A quirky guy named Ciro Rendina used to run a little South Philly BYOB called Buon Appetito. But he had dreams, and three years ago, he locked up a new location on the Broad Street end of Passyunk Avenue. Fate intervened. Buon Appetito closed, and Rendina moved back to Italy. Which is where we may have left it, except for Francis Cratil and Cathy Lee, a young couple who worked with Rendina for a spell. Young and energetic, they have set up Le Virtù in that Passyunk Avenue space -- address is 1927 E. -- and it's a few doors west of Tre Scalini's new location. They hosted a small private event Thursday 10/18 for some Italian friends; opening is expected next Thursday 10/25. Most of the wine list -- all Italians -- requires special order from the LCB.
Cratil, who lived in Abruzzo while discovering his roots, and Lee, who worked at the Art Museum, have done it right. The property has a courtyard on the side. Inside it's sunny yellow with dark wooden tables, and there's a neat mural over the bar (right). Chef Luciana Spurio, whose Abruzzi/Ascolina entrees hover around $20, also is imported from Italy. I'll tell her story in a future "Table Talk" column. Phone: 215-271-5626.
Photos: (c) 2007 Kara Thomas