Little Walter’s Restaurant and Bar is Opening in East Kensington and Will be Serving Modern Riffs on Classic Polish Dishes
A new spot looking to serve traditional dishes is coming to East Kensington. Little Walter’s ( 2049 E. Hagert St.) which is a new concept from Chef Michael Brenfleck who many may know as the Executive Chef of Rittenhouse’s Spice Finch. Slated to open in late spring, Chef Brenfleck is poised to ope this 46-seat restaurant and bar and will be serving modern riffs on classic Polish cuisine.
Little Walter’s owes its moniker to Brenfleck’s maternal grandfather Walter Bubick, aka “Little Walter” whose parents immigrated from Eastern Europe. The soon-to-debut locale is set to bring an entirely new and distinct culinary concept to Philadelphia’s dining scene. Derived from Brenfleck’s family roots and the rich culinary heritage of Poland, Little Walter’s debut menu brings “bold flavors and comforting dishes that define Polish gastronomy.” Diners can look forward to Pierogi Ruskie (potato and farmers cheese), Kielbasa Zwyczajna (ordinary sausage), and house-made sourdough rye bread among Brenfleck’s offerings.
“Growing up, I enjoyed many Polish traditions but none more profound then “Wiglia” a traditional Polish Christmas Eve supper. The annual feast instilled a deep love for Pierogi,” said Brenfleck. “My love of this cuisine, and my take on it, is something I can’t wait to share with such a great restaurant city like Philadelphia.”
Highlights from Little Walter’s opening menu include:
· Sałatka z Ogórków – pickled salad, crispy kogi, poached egg
· Pierogi Ruskie – Yukon gold, farmer’s cheese, carmelized onions, served with house pickles & Pilsudski mustard
· Kielbasa Zwyczajna – pork shoulder, coriander, marjoram
· Golabki – cabbage roll, chicken liver, farro, jus
· Kotlet Schabowy – chicken cutlet, plum powidla, mustard broccolini, cucumber mizeria
· Wieprzowina z Rożna – rotisserie pork shoulder, bigos, maitake mushrooms
· House Sourdough Rye – smalec, cultured butter, beets
As for the beverage program, Little Walter’s bar will boast carefully-curated imaginative craft cocktails named after professions in Polish, while utilizing spirits and liqueurs native to Poland. A bevy of signature sippers include a riff on the citywide dubbed Urbanista (city planner), 16 oz Żubr and a shot of Żubrowska, Tłumacz (interpreter), Śliwowica, lime juice, and salt, Nauczyciel (teacher), apple kombucha and krupnik, Pszczelarz (beekeeper), honey, meyer lemon shrub, and nasturtium, and a pickle juice martini titled Piłkarz (footballer).
A 15-year veteran of the Greater Philadelphia restaurant scene, Brenfleck’s background includes a culinary degree and a B.A. in Hotel and Restaurant Management from The Pennsylvania State University as well as a culinary degree from Northampton College. Most recently, Brenfleck was Executive Chef at noted Spice Finch in the city’s Rittenhouse neighborhood. Prior, Brenfleck worked with the Feliz Restaurant Group, where he was given the opportunity to test his Polish concept at Feliz locations with pop-ups, earning attention in The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia magazine, among other publications.
Initial hours of operation will be Tuesday through Saturday from 5 – 10pm, and Sunday from 11am – 4pm. Reservations will be available via Resy in the coming weeks.
