A new BYOB has opened up at 912 Christian St. at the former location of Sabrina’s Cafe.
The new restaurant, Roxanne, opened its doors to the public on Sept. 19 and will operate mostly during dinner hours, with sporadic openings during the day for pastry service.
The 872-square-foot restaurant, owned by Alexandra Holt, features 26 seats, including a pair at a chef’s counter.
The dimensions of the restaurant are certain, the menu is not.
Holt, a 2013 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America who has trained at restaurants in Germany, Iceland, as well as Chicago and Philadelphia, will not have a set menu at Roxanne.
Holt said that dinner will begin with five small bites, one of them being a togarashi cannelé with pimento cheese. In the fall, beef tongue with grilled cabbage will be featured, as will a raclette ice cream cake with caviar. The opening menu will feature a vanilla bean croissant grilled over charcoal with Portuguese egg tart filling and lacto-fermented stone fruit. A course of five different bites of potatoes done with different techniques will also be featured on the tasting menu, as Holt said potatoes are her favorite food.
“I’m going to make whatever I feel like making every week,” said Holt. “There is no specific focus or cuisine, and the menu will change regularly. Dinner will feature a tasting menu, which will likely be eight courses, and I plan on making the menu very approachable and affordable.”
Holt said the plan is for Roxanne to be open Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. with last seating to take place around 8:30 p.m. The days of operation might change as the restaurant eases into operations. It will be reservation only, but don’t try calling in advance as there is no phone. Reservations can be made on the Tock application.
Guests interested in buying featured pastries like cannelé, doughnuts, “weird” croissants, mille-feuille and other various baked goods, including political satire-themed pastries, will have to keep an eye on Roxanne’s Instagram at http://instagram.com/pastry_slut_ and http://instagram.com/roxanne_philly for sporadic openings during the afternoon hours.
