of the swanky Rittenhouse Italian number, Le Castagne. It’s opening on Saturday, May 5, near the corner of 13th and Locust streets. With relocated Fish on one corner, a newly hatched Green Eggs location next door, and hot spots like Amis, Sampan and Barbuzzo all nearby, its arrival undoubtedly ups the neighborhood’s ante of restaurants. Brian Wilson, formerly of Le Castagne and before that La Famiglia, heads the kitchen. He and partners Skip DiMassa, Giuseppe Sena and Anthony Masapollo, all of whom have ties to Le Castagne, aim to extend those restaurants’ same quality and high standards in a more relaxed setting. “And we want people to enjoy themselves without feeling like they got hit over the head when the check comes,” Wilson told Grub Street.

The 60-seater features a rustic, industrial vibe with a gorgeous bar, constructed with a living edge wooden bar top, an open kitchen and a wood-fired brick oven, where Wilson will bake bread fresh each day, and pizzas to order. The menu will also feature handmade pastas dishes, sandwiches and panini, plus small and large sharable plates. Some menu highlights include fennel flan with house-cured bacon and vincotto; artichoke, arugula and lardo pizza; housemade cotechino with lentils, tomato and fried egg; and a grilled skirt steak panini with parmesan cream and balsamic onions. The bar will feature siganture cocktails, wines by the glass, carafe and bottle, and a broad selection of local, American and Italian craft beers.

Spiga
, 1305 Locust St., (267) 273-1690

Spiga Opening Later This Week Near Midtown Village