February 27, 2008

Pearl in the Rough

Pearl Restaurant Opens

Sometimes you’re hit with the unexpected: car wreck, flood, illegal gambling circle run out of your basement.

Other times, you get the good kind of unexpected. Like Pearl, the new Rittenhouse-area restaurant and lounge now open for dinner.

Just past an unassuming black door lies a beautiful Das-designed (Morimoto, Rae) space that is sure to up the ante for other area eateries. The black lumigraph walls in the upstairs lounge turn iridescent in your digital pics; the LED lights change color to coordinate with the mood of the night.

The food is nothing to sneeze at: Pan-Asian hot and sour prawn soup, citrus-grilled hamachi, and ginger butter-crusted lobster. And the cocktails are unexpected: The mojito is made with Shochu and Calpico, a dairy drink that gives it an irresistible creamy taste.

As for dessert, we’ll let you find out for yourself.

You won’t be disappointed.

Pearl, 1904 Chestnut Street (215-564-9090 or pearlphilly.com).