McCabe's, the Hampden institution that closed abruptly in February 2009, is back in business with a new chef-owner.
This is a first venture into restaurant ownership for Patrick Ito, who previously worked at Copra downtown and Ze Mean Bean Cafe in Fells Point.
The restaurant, at 3845 Falls Road, reopened last Friday.
It still has the burgers and crab cakes for which the place was known. But those favorites have been updated.
All of the sandwiches come on breads from nearby Stone Mill Bakery. And the burger meat hails from Springfield Farms.
"We're trying to go as local and organic and humane as possible," Ito said.
Not that going local is a big sacrifice when it comes to the brioche burger buns baked about two blocks away. "They're delicious," he said.
Ito has included several vegetarian items on his menu, including a grilled vegetable lasagna that uses polenta in place of noodles. There's also a fried eggplant sandwich with a harissa-tomato chutney and goat cheese on a Stone Mill baguette.
The restaurant serves lunch from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., and dinner from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. An "upscale bar menu," all priced at $10 or less, is available until 1:30 a.m. McCabe's is closed Mondays.
Sun file photo