Wokworks gearing up for Rittenhouse
Fast-casual Asian with a fun side.
Rittenhouse will be getting a fast-casual start-up called Wokworks, which its founders describe as a modern Asian food shop: "natural, tasty, and fun."
The idea: Start with a base (noodles, rice, quinoa), choose your "favorites" (pork belly, rock shrimp, asparagus, etc.), add a sauce (wild mushroom umami, coconut curry, etc.), and watch the wok chefs go to it.
Some examples:
Quinoa chow (aromatic vegetables and organic egg) with wok-tossed Brussels sprouts and roasted garlic, scallion and oyster sauce
Soba nobles (vegetables and organic egg) with Korean short ribs and charred shallot, ginger, lemongrass and Thai basil sauce
Udon Noodles (vegetables and organic egg) with thick-cut smoked bacon and orange blossom honey and tamari teriyaki sauce
Consulting on the menu is South Florida-based chef Allen Susser, who won the James Beard Award for best chef, Southeast, in 1994.
See sample menu here.
Designers hope to incorporate a living wall on one side of the dining space, where the cilantro, basil and mint will be grown.
No firm opening date. The family-run company, which wants to take the brand national, is keeping a lid on the exact location.
I hear that it's going into 1935 Chestnut St., which until very recently was the home of Pure Tacos.