FYI Philly: Check out these new local restaurants
WAYNE, Pa. (WPVI) -- This week on FYI Philly, we checked out some new restaurants around the area you've got to try!
We started with Cornerstone Cheese and Charcuterie in Wayne, Pa. It's a super cool spot on the Main Line dedicated to artisanal cheeses from around the world.
They just opened the doors in the beginning of October, so it is brand new!
The owners, husband and wife duo Christine and Nick Kondra, bring their own unique approach to dining.
"We have cheese, we have charcuterie that we sell and we also have a 14 seat BYO," said Christine.
"We actually like being here and love having our guests in here and show them what we're all about. Something different that people don't see around here," said Nick.
The idea was inspired by the couple's travels around the world where they found a variety of flavors.
"We're pulling in cheeses from all over the country domestically and internationally and we pull from very small purveyors and farmers and artisans. We have cheeses in here that nobody else has in the country," said Christine.
They sell prepared foods but also have a daily menu for lunch and dinner and the open kitchen makes you feel like your dining at a friend's house.
"We designed this for a place that we would want to go out to eat and this is kind what we want. We're a small plates, inside feeling and being able to talk to your neighbors," said Nick.
We then headed toSouth Philadelphia and checked out 1100 Social, which is a blend of Mexican and Asian cuisine.
Chef Jason Cichonski, who is also a partner at 1100 Social, is fusing bold flavors.
"1100 Social is a new concept that we just brought to Xfinity Live!, where we're taking a lot of Mexican and Asian flavors and kind of mixing them up and just doing some really fun plates," he said. "Asian and Mexican flavors have been two things I really liked working with throughout my whole culinary career."
His Korean Meatballs are a beef and pork blend topped with pickled ginger.
"We glaze them in Gogi Jun, which is a Korean chili paste, a little bit of sugar, a little bit of soy so they're really really good. It felt like a good fit," said Cichonski.
Many of the dishes are meant to be shared, like the Mariachi Dragon Club.
"It's our traditional guacamole with very simple lime, cilantro, little bit of red onion, avocado but we top it with Korean kimchi salsa, some charred corn, five spice fried pork belly, some sesame seeds," said Cichonski.
Our next stop is Whetstone Tavern, located just a few blocks off South Street.
"It is very neighborhood friendly. It is very comfortable and cozy. We have a lot of regulars already. We opened three months ago, but a lot of people come back often because it is something that you can get everything out of," said Jeremy Nolen, Chef and Owner of Whetstone.
The cuisine is a modern take on classic American tavern food.
"We take something that is kind of familiar and we try to make it a little more exciting and more flavorful," said Nolen.
The rabbit tetrazzini is a braised leg in a sauce packed with ingredients.
"The tetrazzini sauce is beach mushrooms, Sherry wine, cream, some almonds that all get sauted with the pasta and topped with a piave cheese," said Nolen.
The seasonal menu is highlighted in the fall with their roasted pumpkin soup.
"We roast it and then it gets pureed in a bed of stock with a some cream and butter and then topped with a pumpkin seed pesto," said Nolen.
