Serafina Philadelphia Opens in Rittenhouse Square

The Summer Solstice ushered in summer on Tuesday as well as the long anticipated opening of Serafina, the NYC based Italian restaurant is now a stones throw from the Rittenhouse Square restaurant row.
The prime location, located at the 10 Rittenhouse Square Residential building right off the Square, has two floors of seating as well as an array of outdoor seating and window’s that open wide on warm days. Yesterday and today it was hot and the windows were closed.
Strike a pose: KB Consultants & Associates Kelly Boyd looking fabulous as she chats with Society photographer Susan Scovil; Kelly put together a remarkable list of people who came out to sample the wares of Serafina (I hear they have 17 different kinds of pizza’s) and imbibe on the spirits that flowed freely event past the original end time of 9PM.
Erin Tideman and SouthPhilly Fashionista Michelle Boyles. I had arrived a tad late as I was busy working on the Kimmel’s Solstice shoot I did the previous Saturday. It was so packed inside I decided that I would just catch people hanging out on the sidewalk. It turned out that a lot of people thought that was a great idea too. I could only stay 30 minutes as I had a job shooting a Parkinson Fundraiser at Table 31 at 7PM and I wanted to get as many peeps in front of my lens before I had to run off. (I’ll be writing about that on Monday. BTW tonight is the very popular Thursday’s It’s Ladies Night party.)
Del Frisco‘s Gm Rich Furino, Jessica Kiefer and manager Carmen Tedesco. Corie Moskow, Ilana Waber, (Gloss PR) Amy W and Brian Lipstein (Henry A. Davidsen)
Jennifer Lea Cohan, Tom Jordan and Carol Serena, Starr Restaurants
Fox29’s Mike Jerrick and John Bolaris
Aly and Wendy Rosen. Behind them are two KB Consultant employees Joan Kessler and Jack Schell, who manned the door and kept the 7 people who weren’t on the list out. Only kidding, but there weren’t that many people not invited, I think everyone who ever appeared in PhillyChitChat.com, Philly Style Magazine, Philly Magazine and walked through Rittenhouse Square was at this party. It was packed. Including many surprises…
Linda Sandler, Lenny Kahn with Arnie and Sonia Silverstiein in the 2nd row.
Brett Rosenbloom, Courtney Grant and John Westrum.
Carol and Nino Tinari and guest.
WMMR’s Preston & Steve’s Marisa Magnatta, David Grasso and Aly Green (Silencia PR)
The ladies who lunch will definitely be choosing Serafina Philadelphia. Some of the ladies spotted were Kristin Foote, Danya Henniger, Sabrina Tamburino, Liza Tedeschi, Jill Rizen, Tiffany McElroy, spinning at the gig Inga D’Angelo, Julia Morley, Stacey Kracher, Aida Sparta, Elaine Graber, Stacey Margo (Tonight she’ll be at the Philadelphia Eagles Todd Herremans Anti-Bullying event at Sugarhouse 7PM $35) and Friends of Rittenhouse Square president Betsy Hummel
Eric Cahill and Dana Spain. Dana’s big PAWS event is this Monday at the Union League.
Hilary and Harry Platt. A few men spotted in the crowd, Mayor Nutter, Former Gov Rendell, Bill Sasso, Robert Abrosi (who I later saw around 9:30PM at 18th and Market in one of those taxi bike contraptions), Philly Style Mag’s John Colabelli, Philly Daily News’ Larry Platt, John Stanley, Chris Widell, and Carl Dranoff
New couple alert: Tom Coyne and Andi Pescov. Andi had a hand in getting Serafina at this location. She works for Michael Salove. I later did a “drive by” of the restaurant and still found it to be buzzing around 10PM so I grabbed a few shots. (Just a note – I wrote last week that a Dunkin Donuts is planning to open across the street below the Nail Bar. Last week I ran into a few folks involved in the Rittenhouse Square Residents Association, and they say it’s not gonna happen. They are going to fight it. So we’ll wait and see. What are your thoughts about a DD within sight of the Square?)
Serafina owners Fabio Granato, and Vittorio Assaf with Hacina Saadi. Hacina is fresh off the plane from supporting her friend Amber-Joi at the Miss USA Pageant in Las Vegas. These days you’ll find Hacina at the Serafina hostess desk happy to greet and seat you. (Arthur Kade was also in Sin City to lend support and you can check out his blog with the details, HERE, but after you finish reading my blog.)
Dennice Anderson, Cayleigh Ashmin, G-N Kang (Hamels Foundation – The Diamond & Denin event is coming up 8/11/11 or click on the advertisement in the side bar of PhillyChitChat.com), guest and Steve Gartner
Mia Colona, Caitlyn Joyce, Vittorio Assaf, Co-owner of Serafina. Mia tells me tonight is the grand reopening of the Manayunk Nicole Miller shop after some 14 year old kid decided to drive his car through the shop window almost hitting two sales girls. Tonight’s Party is called: CRASH NICOLE MILLER MANAYUNK’S GRAND RE-OPENING PARTY”Beck and friends after finishing a delicious meal on the second floor of the restaurant.Carol Tamburino and her girls run in for a night cap about 10PM.
As I was heading out I ran into Kelly Boyd, who 5 hours after the event began, was still beaming with the knowledge that the grand opening was a success and the boys had made a big splash in our little town of Philly.

PS I walked by last night (Wednesday) and the place was packed with a line out the door. Maybe it was because it’s the new kid in town, but most likely because of the raves I heard about the food and the hospitality. Bon Appétit!!