Butcher Shop-Inspired Restaurant Opening in Rittenhouse

George Anni, owner of the Anni Restaurant Family restaurants, is adding another concept to his mini-empire. It'll be called Butcher Bar, an homage to the old-school butcher shops of yore.

Butcher Bar will will join Anni's Washington Square West collection, which includes Valanni, Varga Bar, and Mercato, though, the new restaurant will be his first venture into the Rittenhouse neighborhood inside a two-story row home at 2034 Chestnut Street. And it'll be designed from the meat lover's perspective: hanging meat hooks, butcher shop scales, throwback photographs, among other butcher shop knick-knacks and signage.

The kitchen will be led by two of Anni's faithful: co-executive chefs Evan Turney and John Strain, who've devised a menu where guests can choose from four types of homemade meatballs or sausages, steaks, and chicken cooked over an open flame.

Beverage director Richard Colli has compiled an extensive draft list of 18 craft beers, two from the engine, plus tap wine categorized similarly to Good King's good, better best program, except Colli's will be the meat version: select, choice, and prime.

The restaurant should be open sometime next month.