Reservations can now be made for Emmett, a new concept from Chef Evan Snyder and managing partner Julian van der Tak.
Taking over the former home of Cadence BYOB (at the corner of Hancock Street and Girard Avenue), the new restaurant is set to start service on Jan. 28, at 5 p.m., with spots open to claim through OpenTable.
As a release notes, Emmett will blend Levantine cuisine with elements from around the greater Mediterranean, highlighting French, Italian, North African, and Middle Eastern flavors while focusing on wood-fired cooking. Offerings will change often, featuring a diverse rotation of crudos, fresh pastas, coal-roasted proteins, and seasonally-driven desserts. A tasting menu option will be implemented into the menu in the future as well.
Opening highlights span Winter Squash Toast on focaccia with butternut ‘nduja and ibores ($14), BBQ Lamb Neck Dolma with burnt eggplant and pear ($22), Winter Squash Caramelle ($23), Aged Duck with sunchoke terrine, foie merguez, and jus ($75 for half, $150 for whole), Maryland Crab Maloof with shrimp emulsion, uni, and cabbage ($17) and much more.
Drink-wise, Philadelphians can also sip on selections from a full bar, including culinary-driven cocktails, natural wines, and non-alcoholic mixtures.
Those who have dined at Cadence in the past may recognize some of the last venue’s blueprint, but Snyder and van der Tak renovated the space themselves making some cosmetic changes to the concept. Emmett will feature 38 indoor seats — including eight at a bar beside the open kitchen — and the restaurant will initially operate for dinner service only, open Tuesday through Saturday beginning at 5 p.m. Outdoor seating will launch in the spring with 24 seats on Hancock Street.
The restaurant is also keeping everything local by using Philadelphia-area purveyors, designers and local artisans for everything from ceramics to drinkware. The interior design was also formed with the goal of cultivating community relationships while staying true to Philadelphia, the restaurant notes. The owners even hired the Philadelphia Table Company to reinstall the bar.
Other local partners joining in include Eli Silins, owner of Camuna Cellars in Philadelphia, Antonio Pizzo, Emmett’s Chef de Cuisine who has worked with Snyder for five years, and Marissa Chirico. Chirico joined the team as the General Manager after serving as the Front of House and Beverage Manager for River Twice for the last three years, the release also notes.
“Marissa cares deeply about connecting guests with locally-sourced ingredients and wines that have been both sustainably farmed and thoughtfully crafted, and she’s looking forward to bringing that same hospitality mentality to Emmett, where she will again manage the front of house as well as build and maintain our wine program,” said van der Tak in a statement.
The bar at Emmett will be lead by Petra Manchina— a seasoned industry professional who moved to Philadelphia in 2017 and has spent her time in the city working at locales like Philadelphia Distilling and Manatawny Stillworks (while also collaborating with local brands such as Eight Oaks and New Liberty.)
“Focusing on highlighting seasonal flavors and utilizing products from local farms, Petra plans on working closely with our kitchen team to develop a constantly changing cocktail program,” added Snyder in a statement.
Snyder graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in Orlando, and has worked in a number of kitchens throughout the past two decades, from New Orleans to Washington to DC to Philly, including a stint as Executive Chef of Redcrest Kitchen in Queens Village, the release finishes.
Managing Partner Julian van der Tak is an alum of the Philadelphia restaurant scene, including spells at Jean Georges and Vernick Fish at the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, as well as several Michael Schulson and Stephen Starr Restaurants. Julian’s wife, Victoria van der Tak will also join the team, working on its digital platforms and events calendar with the “goal of presenting Emmett as a destination for thoughtful, intimate luxury hospitality.”
To find out more information on Emmett (161 West Girard Ave.), visit emmettphilly.com
