A true Mixx: The restaurant’s new menu incorporates Thai, Mexican, and Chinese flavors

Il Pittore
Starr Restaurants veteran Chris Painter not only sits at the culinary helm of Stephen Starr’s new modern Italian restaurant as executive chef, but he even inspired the name: Il pittore means “the painter” in Italian. Fittingly, murals decorate the walls at this gorgeous bi-level eatery, home to contemporary preparations like ricotta with moscato-poached pears, rosemary, and black pepper; lightly smoked cod with saffron baccala; and calamari salad. Pastas are made in-house, providing a pillowy base for dishes like fall-spiced wild boar ragu, rosemary, and Parmesan. Two hundred wine bottles with up to 20 selections by the glass round out the drinks list. 2025 Sansom St., 215-391-4900; ilpittore.com

Tashan
Restaurateur Munish Narula has reinvented the way Philadelphians and Main Liners view Indian food with his accessible six-location franchise, Tiffin and Tiffin etc. Now the India-born Narula has introduced a sophisticated lounge and fine-dining restaurant, Tashan, located in 777 South Broad. Sylva Senat, former sous-chef at Jean- Georges in New York, and Indian cuisine expert Sanjay Shende developed the small-plates menu, bringing authentic tastes to life with tandoor ovens, sigri grills, and tawa griddles, all imported from the United Kingdom. 777 S. Broad St., 267-687-2170; mytashan.com

Mixx Restaurant and Bar
The trendy Win Signature restaurant on Lancaster Avenue, decked out in damask and modern light fixtures, has introduced a new chef to amp up its menu. Co-owner Sutida Somboonsong turns the reins over to executive chef Aniwat “Chay” Vadhanachai, who has incorporated Mexican, Thai, and Chinese flavors into the menu. There’s also a sushi and raw bar. 789 E. Lancaster Ave., Villanova, 610-527-0700; mixxrestaurant.com

Mica
Chef and owner Chip Roman is now serving Sunday brunch at his cozy Chestnut Hill restaurant, doling out grownup versions of brunch staples with an emphasis on subtle seasonal tastes, like buttermilk pancakes with pumpkin butter and Chantilly cream. But there are also inventive staples, such as the steak and eggs prepared with beef short ribs, white grits, and fried egg. 8609 Germantown Ave., 267-335- 3912; micarestaurant.com

McCrossen’s Tavern
For the past few months, this Fairmount tavern has been undergoing a revamp, and they are not stopping at the décor. Newly appointed executive chef Townsend Wentz, a Four Seasons and Lacroix at The Rittenhouse veteran, is now serving inspired pub fare to much acclaim. The latest offerings include red-winebraised short ribs and roasted Scottish salmon with asparagus, oven-dried tomatoes, and pesto. 529 N. 20th St., 215-854-0923; mccrossens.com

MidAtlantic
Daniel Stern’s seasonally driven restaurant in University City has a new menu that includes comforting entrées like rotisserie chicken served with Brussels sprouts, mushroom chestnut strudel, and chicken sausage gravy, or cidermustard- glazed salmon with butternut and spaghetti squash. For dessert don’t miss the Dutch-style apple dumpling with salted caramel and pistachio ice cream, a dish modeled after the beloved treat from Pennsylvania Dutch kitchens. 3711 Market St., 215-386-3711; midatlanticrestaurant.com

Square 1682
In the ever stylish bi-level restaurant next to Hotel Palomar, chef Guillermo Tellez has introduced some new plates for winter appetites, like a roasted lamb shank served next to sage polenta and roasted red bell peppers, or a wild striped bass with sage gnocchi and ancho chili romesco. Appetizers like lobster potpie and lobster bisque with pumpkin warm the soul—and your stomach. 121 S. 17th St., 215-563-5008; square1682.com

Gemelli on Main
Visit this Italian restaurant in Manayunk for chef-owner Clark Gilbert’s new fall menu additions, like the lobster cannelloni with shrimp, braised pork belly, and butternut squash. Don’t forget to try one of the seasonal cocktails as well, such as the chocolate Manhattan with rye whiskey infused with Pennsylvania Dutch–processed cocoa. 4161 Main St., 215-487-1230; gemellionmain.com