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The already-impressive restaurant scene in Philadelphia just keeps giving us more to look forward to. From Peruvian fare in Northern Liberties to Italian BYOBs in South Philly, plus a Japanese bar from the Cheu Fishtown crew, here are 14 highly anticipated eateries expected to open in Philly this spring.
Keep in mind that projected opening dates often change, since restaurant debuts depend on construction timelines, permit applications, and several other factors. But that’s no reason not to start getting excited. Let the countdown begin.
Nunu
Location: 1414 Frankford Avenue, Fishtown
Key Players: Ben Puchowitz, Shawn Darragh
The Situation: The team behind Cheu Noodle Bar, Cheu Fishtown, and Bing Bing Dim Sum are opening a Japanese bar. Nunu will serve yakitori (skewers) and katsu (Japanese-style cutlets). The new spot shares a patio — complete with an indoor/outdoor bar — with Cheu Fishtown, where diners will be able to order from either restaurant’s menu.
Projected Opening: Late April or early May
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L’Anima
Location: 1001 S. 17th Street, Graduate Hospital
Key Players: Rosemarie Tran, Gianluca Demontis
The Situation: Chef Gianluca Demontis and Rosemarie Tran of Melograno (2012 Sansom Street) and Fraschetta (Bryn Mawr) are opening an Italian BYOB with a focus on Roman cuisine — which, yes, includes Roman-style pizza. Demontis is originally from Rome. The restaurant is going into the ground floor of condo building Carpenter Square as the first tenant to occupy the commercial space. It will seat about 75. In warmer weather, look for tables set up outside with room for about 20 diners.
Projected Opening: First week in April
Cadence
Location: 161 W. Girard Avenue, South Kensington
Key Players: Jon Nodler, Michael Fry, Samantha Kincaid
The Situation: Three chefs from Ellen Yin and Eli Kulp’s High Street Hospitality Group (Fork, High Street on Market, A.Kitchen, A.Bar) are striking out on their own for Cadence, a BYOB on Girard Avenue where Fishtown, Northern Liberties, and South Kensington meet. The restaurant, which has an open kitchen and a chef’s counter, will serve new American fare available al la carte or as a prix fixe meal, along with some intriguing-sounding nonalcoholic cocktails made with local vinegars.
Projected Opening: March
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Suraya
Location: 1528 Frankford Avenue, Fishtown
Key Players: Nathalie Richan, Roland Kassis, Nick Kennedy, Greg Root
The Situation: The second phase of Lebanese market/café Suraya will debut this spring when the restaurant part opens, extending the venue’s hours and adding a new menu with an emphasis on dishes cooked on a 12-foot charcoal grill. Also in the works: a list of cocktails with names inspired by the poems of Khalil Gibran. The restaurant will seat about 120. Look for an outdoor dining area to open later this year.
Projected Opening: Mid-spring
El Merkury
Location: 2104 Chestnut Street, Rittenhouse
Key Players: Sofia Deleon
The Situation: Sofia Deleon is turning her catering operation and pop-up shop into a brick-and-mortar restaurant serving Central American street food with a menu inspired by Mayan food staples like corn, beans, chili peppers, and chocolate. Even better: The fast-casual spot will have a dedicated churro counter.
Projected Opening: Mid-spring
The Finch
Location: 220 S. 17th Street, Rittenhouse
Key Players: Jennifer Carroll, Billy Riddle
The Situation: Top Chef alum Jennifer Carroll returns to her hometown of Philly with The Finch, a Mediterranean bistro at the Warwick Hotel she’s opening with chef Billy Riddle, her fiancé. Carroll and Riddle were both working in Mike Isabella’s restaurant empire in D.C.
Projected Opening: Late spring
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Seorabol
Location: Center City
Key Players: Chris Cho
The Situation: One of Philly’s best Korean restaurants is getting a second location in Center City — but chef-owner Chris Cho is keeping the exact address top secret (for now). Expect a similar menu to the original in Olney, with Korean barbecue, bibimbap, stews, and much more.
Projected Opening: May or June
The Pineville
Location: 2448 E. Huntington Street, Olde Richmond (between Fishtown and Port Richmond)
Key Players: Andrew Abruzzese, Drew Abruzzese
The Situation: The 276-year-old Pineville Tavern in Bucks County is getting a sister spot in the city. The Pineville will span two floors, with a neighborhood tavern feel on the street level and a swank lounge with a raw bar, bronzed mirrors, velour walls, and a Steinway grand piano upstairs. The food is classic American: bacon cheeseburgers, barbecue ribs, fried chicken, crab cakes, and other hearty eats.
