Inside Jamonera

The newest restaurant opens on 13th Street

Inside Jamonera (all photos courtesy of Jamonera)

Life and business partners Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran have added yet another eatery to their restaurant empire on 13th Street. In addition to the already popular Barbuzzo (which won a reader’s choice honor from Philadelphia magazine thanks to its creative take on Mediterranean-inspired cuisine) and Lolita, a modern Mexican BYOT (the “T” stands for tequila) – not to mention their shops and gourmet grocery on the block – the women also welcome Jamonera to the mix in the space formerly occupied by Bindi, their Indian fusion eatery that has since closed.

Papa Fritas

The new restaurant and wine bar takes a page from tapas culture of Spain with small plates that combine popular Spanish flavors with traditional ingredients in a new way. The women traveled to the Iberian Peninsula to taste test the local flavors themselves as is common when they open any of their restaurants (Barbuzzo was inspired by the couple’s trip to Italy).

The renovations of the former Bindi may be the most pronounced change to the 13th Street space this season. With the help of Tim Shaaban of Urban Space, the restaurant has been transformed into a Spanish-style eatery and wine bar with a 20-foot copper-topped bar, hand-carved chandeliers and artwork inspired by Georges Bizet’s opera “Carmen.”

As for the menu, look for nods to Moorish culture and Spanish flavors featuring everything from olives and pig’s tail to guindilla peppers and, of course, jamon. The prices for dishes range from a few dollars for the small plates up to $20 for larger, shared plates.

The drink menu has also been carefully selected, with not only a selection of Spanish wines, but also ciders, beers and specialty cocktails like the La Granada (with Sailor Jerry spiced rum, pomegranate, cardamom, citrus and mint) and the Bizet (with Tito’s Handmade Vodka, passion fruit, clementine and fresh thyme). The restaurant also offers its own take on sangria with brandy, tree fruits and orange, as well as desserts, like bunuelos (warm donuts with espresso dulce de leche, spiced chocolate and sea salt) and Crema Catalana, a citrus custard with grapefruit gelee, citrus, candied pistachios and lemon.

Jamonera, 105 S. 13th Street, 215-922-6061.