Restaurant news out of Manayunk: starting in early March, Gigi Italian Bistro will transition to and reopen at 4371 Main St., the home of Maya.J Restaurant.
Chef and owner Craig Wilson shares, “Gigi has been so well received by the local Manayunk community and beyond that we now have the need to expand into a larger space. We have made the decision to take over our sister restaurant’s space at Maya.J. We have to fulfill the need Gigi Italian Bistro has to grow.”
The new Gigi will be using the original Gigi menu and will also be introducing Mediterranean Italian tapas, which will be available both at the tables and at the bar. Some of those dishes will include grilled Spanish octopus with roasted garlic and Italian hots over bruschetta, Gigi spicy meatballs, lobster mac n’ cheese, sauteed green beans Puttanesca, grilled baby lamb chops with hot pepper pesto, tuna crudo and burrata cheese with warm beet salad and almond pesto.
Gigi’s new space will include a full bar. Chef Craig Wilson has worked closely with Frank Taormina of Majestic Wines to develop an interesting, affordable wine program with house red and white wines starting at $5 per glass. Gigi will continue to honor the BYOB concept for the first few months to give its tried-and-true customers an opportunity to get acclimated to Gigi’s new in-house wine program. The bar will continue to offer interesting beers on tap and delicious cocktails.
The new space has been retouched aesthetically to resemble the original Gigi space and will continue to collectively display its proud “Wall of Gigis” (the ladies) in their new home. The original Gigi space will be transformed into a private dining and event space with an extensive in-house and out-of-house catering menu for events such as rehearsal dinners, weddings, birthday celebrations, bat/bar mitzvahs, family and corporate events, art shows and more.
“We could not be happier about the Gigi expansion,” said Jane Lipton, executive director of the Manayunk Development Corporation. “I have to congratulate the Gigi and Maya.J teams on their success and look forward to an expanded Gigi menu that offers the best of both restaurants.”
Fans of Maya.J, have no fears: the Maya.J team will be searching for a new home for its global plates in either the Main Line or Center City. Stay tuned for updates as they develop!
Gigi Italian Bistro will be open Monday through Saturday for dinner from 4–11 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday for lunch and Saturday and Sunday for brunch.
If you’d like your special “Gigi” to be included as part of the new decor, the restaurant is taking photo submissions through March 8. Email your photos to [email protected].
Find at Gigi Italian Bistro at 4371 Main St. in Manayunk; phone: (267) 323-2899.
- Photos: Ed Williams
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