My spouse and I visited Dino’s Backstage on a Saturday
evening in early November 2017. We attended an event at its next-door-neighbor,
the Keswick Theatre, so we stopped at Dino’s beforehand for drinks and snacks.
Truth be told, months earlier, we had booked a table online using the Open
Table reservation system; however, earlier that day, we ate a big lunch just a
few hours before, and as our reservation time approached, we weren’t hungry
enough for the formal dinner we had planned at Dino’s. So we cancelled our
reservation and instead dropped in for a small bite and some drinks. Note that
you cannot use Open Table to reserve a spot for the dinner show; you must telephone
the restaurant to arrange seating. Additionally, Dino’s outdoor tables are
reserved for walk-ins and cannot be reserved. Dino’s Backstage is open
Wednesday through Saturday evenings from 5:00 pm until 10:00 pm, with brunch
available on Sundays (closed Mondays and Tuesdays).
Dino’s opened in June 2016 on Keswick Avenue in Keswick
Village/Glenside. One of the partners is a professional singer and the other is
a restauranteur; they also operate a home-furnishings store across the street
called Kelly-Cataldi HOME. Dino’s offers seating in its bright cozy dining room
called “Backstage”, at its U-shaped bar, at one high-top table adjacent to the
bar, al fresco under a canopy on their front sidewalk (complete with heat lamps
and a comfortable lounge area). Dino’s also seats about 50 patrons on its
entertainment side of the property called the “Celebrity Room”, where you can eat
dinner and then catch a cabaret show. Décor includes black-and-white framed photographs
and wallpaper featuring stars and scenes from the 1940s big band/jazz/swing
era. Restrooms are located on the basement level, reachable by a long narrow
staircase (perhaps there are accommodations for the handicapped on the street
level).
We shared the flatbread and several rounds of drinks,
including the Marilyn Maye-tini (green apple liqueur and vodka, named for
singer/entertainer Marilyn Maye). Truthfully, the drink was a bit plain,
without any type of garnish or distinguishing characteristic, so I switched to
Riesling afterward. If you dine at the bar or outdoors, a more casual small
bites menu is available in additional to the more formal dining room menu. (Conversely,
you cannot order from the bar menu in the dining room.)
We enjoyed our time at Dino’s Backstage, and we will visit
again for a complete dining and entertainment experience next time.
