It Looks Like South Philly’s New French BYOB Is Already Closed After Just Three Months

It appears that Michael O’Halloran’s new Bistro La Bete is suddenly closed after just a few months serving French fare in South Philly. The chef, known for Old City’s now-closed Bistro 7, opened La Bete this past spring in partnership with the owners of a bed & breakfast in West Philly.

La Bete, a BYOB at 1703 S. Ninth Street, not far from the East Passyunk Avenue restaurant strip, had an elegant atmosphere and a menu of classic French dishes like escargot and cote de beouf.

O’Halloran headed south to East Passyunk Crossing after more than a decade at Bistro 7 (7 N. Third Street), which he briefly reopened as Dos Rosas Taqueria.

Dos Rosas closed due to a rent increase, O’Halloran said at the time. As for La Bete, a note on the restaurant’s window cites only “circumstances beyond our control.”

The note reads, in part: “First, a giant thanks to the neighborhood. In our brief stay here we met so many wonderful people, and have developed an understanding of why people are so proud and happy to live in South Philly. ... [W]e will be back. Our search for a new location started immediately.”

Eater reached out to the restaurant but hasn’t heard back yet.

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