The latest venture from a well-traveled CIA grad with two stints under Jean-Georges, Vernick Food & Drink's a triple-zoned, boozy bistro opening today in Rittenhouse Square with a streamlined cement-counter bar, a kitchen-surrounding back dining room w/ a seven-stool chef's counter, and a 45-seat upstairs hangout adorned with pics of the chef's various travels, which're plentiful given his inability to dribble while running up and down the court.

Edibles get down categorical style, so look for "Raw" jawns (beef tartare w/ delicate French wafers) and "Toasts" (charred spinach & leeks; Maryland crab; morels, peas & bacon), then move into mains like lamb ragu-topped potato ravioli, the aforementioned pork blade steak w/ onion marmalade, an entire Amish chicken prepped Peking-style & oak-fired in the oven, and fava-bean-accompanied beef cheeks, also what Andre Iguodala said that time Mo asked him what the kids these days called a rap quarrel.

Drinks include a smattering of local crafty drafts, a literal wall of choice reds & whites, and a cocktail list balanced between classics like Sazeracs and Martinez-ez, plus customs like the South of Southside (tequila, lime & soda) and the lemon, Becherovka & egg white Czech Sour, aka Toni Kukoc during those years when he didn't get the extra Jordan step.