Rittenhouse/Fitler Square’s Meritage is reinventing itself this August. The corner spot, which has gone through a change in ownership and a shift from its original super-swanky fine dining/wine geek concept, is once again shaking things up with a new chef (Anne Coll, formerly of Susanna Foo) and an “exhaustive renovation.” We’re not sure how exhaustively something can be renovated in two weeks, but the plans are to close August 2 to expand the bar and add hardwood floors and casual butcher block tables to the dining room. Coll promises a budget-conscious menu that blends “traditional French techniques with Asian flavor profiles,” while owners Michele DiPietro and Irene Landy plan more wines by the glass and more bottles in the under-$50 price range. Here’s the menu, which includes smaller, share-worthy dishes.
Snacks
Roasted Curried Almond and Cashews 2.
Chicken Satay with Thai peanut dipping sauce 5.
Spiced wonton Chips with a chinese eggplant caviar 4.
Jersey Corn and Crab Flan with herb oil 5.
Steamed Shrimp Dumplings 6.
Grilled Grape leaves stuffed with beef & vietnamese dipping sauce 5.
Hudson Valley Fois Gras Dumplings with a red wine fig reduction 5.
Sesame Crusted Crab & Shrimp Lollipops with a red pepper sauce 6.
Crispy Herb & Panko Crusted goat cheese with star anise tomsto chutney and frizzled spinach 4.
Small Plates
White Corn Soup with chive oil 6.
Frisee Salad with poached egg, crispy braised pork belly and a citrus vinaigrette 9.
Mixed green salad with orange segments, hericot vert and a sesame vinaigrette 7.
Pan Seared Cape May Diver Scallops with curried cauliflower puree and a thai basil emulsion 13.
PEI Mussels with white wine, herbs, tomato and chinese sausage 11.
Tuna Tartare with a soy wasabi foam, micro greens and wonton chips 1 3.
Crab Salad with mango, red onion, thai basil and a passion fruit vinaigrette 12.
Grilled Lollipop Lamb Chops with a spicy minted tomato salsa 13.
Large Plates
Hanger Steak with grilled scallion and crispy fingerlings 20.
Roasted Maine Cod with curried lentils, preserved lemon, baby bok choy and a lemongrass emulsion 21.
BBQ Pork Sandwich with a toasted rustique Bun and asian slaw 12.
Brined and Roasted Giannone Chicken with brussel sprouts, chinese sausage hash and a star anise chicken jus 18.
Ginger Glazed BBQ Salmon, fricassee of jersey corn, heirloom tomatoes, zucchini and herbs 19.
Tumeric & Lemongrass Risotto with zucchini, white corn and herbs 14.