Projected Opening: Mid-April
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Tradesman’s
Location: 1322 Chestnut Street, Midtown Village
Key Players: Teddy Sourias
The Situation: Teddy Sourias of Cinder, Bru, U-Bahn, and Finn McCools is opening a beer and barbecue joint set in a building that dates back to 1906. Tradesman’s is big, with seats for around 200 on two levels. Expect 40 taps at the bar with a focus on American brews and a long list of whiskeys to go with a range of regional barbecue dishes, from Kansas City ribs to Texas brisket.
Projected Opening: Late April or early May
Burrata
Location: 1247 S. 13th Street, South Philly
Key Players: Dejvi Furxhi, Albi Furxhiu
The Situation: This Italian BYOB in the corner spot at 13th and Wharton — in what was August — is just about ready to open its doors. The restaurant, which will seat 38, is going for a rustic look with “a touch of industrial,” according to Dejvi Furxhi, who’s opening Burrata with his cousin, Albi Furxhiu. The menu will be fairly tight, with six to eight appetizers (expect a burrata plate), five or six pastas (spinach fettuccine, beet ravioli in a béchamel sauce), and a few meat and fish dishes.
Projected Opening: March 20
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SOMO SoPhi
Location: 3101 S. 13th Street, South Philly
Key Players: James Morrissey, Jahri Evans, Takia Evans
The Situation: Designer/restaurateur James Morrissey is opening a second location of Manayunk’s SOMO, and this one has Philly native/Green Bay Packers All-Pro guard Jahri Evans and his wife, Takia Evans, on board. SOMO SoPhi at 13th and Packer has a sports theme, but it’s not your typical sports bar. Look for a chic lounge on the first floor, complete with a living green wall made of moss, and a cocktail bar and dining room with an open kitchen on the second level. In warmer weather, there will be outdoor seating on a terrace and on the sidewalk. Take a peek at the SOMO Manayunk menu for an idea of the food.
Projected Opening: Mid-April
Chalaco’s Ceviche & Pisco Bar
Location: 1030 N. 2nd Street, Northern Liberties
Key Players: Francisco Acevedo, Carmen Silva, Giovanni Delfino
The Situation: Northern Liberties is getting a Peruvian restaurant with a focus on seafood and pisco. Chalaco’s will seat about 90 across a dining room, bar, lounge, and private space. It’s right across from the Piazza at Schmidt’s Commons, in what was formerly Bar Ferdinand.
Projected Opening: March
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Talk
Location: 2121 Walnut Street, Rittenhouse
Key Players: Andrew Kochan, Tim Lanza
The Situation: Andrew Kochan and Tim Lanza of the always-interesting Marigold Kitchen in West Philly are heading over the Schuylkill for Talk. Unlike Marigold, a BYOB that only serves a tasting menu, Talk is going for a la carte plates and alcohol, but the dishes — carrot beignets, lamb sausage wontons — sound equally inventive. After several missed projected opening dates, the owners are hesitant to say anything more specific than “spring.”
Projected Opening: Spring
Brickwall Tavern
Location: 1216 Chestnut Street, Midtown Village
Key Players: New Jersey-based restaurant group Smith
The Situation: The second half of Smith’s foray into Philly debuts in April when Brickwall Tavern opens on Chestnut Street adjacent to the restaurant group’s new pizzeria, Porta. The original Brickwall in Asbury Park is a popular tavern with 20-plus beers on tap and a menu of bar snacks, burgers, sandwiches, and “nom nom bowls” with mashed potatoes, noodles, rice, or greens topped with everything from Swedish meatballs to turkey chili.
Projected Opening: April
Looking Ahead:
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Giuseppe & Sons, the two-in-one Italian eatery from Michael Schulson and the Termini Brothers Bakery family, is going for a summer opening at 1521 Sansom Street. It will combine a street-level bakery/café with a basement restaurant, similar to Schulson’s Double Knot.
Joe Beddia announced the imminent demise of his nationally acclaimed Pizzeria Beddia, but don’t fret too much: He has another, bigger pizza shop in the works for Fishtown. Pizzeria Beddia’s last day is March 31.
James Beard Award winner Greg Vernick is opening a restaurant — his second after Vernick Food & Drink — in the new Comcast tower at 18th and Arch streets. Also planning a restaurant for the tower is famed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
Spanish celebs are heading to Philly with Tatel, an upscale restaurant with locations in Madrid, Ibiza, and Miami. It’s going into the new building rising at 1908 Chestnut Street, where the historic Boyd Theater stood.
In food hall news, look for the completely revamped Bourse to open this summer with almost 30 new eateries. The Old City destination will feature sliders at Sylva Senat’s Baby Buns, Egyptian fare at Ka’moon, lobster rolls at 3rd & Ferry, and much more.