Executive chef Vince Joseph and owner Courtney Dow celebrate the first anniversary of Rittenhouse Square’s Fine Palate with some exciting changes, both in and out of the kitchen. Starting this week, look for a new lounge on the first floor, new weekday lunch service and new fall menu changes on the dinner menu.
The duo opened the global-oriented restaurant and bar in fall 2015. One year later, they want to continue to evolve the dining experience they are offering while pushing the envelope with the finest ingredients from around the world.
The biggest change at the Rittenhouse restaurant and bar will be in the first floor dining room. The seating area has been transformed into an upscale and modern lounge, featuring oversize chairs, plush pillows, muted colors, luxurious curtains and minimalist decorate accents. The new seating and decor will be paired with a lounge-only menu of 16–18 dishes that range from $3–$20.
The new lounge and menu are designed to appeal to the growing after-work crowd and weekend theater patrons. As the lounge continues to evolve throughout the fall into early winter, look for the addition of artistic projections on the walls above the seating and for a new Bordeaux bubbly brunch series.
The lounge will be the perfect go-to spot for new weekday lunch service Tuesday through Friday, from 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. The lunch menu will launch with approximately 10–12 dishes that include Döner kebab, buffalo tartar, ramen and other selections. Patrons can also look for vegan and vegetarian dishes to rotate as daily and weekly specials.
On the dinner side, formal service will move up the grand staircase to the second floor dining room that overlooks the bar and new lounge. Look for 12 new and returning seasonal dishes that feature ingredients sourced from around the world. Menu highlights include white truffle risotto, black truffle mac and cheese, Spanish octopus, handmade burrata and pickled green tomatoes, edamame gnocchi and more.
“Every few weeks, seasons and produce change,” said Joseph. “I try to stay ahead of the seasons locally and what is growing in season in different parts of the world. Having cooked around the globe, I appreciate and value the diversity and palates of our patrons. I like to keep that in mind while introducing new and exotic components to the repertoire.”
Joseph added, “The new menu has butternut squash paired with edamame gnocchi. The dish has a beautiful, seasonal color contrast as well as a flavor profile and combination that’s pretty unique. Autumn is also a season for pork, so we put the pork chop and escarole on this menu. Philadelphians love pork, and we try to find the best product that people like most at the best time of year.”
Book a table at Fine Palate online, or call (267) 318-7971.
Find Fine Palate at 231 S. 15th St. in Philadelphia.
- Photos: Fine Palate
