Press Release

RING IN THE NEW YEAR AT ONE OF PHILLY’S FAMED BYOB RESTAURANTS
BYOC (Bring Your Own Champagne) For New Year’s Eve Dinner At A BYOB

PHILADELPHIA, December 19, 2006 - In-the-know Philadelphians (and frequent visitors) have a secret for ringing in the New Year in style without breaking the bank: Dine at a cozy BYOB restaurant. Short for “bring your own bottle,” BYOBs are an integral part of the region’s booming dining scene. Every other night of the year, patrons sip self-selected chardonnays and cabernets. On December 31, however, they’ll be toting chilled champagne to their favorite neighborhood BYOBs. Typically petite and run by chef-owners, these bar-free bistros range from classic French to tropical vegetarian, with a heavy concentration on Italian and contemporary American cuisines. Here’s a look at what’s happening this year:

Mercato 

Photo by G. Widman

• Stylish Audrey Claire offers a seasonal, Mediterranean menu — and an amazing $40 per person fee — for New Year’s Eve. Patrons seated elbow-to-elbow at the BYOB’s wooden bistro tables can nibble on the kitchen’s famous flat breads, leafy salads and garlic- and herb-touched plates meant for sharing, while looking out oversize café windows toward the bustling, tree-lined streets of the Rittenhouse neighborhood. Cash only. 20th & Spruce Street, (215) 731-1222, http://www.audreyclaire.com/
  
• Northern Liberties’ pretty Copper celebrates its first New Year with classic American fare in a cozy storefront setting. Two generously spaced seatings at 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. will offer four- and five-course menus (for $50 and $70, respectively) of French onion soup, beef tartare, filet porcini, hamachi ceviche, crème caramel — and a bubbly toast. Credit cards accepted. 614 N. 2nd Street, (215) 627-9844, http://www.copperbistro.net/
  
• La Bohème Restaurant de Poisson will show off its new, seafood-centric menu (as devised by new chef-owner Olivier de Saint Martin of Caribou Café) on the last night of the year. The jewel box-sized French bistro has planned a fixed price menu from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. Specialities de la maison include smoked trout rillettes, mussel soup with caviar cream, smoked salmon blinis, salmon bordelaise with spinach flan, and, for dessert, nougat glacé — a bargain, at $68 per person, with no set seatings. (Regular menu 5:00-7:00 p.m.) Credit cards accepted. 246 S. 11th Street, (215) 351-9901
  
• A convivial atmosphere and ample portions are the signatures of South Philly’s Mamma Maria. New Year’s Eve promises to be no different. First course: prosciutto-wrapped cantaloupe. Second: Mamma’s signature Tuscan soup. Third: homemade spaghetti with mini meatballs. Fourth: veal stuffed with prosciutto, spinach and mozzarella, served with langoustines. Also on tap: string beans and garlic, palate-cleansing salad before the cake, cappuccino, limoncelllo and a live accordion performance. (6:00-9:00 p.m. for $65; 9:15 p.m.-2:00 a.m. for $100). Credit cards accepted. 1637 E. Passyunk Avenue, (215) 463-6884, http://www.mammamaria.info/
  
• Chef Evan Turney of Washington West’s fun, edgy and Italian Mercato has planned fittingly fun and edgy New Year’s Eve dishes. Included: caramelized onion and wild mushroom soup, short rib ravioli with Gouda and applewood-smoked bacon, roasted vegetable salad, truffled spinach and roasted mushroom lasagna and prosciutto- and mascarpone-stuffed veal. (Seatings: 5:00-6:00 p.m., four courses for $55; 7:15-8:30 p.m., five courses for $75; 9:00-10:00 p.m., five courses plus champagne and party favors for $100.) 1216 Spruce Street, (215) 985-BYOB, http://www.mercatobyob.com/
  
• Pumpkin, the cozy, candlelit BYOB named after its coupled co-owners’ shared term of endearment, celebrates 2007 with langoustines with Pernod and tarragon, St. George oysters with beer granita, foie gras torchons, sweetbreads with emulsified brown butter caper vinaigrette, squab a l’orange and steak with a bone marrow beignet. It’s $75 per person, and there are three seatings (6:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m. and later) available. Cash only. 1713 South Street, (215) 545-4448
  
• Not everyone’s planning so far ahead. In Old City, Raddicchio will offer one 5:00 p.m. seating by reservation and will allow more impromptu patrons to come as they wish throughout the night. And come they will, for roasted peppers and sharp Provolone, “fusilli Soprano” with chicken, broccoli rabe and whole garlic cloves, lamb scottadito and veal limone. Cash only. 314 York Avenue (at 4th Street), (215) 627-6850, http://www.radicchio-cafe.com/

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) makes Philadelphia and The Countryside™ a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region’s vitality. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit http://www.gophila.com/ or call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676. 

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CONTACT:

Cara Schneider, GPTMC
(215) 599-0789, cara@gptmc.com

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