Heritage in Northern Liberties: Jazz and green

Heritage - a nifty, rustic combination of bar, restaurant and jazz/funk venue and arguably the boldest restaurant project ever in Northern Liberties - is soft-opening mode, pending an April 1 official opening.

Over the course of more than a year and a half, Jason Evenchik and Terry Leach (Time, Bar,  Vintage, Growlers, Garage) have completely redone the workaday building at 914-22 N. Second St., across from Cescaphe Ballroom. It's the former home of Feast Your Eyes catering, which moved.

Wide-open, warehouse-like interior is reminiscent of the new La Colombe in Fishtown, as skylights have been punched through the ceiling. There's greenery everywhere: ringing the ceiling, behind the bar, and outside on the roof as well as in a side garden that will have seating.

Some of the green - microgreens and vegetables - will be for eating, as chef Sean Magee is building Heritage's crop into his menu. An early menu includes a full board of vegetable appetizers, plus large plates such as day-boat cod with sunchoke, hazelnut, and truffle broth ($23), rabbit sausage ($22), roasted duck breast ($26), and egg noodles with grilled wild mushrooms, quinoa and duxelles ($17).

Past a small lounge area is a 40-foot bar made of black walnut seats about two dozen, and 36 beer taps have been crafted from an old gas pipe. There's a good supply of brown liquor.

Seating for 50-plus is at tables mainly positioned in front of a small stage. The music schedule is TBA.

It's open in the evenings for now.