Tale of the Tape: Il Pittore


Chris Painter and Stephen Starr are finally opening Il Pittore, Painter’s long in the works modern Italian restaurant featuring the specialties of Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Piedmont and Sicily. The original opening date was yesterday, but the opening  now takes place today.

Space

  • Il Pittore takes over Noble’s handsome space at 2025 Sansom Street.
  • The changes are mainly cosmetic.
  • Designed by Stokes Architecture.
  • Seating for 80.
  • A dining bar is the most dominant feature of the downstairs space.
    • Ideal for dining alone or for a casual dinner of pasta and wine.
    • Back wall decorated with dried pasta, tomato sauce and other staples.
  • Former bar is now a service bar.
  • More light is let in downstairs by using glass dividers.
  • Upstairs is white tablecloth dining and a somewhat more formal vibe.

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Chef Chris Painter

  • Started with Stephen Starr in 1999.
  • Opened Tangerine.
  • For the last three years Painter has been Starr’s Director of Menu Development.
  • Painter traveled throughout Italy in preparation for Il Pittore, drawing inspiration from the diverse array of towns, eateries and markets.

Food

  • Menu features the cuisine of Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Piedmont and Sicily.
  • Menu broken down into antipasti, pasta and mains.
  • All pastas are made in-house daily.
  • Menu highlights:
    • Ricotta with moscato poached pears, rosemary, and black pepper
    • Lightly Smoked Cod with saffron baccala, and calamari salad. A
    • Malloreddus with blue crab and uni crema,
    • Pappardelle with fall-spiced wild boar ragu, rosemary, and parmesan.
    • Black Bass with spinach, ruby red shrimp, and spicy soppressata
    • Suckling Pig with pear mostarda, roast baby carrots, and cavalo nero;
    • Bistecca for Two accompanied by salsa verde, Tuscan bean salad and chestnut honey glazed turnips.

Drink

  • Master Sommelier Laura Maniec consulted on Il Pittore’s Italian themed wine list.
  • 200-bottle wine list.
  • 18-20 wines by the glass.
  • Italian craft beers including Menabrea’s “Ambrata” and “Bionda” lagers.
  • Cocktails include Italian specialties:
    • Perol Sour
    • Negroni
  • Other cocktails will include:
  • ‘Godfather’ with Famous Grouse Scotch, Lazzaroni Amaretto
  • ‘Pennello’ with Old Overholt Rye Whiskey, Cynar, Dolin de Chambery Vermouth

Il Pittore
2025 Sansom St
215-391-4900

Open nightly for dinner.