• Lafayette Bistro, a BYOB, opened yesterday in Northern Liberties. Couscous is their signature dish, but the menu from chef Ramzi Boughanni, who previously worked in the south of France, incorporates Greek, Italian and North African influences. They are open seven days a week from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. 501 Fairmount Avenue; (215) 928-9200
• There is a specialty beer store headed for 1941 East Passyunk Avenue in February-March. Between Hawthorne’s, the upcoming Brew and this, we now pronounce South Philadelphia the new craft beer mecca. [Blogalicious]
• Guatemalan-inspired Avenida, which was scheduled for an October opening, will finally open in the former Cresheim Cottage Cafe on December 17.
• The Piazza at Schmidt’s will begin hosting a farmers’ market in January. [Facebook]
• A pair of developers is responsible for four out of five new restaurants opening in Manayunk. [Insider]
