Chef Michael Brenfleck’s Little Walter Will Feature Elevated, Fresh Takes on Traditional Polish Cuisine and Innovative Craft Cocktails

-Courtesy of Punch Media

Chef Michael Brenfleck, a longtime Philadelphia culinarian, and until very recently, Executive Chef of Rittenhouse’s Spice Finch, is thrilled to formally announce the launch of his new 46-seat restaurant and bar, Little Walter’s, serving modern riffs on classic Polish cuisine, slated for opening in late spring in city’s East Kensington neighborhood.

Little Walter’s owes its moniker to Brenfleck’s maternal grandfather Walter Bubick, aka “Little Walter” whose parents immigrated from Eastern Europe. The soon-to-debut locale is set to bring an entirely new and distinct culinary concept to Philadelphia’s dining scene. Derived from Brenfleck’s family roots and the rich culinary heritage of Poland, Little Walter’s debut menu brings bold flavors and comforting dishes that define Polish gastronomy. Diners can look forward to Pierogi Ruskie (potato and farmers cheese), Kielbasa Zwyczajna (ordinary sausage), and house-made sourdough rye bread among Brenfleck’s offerings.

“Growing up, I enjoyed many Polish traditions but none more profound then “Wiglia” a traditional Polish Christmas Eve supper. The annual feast instilled a deep love for Pierogi,” said Brenfleck. “My love of this cuisine, and my take on it, is something I can’t wait to share with such a great restaurant city like Philadelphia.”

Highlights from Little Walter’s opening menu include:

·      Sałatka z Ogórków – pickled salad, crispy kogi, poached egg  

·      Pierogi Ruskie – Yukon gold, farmer’s cheese, carmelized onions, served with house pickles & Pilsudski mustard 

·      Kielbasa Zwyczajna – pork shoulder, coriander, marjoram     

·      Golabki – cabbage roll, chicken liver, farro, jus  

·      Kotlet Schabowy – chicken cutlet, plum powidla, mustard broccolini, cucumber mizeria  

·      Wieprzowina z Rożna – rotisserie pork shoulder, bigos, maitake mushrooms 

·      House Sourdough Rye – smalec, cultured butter, beets  

Little Walter’s bar will boast carefully-curated imaginative craft cocktails named after professions in Polish, while utilizing spirits and liqueurs native to Poland. A bevy of signature sippers include a riff on the citywide dubbed Urbanista (city planner), 16 oz Żubr and a shot of Żubrowska, Tłumacz (interpreter),  Śliwowica, lime juice, and salt, Nauczyciel (teacher), apple kombucha and krupnik, Pszczelarz (beekeeper), honey, meyer lemon shrub, and nasturtium, and a pickle juice martini titled Piłkarz (footballer).

A 15-year veteran of the Greater Philadelphia restaurant scene, Brenfleck’s background includes a culinary degree and a B.A. in Hotel and Restaurant Management from The Pennsylvania State University as well as a culinary degree from Northampton College. Most recently, Brenfleck was Executive Chef at noted Spice Finch in the city’s Rittenhouse neighborhood. Prior, Brenfleck worked with the Feliz Restaurant Group, where he was given the opportunity to test his Polish concept at Feliz locations with pop-ups, earning attention in The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Magazine, among other publications.  

Initial hours of operation will be Tuesday through Saturday from 5 – 10pm, and Sunday from 11am – 4pm. Reservations will be available via Resy in the coming weeks.

ABOUT LITTLE WALTER’S:
Little Walter’s, helmed by Owner/Executive Chef Michael Brenfleck, is Philadelphia’s newest hub for elevated, contemporary Polish cuisine. Slated for a Spring 2024 opening in the East Kensington neighborhood, Little Walter’s introduces a fresh take on Polish cuisine while honoring Brenfleck’s family’s roots and the rich culinary heritage of Poland.  Brenfleck’s debut menu will utilize the finest, locally-sourced meats and produce, as well as boast bold flavors and comforting dishes that define Polish gastronomy including house-made fare such as sourdough rye bread, grilled kielbasa, and pierogi ruskie. 

The 1200 sq. ft. venue holds 32 seats in the dining room and 14 in the bar area. Little Walter’s is located 2049 E. Hagert Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  For more information on Little Walter’s, visit www.littlewaltersphilly.com or follow on Instagram at @littlewaltersphilly.