Italian eatery to arrive this fall

This fall, students looking for their fill of pasta will not need to head to the eastern side of the Schuylkill.

The Inn at Penn's Ivy Grille, located at 3611 Walnut street, will reopen in August as Penne. The name, designed to incorporate Penn's name into the restaurant, was dreamed up by restaurant manager Harry Kratz.

The decision to change the fare of the Ivy Grille was in part a result of demand for a nearby Italian restaurant, but students also hope the new eatery will not empty their wallets.

"I was lying down in bed late at night thinking ziti, macaroni, going through all the Italian pastas" Kratz recalled about his selection of the restaurant's name. "And then it hit me, Penne!"

Vice President of Business Services Lee Nunery added that the name will help people remember the restaurant.

"If you associate with a name, then usually you'll go back," Nunery said.

Both Penn and restaurant officials hope that Penne will draw crowds not just from University City, but from all over Philadelphia.

"We're really changing the concept and making it more of a destination," Nunery said. "We're really trying to electrify that corner."

Kratz, who was brought on board at the restaurant one year ago to facilitate the Ivy Grille's reconception, added that a world-class pasta chef will head the kitchen at the redone restaurant.

While Penne will feature fresh, handmade pasta, Kratz noted that pizza, gourmet Italian food and an expansive wine menu will also be available. And the decor will feature ancient Roman warrior gear -- an obvious departure from that of the Ivy Grille.

There was a lot of demand from the Penn community and University City residents for an Italian restaurant on campus, according to Nunery.

"Customers surveys always came back saying a good Italian restaurant is lacking in this community," he said.

Kratz, too, has heard many requests for an Italian restaurant.

"People would approach me, and their questions would always be, 'where's the good Italian restaurant?'" he said.

Students are excited about the new restaurant, but some are concerned that prices at Penne might exceed student budgets.

"I would be glad if an Italian restaurant opened," College sophomore Beth Bennett said. "I'm Italian, and I like Italian food."

However, Bennett said that, while Penn's campus really needs an Italian restaurant, students may only take advantage of it if it is within a certain price range.

"There doesn't seem to be any Italian food around here, other than going to South Street," she said. "I think it will be a good addition to campus, but it depends on the price."

When asked how students would respond to Penne, Engineering senior John Pan said, "My first impression is very positive, [but] it really depends on what kind of Italian restaurant it is."

Kratz, however, feels that Penne will be able to cater to the needs of students as well as guests at the Inn at Penn who may be seeking "fine dining."

"We're being ambitious in trying to target a wide range of people on campus," Kratz said. "It will be affordable to students, but at the same time, we'll cater to the executive who wants steak and a bottle of wine."

Nunery also hopes restaurant promotion will demonstrate a successful partnership where "academics and business can come together." To help highlight the University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology's exhibit on Roman and Tuscan art, Penne hopes to incorporate some artifacts from the exhibit into its interior design.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.