The 13 Most Anticipated Restaurants in Philadelphia, Spring 2019

There’s always a new restaurant to look forward to in Philadelphia’s ever-evolving food scene. From Joe Beddia’s expanded pizzeria to Michael Schulson’s swank steakhouse, plus the Zahav team’s Israeli all-day cafe, here are 13 highly anticipated eateries expected to open in Philly from now through June.

---

Pizzeria Beddia

Location: 1313 N. Lee Street, Fishtown

Key Players: Joe Beddia, Greg Root, Nick Kennedy, Al Lucas

The Situation: Philly mourned when Joe Beddia closed his tiny takeout-only pizza shop in Fishtown, but it was only to make way for bigger and better things. Beddia is working with the team behind Suraya and R&D on what he’s describing as a sit-down pizzeria with natural wine.

Projected Opening: Late March

Rachel Wisniewski

Elwood

Location: 1007 Frankford Avenue, Fishtown

Key Players: Adam Diltz

The Situation: Adam Diltz, formerly of Farmicia and Johnny Brenda’s, is adding to the Fishtown restaurant lineup with Elwood, a 24-seat BYOB. The menu will draw from the chef’s Pennsylvania Dutch heritage and from local history: Diltz says he’s studying the Colonial, Federal, and Victorian eras of the region for inspiration. Outside of Philly, the chef spent time at No. 9 Park in Boston, Blackberry Farm in Tennessee, and Everest in Chicago.

Projected Opening: Late March or early April

20th Street Pizza

Location: 108 S. 20th Street, Rittenhouse

Key Players: Mark Mebus

The Situation: Slice shops don’t usually make it onto the list of Eater’s most anticipated restaurants, but this one is worth a mention. 20^th Street Pizza is an all-vegan pizzeria in the heart of Rittenhouse from Mark Mebus, known for Blackbird Pizzeria. Unlike Blackbird, which sells sandwiches and cheesesteaks, 20th Street will focus solely on pizza.

Projected Opening: Early March

Winkel

Location: 1119 Locust Street, Washington Square West

Key Players: Joncarl Lachman

The Situation: Clear your Sunday mornings. Noord’s Joncarl Lachman is taking over half of the space that was the long-running More Than Just Ice Cream for Winkel. The new breakfast, lunch, and brunch spot will serve Dutch-inspired fare along with shakshuka and other daytime dishes.

Projected Opening: Late March

Schulson Collective

Alpen Rose

Location: 116 S. 13th Street, Midtown Village/Gayborhood

Key Players: Michael Schulson, Nina Tinari, Leo Forneas

The Situation: The newest project from the Schulson Collective, led by Michael Schulson and Nina Tinari, is Alpen Rose, a sophisticated steakhouse on 13th Street next to sister spots Double Knot and Sampan. Working with culinary director Leo Forneas, Schulson and Tinari are going for a classic vibe at the 40-seat restaurant. Look for wooden wall paneling lined with photos and books, chandeliers, and a wood-burning grill and hearth.

Projected Opening: March or April

Hiroki

Location: 1355 N. Front Street (entrance at Lee and Master streets), Fishtown

Key Players: Hiroki Fujiyama, Randall Cook, David Grasso

The Situation: Fishtown gets a dedicated Japanese omakase restaurant with Hiroki, lead by chef Hiroki Fujiyama and backed by Wm. Mulherin’s Sons’ Randall Cook and David Grasso. Hiroki and Wm. Mulherin’s share a building, which also has a four-room boutique hotel upstairs. Fujiyama, formerly head sushi chef at Stephen Starr’s Morimoto, will offer 17- and 21-course prix fixe menus featuring small plates and sushi, along with an extensive sake list and Japanese whiskeys and gins.

Projected Opening: March

Kory Aversa

Stina

Location: 1705 Snyder Avenue, South Philly

Key Players: Bobby Saritsoglou, Christina Kallas-Saritsoglou

The Situation: Chef Bobby Saritsoglou, best known for Greek restaurant Opa, and Christina Kallas-Saritsoglou, co-founder of Philly AIDS Thrift, are opening Stina in Newbold. The small BYOB will serve pizza and Mediterranean dishes made in a wood-fired oven and give part of its proceeds to local charities, community projects, and school programs.

Projected Opening: Late April

Bloomsday Cafe

Location: 414 S. 2nd Street, Society Hill

Key Players: Kelsey Bush, Zach Morris, Tim Kweeder

The Situation: An all-day cafe and natural wine bar and shop from Zach Morris and Kelsey Bush of Haverford’s Green Engine Coffee Co. is heading to Headhouse Square, with Tim Kweeder signed on as beverage director and sommelier. Bloomsday Cafe will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with menus focusing on seasonal and local fare.

Projected Opening: April

Olly and Gigi

Location: 700 S. 5th Street, Queen Village

Key Players: Marina De Oliveira, Chris D’Ambro

The Situation: Marina De Oliveira and Chris D’Ambro of Queen Village’s Southwark and Ambra are working on two new restaurants just up the street, both in what was most recently Whetstone Tavern. D’Ambro describes Olly as a neighborhood bar and restaurant for all ages, with updated versions of American staples like fried chicken and burgers along with small plates highlighting veggies. To drink, wine, beer, root beer, and cold brew coffee, all on draft. Gigi Pizzeria will have some space for dining at the restaurant but it’s more of a delivery and takeout spot, with Neapolitan-style pies, sandwiches, and wood-fired wings.

Projected Opening: Mid-April for Olly; May or June for Gigi

Courtesy of Cicala

Cicala at the Divine Lorraine

Location: 699 N. Broad Street, North Broad/Spring Garden

Key Players: Angela Cicala, Joe Cicala

The Situation: Chefs Joe Cicala, formerly of Le Virtu and Brigantessa, and Angela Cicala are working on Cicala at the Divine Lorraine in Philly’s rapidly changing North Broad Street corridor. The upscale eatery, set inside the historic hotel turned apartment building, will serve southern Italian fare.

Projected Opening: Late May or early June

The Lucky Well

Location: 990 Spring Garden Street, Callowhill

Key Players: Chad Rosenthal

The Situation: Chef Chad Rosenthal is opening a Philly location of his popular Ambler barbecue restaurant, The Lucky Well, at 10th and Spring Garden. Expect Memphis-style ribs and sides like barbecue beans and coleslaw, along with meats and vegetables grilled on a made-in-Texas broiler.

Projected Opening: May

Alexandra Hawkins

K’Far

Location: 110 S. 19th Street, Rittenhouse

Key Players: Camille Cogswell, Mike Solomonov, Steve Cook

The Situation: Camille Cogswell, the James Beard Award-winning pastry chef at Zahav, will lead the kitchen at K’Far, an Israeli bakery and cafe from fellow James Beard winners Mike Solomonov and Steve Cook (the duo behind Zahav, Dizengoff, Abe Fisher, and Goldie). Look for sweet and savory baked goods, like rugelach and burekas, and a dinner menu that skips the falafel and hummus to show another side of Israeli cuisine. The all-day restaurant is located in the new 25-story Harper apartment building.

Projected Opening: June

Gabi

Location: 339 N. Broad Street, North Broad/Callowhill

Key Players: Peter Woolsey, Kenneth Bush, Brad Histand

The Situation: Bistrot La Minette’s Peter Woolsey is heading to North Broad for another French restaurant, bringing along La Minette’s executive chef Kenneth Bush and La Peg’s GM Brad Histand. Gabi, going in the new Hanover North Broad building, will be an all-day cafe with sidewalk seating, a bar, and dishes like escargot, nicoise salad, and French onion soup.

Projected Opening: June