An Italian All-Day Cafe Is Heading to Queen Village

The address that most recently housed Greek favorite Kanella South is getting a new tenant next year. Chefs Justine MacNeil and Ed Crochet, who are married, are opening Fiore at 757 S. Front Street. They’re planning it as an Italian daytime cafe that transitions into a full-service restaurant in the evening.

The couple is coming from New York City, where they lived for about a decade and worked at well-known restaurants like Craft and Del Posto. Crochet started working for Stephen Starr and then Starr Catering (no longer part of restaurateur Starr’s organization), which led to the idea of relocating to Philly. They’ve been introducing themselves to the local food scene with pop-ups at Amis, Garage and Boku Supper Club.

The restaurant Konstantinos Pitsillides left behind when Kanella South closed earlier this year is in pretty good shape, with its elegant long bar, separate spacious dining room, and open kitchen. (Find Pitsillides’ Greek and Cypriot fare at his original BYOB, Kanella in Washington Square West). Crochet says they’re only making a few cosmetic changes, like repainting and hanging new artwork.

They hope to cater private parties in the restaurant over the holidays, and then open a daytime cafe in January 2019. Once the liquor license transfer is approved, they’ll extend hours into the evening with dinner service.

Provided

• Fiore, a modern Italian restaurant, is coming to Queen Village [Philly.com]