Italian BYOB Set to Open Next Week in Manayunk

Manayunk's new Italian BYOB, Gigi, is named after chef-owner Chris Wilson's mother, and the concept itself a tribute to the hardworking Italian mothers and grandmothers who've kept their families fed for generations on end. The restaurant, opening on August 3 (next Wednesday) inside the old Main Street So Crepe (4357 Main Street), specializes in scampis, parms, pizzas, and other Italian comfort foods.

Wilson and his fiancée Jacqueline Au, already the chef-owner of a globally-themed restaurant down the street, Maya J, are designing to space to be as comfortable as their own home — "cozy, casual, and unpretentious." The walls will be dressed with framed photos of grandmothers submitted to the Wilson's via social media by their friends and family.

The menu, here, is a simple, no frills offering of salads, antipasta, pasta, and main courses — fish (your choice of salmon or snapper) or meat (choose between petit filet, NY strip, or chicken, fixed in a variety of Italian preparations).

Gigi opens at 4:00 p.m., daily, for early diners, and closes at 9 p.m. on Sunday, 10 p.m. on weekdays, and 11 p.m. on weekends. Make reservations by calling 267-323-2899.