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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PROfile Public Relations
CONTACT: Clare Pelino or Jennifer Brunn
215.985.2106
POD, A FUTURISTIC ASIAN RESTAURANT BY STEPHEN STARR
PHILADELPHIA, PA - October 12, 2000 -- In October, Stephen Starr, the
city's leading creator of trendsetting restaurants, will open the
much-anticipated Pod, a futuristic Asian restaurant at the Inn at Penn, 3636
Sansom Street in University City. A thrilling sensory experience, Pod will
offer extraordinary Asian-fusion cuisine in super-chic, all-white
surroundings. Some of the high-tech features include a conveyor belt sushi
bar, unusual dining "pods," a foam sculpture for lounge seating and
the latest video imagery.
"We are excited to introduce a new level of dining to an untapped area
of the city. The cool atmosphere and fantastic food at Pod will transport
diners to a place beyond their imaginations!" says Starr, who owns and
operates Starr Restaurant Group, which includes four of the city's most
successful restaurants: the smash-hit Buddakan; the ever-popular
Continental Restaurant and Martini Bar; the stylish French bistro, The
Blue Angel; and his latest Mediterranean dining sensation,
Tangerine.
To design the impressive 160-seat restaurant, Starr hired one of the
country's top architecture and design firms, Rockwell Group, based in New York
City. Internationally acclaimed Rockwell designs include some of New York
City's hottest spots including: W Hotel, Nobu restaurant and Ruby Foo's Dim Sum
and Sushi Palace.
The ultra-modern design will use uncommon materials such as molded rubber,
sculpted plastic and smooth finished resin. High-gloss white epoxy walls,
a creamy white concrete floor and an acoustical foam ceiling will add to the
unconventional setting. The glass window exterior will welcome guests with
six screens that will play fast-paced Asian videos.
The sleek white interior will be contrasted by bold, bright colorful
lighting. Pink light will spill out over the main dining room, burnt
orange will glow from behind the sushi bar and pale blue will cool the bar
area.
The 90-seat main dining area will feature white acrylic tables decorated with
brilliant color bursts, a 16-seat communal table and white foam chairs.
Seven "pods" that seat two people will be available for intimate
dining. Three more private dining "pods" will offer seating for
parties of six, eight and 12 people. Each of these "pods"
will feature white upholstered banquettes and walls with a wraparound slot
window. Once inside, guests may choose from nine switches of different
light colors to illuminate their "pod." The interactive, glowing
"pods" will create a visual delight for guests throughout the
restaurant.
A 44-seat pod-shaped dining area, that can also be used for private parties,
will be enclosed by a glass sliding door. At the oval, 34-seat white sushi bar,
a conveyor belt will deliver fresh
sushi directly from the kitchen. Above the sushi bar, a large, 60-inch
video screen will show non-stop Japanese animation that will include a
full-range of action from the 1960's classic Speed Racer to a robot making
sushi.
Starr hired Chef Naoki Uchiyama to consult and develop the incredible menu of
Asian-fusion cuisine. Chef Uchiyama worked with celebrated restaurateur
Wolfgang Puck at his famed Los Angeles restaurants Oba Chine, Spago and Chinois
on Main.
The creative menu will feature delectable dim-sum and noodle dishes, served
family-style. Some of the enticing items will be fresh and cooked spring
rolls, dumplings, shu-mai, stir-fried noodles and flavorful soups.
Appetizers will range in price from $7 to $15. Entrees will range in price
from $12 to $25.
Sushi Chef Hiroyuki Tanaka, who has worked at Philadelphia's popular Gengi
sushi bars in Center City and in the Ritz-Carlton hotel, will prepare a stunning
array of sushi and sashimi. The sushi menu will include custom-made Maki
rolls, yellow-tail tuna, broiled eel and salmon that will range in price from $4
to $10. Combination platters of sushi will range in price from $15 to $60.
The non-traditional bar-lounge area will add to the electrifying
ambiance. Seating for up to 50 guests will be on a playful, Martian-red,
foam sculpture. A 14-seat bar will feature a translucent amber resin
bartop, lit from beneath with white neon. Pod will offer a superior sake
selection,
refreshing cocktails, an affordable wine list and imported Japanese
sodas.
Pod will feature a bathroom-lounge area with plush seating and ten unisex
bathrooms. Each unit will be equipped with its own lighting, honey-comb
rubber doors and individual stainless steel wash stands.
Well-known for his cutting-edge concepts, Starr has brought the city's dining
scene to phenomenal new heights in the past five years. Starr's
restaurants have set the pace in Old City, making it one of Philadelphia's
hottest areas for a night out. His restaurants attract out of town
visitors and celebrities such as Robert DeNiro, Bruce Willis, Oprah Winfrey,
Christopher Walken and Will Smith. Starr has been involved in the
hospitality and entertainment industries for more than 20 years.
Pod, at 3636 Sansom Street, will be open in October 2000. Pod will be open seven days a week: Monday through Thursday from 11:30 am to 11 pm; Friday from 11:30 am to 12 midnight; Saturday from 12 noon to 12 midnight; and Sunday from 12 noon to 11 pm. For more information, please call 215.387.1803.
