The Wishing Well, the tavern opening at 9th and Catharine Street we told you about last fall, is nearly ready to open its doors, according to owner Chris Martino. Like so many licensed restaurants, they’re in a holding pattern while waiting for the PLCB to approve their liquor license. Martino hopes to be serving the public by mid-March; in the meantime, he gave us a sneak peek at the dinner, bar and beer menus and filled us in on the origins of the scrapple-topped “Shame Burger.”
So the Shame Burger, a mighty combo of a beef patty, scrapple, fried egg and American cheese, is not, as we previously surmised, something you eat after a walk of shame, nor is it something you should be full of shame for eating. Martino says “Shame” is an acronym for “Scrapple Hamburgers Are Meaty Eating.” Chef-owner Carmen Cappello, a Philly native who has spent the last 12 years cooking in Atlanta, came up with the combination as a way to bring a little bit of Philly to Atlanta and now he’s brought his creation back up north.
In addition to that heart-stopper, there are also pub classics like shepherd’s pie, plus more quixotic items like pork osso buco, beef and jalapeno pierogies and smoked mackerel chowder with ham crisps and pickled greens. You can view the full dinner menu here and the full bar menu here.
As for beers, Martino says the list is still subject to change, but half of the 12 taps will be local brews and other half will be domestic and imported crafts. Check out the work-in-progress beer list here.
Hours will be seven days a week, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. with plans to open for weekend brunch down the road. Outdoor seating is in the works as well.
Previously: Wishing Well Public House Replacing Pat Bombino’s in Bella Vista
