CookNSolo Restaurants, the restaurant group of James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Solomonov and his business partner Steven Cook, just recently welcomed brand-new eatery Dizengoff to their ever-growing restaurant family. (Photo by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia)
The advent of autumn brings school days, cooler weather and — inevitably in Philadelphia — a whole new set of delicious new restaurants to add to your must-try list.
With an influx of talent from other cities joining local culinary masters, the dining landscape in the City of Brotherly Love is set to only expand its seemingly endless offerings of edibles.
Recent weeks have seen the debuts of brand-new kitchens from stars of the city's dining scene like chefs Michael Solomonov and Peter Woolsey, and the coming months will bring hotly anticipated restaurant openings from talented chefs like Marc Vetri, Kevin Sbraga and many, many more.
Here's what's cooking in Philly this fall.
NOW OPEN
Abe Fisher
On the heels of opening laid-back Dizengoff, restaurateurs Steven Cook and Michael Solomonov, owners of CookNSolo Restaurants, debut Abe Fisher, a sophisticated-feeling bar and restaurant inspired by the culinary mixed bag of the foods of the Jewish Diaspora. Located directly next door to Dizengoff and just across the street from Federal Donuts, Abe Fisher completes a trio of dining destinations for CookNSolo on Sansom Street. Rittenhouse, 1623 Sansom Street | MORE INFO
Dizengoff
A super-casual restaurant inspired by the hummusiyas of Israel, Dizengoff welcomes diners through a garage-door entry into a bright space. Vivid colors, mirrored walls and a whole load of colorful flyers (sent straight from Tel Aviv) make the 25-seat eatery feel both stylish and easygoing. Rittenhouse, 1625 Sansom Street | MORE INFO
La Peg
Last fall, FringeArts welcomed the public to its brand-new year-round home on the Delaware River waterfront. Now, the final piece of the venue's development is complete: FringeArts' destination restaurant La Peg is open. A full-service restaurant and bar from acclaimed Philadelphia chef and restaurateur Peter Woolsey, all signs point to La Peg delivering wonderful waterfront eating, drinking and general merrymaking in its spacious interior and soon-to-open outdoor beer garden. Delaware River Waterfront, 140 N. Columbus Boulevard | MORE INFO
The Yachtsman
The tiki bar makes a comeback at Fishtown's The Yachtsman, the latest from Tommy Up of PYT and Phoebe Esmon of Emmanuelle fame. As might be expected, the drinkables include tropical concoctions such as the Caribe Welcome (tequila, apricot liqueur, coconut water and coconut cream, served in a coconut) and the Bird of Paradise Fizz (gin, cream soda, raspberry syrup and orange flower water), with a supporting menu of light snacks to bolster the booze. Fishtown, 1444 Frankford Avenue | MORE INFO
A full-service restaurant and bar from acclaimed Philadelphia chef and restaurateur Peter Woolsey, La Peg at FringeArts is now serving. (Photo by Kevin Monko)
More new and coming-soon restaurants, below.
Beast & Ale
The team behind the Feliz empire travels north of the border for its newest venture: the strictly American, retro-styled greasy spoon Beast & Ale, now open in Manayunk. Manayunk, 4161 Main Street | MORE INFO
Bardot
Aiming towards its namesake’s signature sex appeal, Bardot Northern Liberties is decked out with dark furnishings, dim lighting and a menu of European-inspired fare. Northern Liberties, 447 Poplar Street
Union Taco
Nick Farina doubles down with his second Union Taco adding on to the flagship location in Northern Liberties. Like its predecessor, the Manayunk branch trades in creative tacos (oxtail with cabrales, caramelized onion and pickled jicama; cactus, sweet potato and onion with chipotle aioli) plus a small menu of tortas and salads. Manayunk, 4229 Main Street | MORE INFO
Forcella
Dinner is intensely personal at Forcella in Jenkintown, an intimate (14 seats!) BYO. Open Tuesday through Saturday, the kitchen prepares only a tasting menu (three courses for $45; four courses for $55). Jenkintown, 310 Old York Road | MORE INFO
CookNSolo Restaurants, the restaurant group of James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Solomonov and his business partner Steven Cook, welcome brand-new eatery Abe Fisher to their ever-growing restaurant family. (Photo by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia)
COMING SOON
La Colombe Fishtown Flagship
Philadelphia's coffee scene is steaming, and with the imminent expansion of La Colombe to Fishtown, this fall will be hot. The Fishtown location won't just be a java shop, though, with plans in the works for a complete coffee-fueled compound including a brand-new roasting facility, a huge cafe and a micro-distillery to produce La Colombe Pennsylvania rum. Fishtown, 1335-1349 Frankford Avenue | MORE INFO
Tuk Tuk Real
Circles Chef Alex Boonphaya teams up with his sous chef Silvestre Rincon for Tuk Tuk Real, the city's first Thai taqueria. Some of their cross-cultural mashups might include the likes of beef massaman quesadillas and lemongrass-spiked empanadas. 429 South Street South Street, 429 South Street | MORE INFO
Brigantessa
Le Virt owners Francis Cratil Cretarola and Catharine Lee, alongside talented chef Joe Cicala, are responding to the demand for more excellent Italian cuisine with their homier concept Brigantessa, serving wood-fired pizza, wine and beer. East Passyunk, 1520 E. Passyunk Avenue | MORE INFO
Capofitto
The folks behind Capogiro, National Geographic’s pick for “best gelato in the world” (yes, the world!), are venturing way beyond frozen treats with a next venture. Capofitto cafe will soon occupy the first floor 233 Chestnut Street, right next to the Omni Hotel Independence Park, with a wood-fired oven, a full menu and — don’t worry — plenty of gelato. Old City, 233 Chestnut Street | MORE INFO
With industrial interiors and a Fishtown address, the edgy new La Colombe flagship location will be a hip new address for coffee-drinking.
Lo Spiedo
The ever-expanding restaurant empire of Philadelphia super chef Marc Vetri continues to grow, and after opening Osteria in New Jersey, this fall Vetri will open Lo Spiedo at The Navy Yard. This latest restaurant in the Vetri Family of Restaurants will be, naturally, based on a neighborhood Italian trattoria, and is slated to feature around 150 seats inside, plus a large outdoor dining patio. The new space will be open after normal Navy Yard business hours, too, opening up the complex in a brand-new way. The Navy Yard, 4501 S. Broad Street | MORE INFO
Calexico
The Graduate Hospital neighborhood will get a taste fresh, street-style Mex very soon with the launch of Calexico, a New York-born casual Mexican eatery headed for South Street. Graduate Hospital, 1600 South Street | MORE INFO
Victory at Magnolia
On the heels of its expansion to a brand-new brewery in Parkesburg, Pa., Victory Brewing will soon open a brewpub in Kennett Square, too. The 250-seat Victory at Magnolia will occupy the first floor of an upscale apartment building. Unlike the brewpub at the Downingtown plant, Victory at Magnolia will provide for outdoor seating when it opens this fall. Kennett Square, 650 W. Cypress Street | MORE INFO
V Street
Philly's famed vegan restaurant Vedge will be followed up by V Street, a laid-back meatless concept from owners Kate Jacoby and Rick Landau, set to open soon on 19th Street in Rittenhouse Square. Rittenhouse, 126 S. 19th Street | MORE INFO
Soon, Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby of Vedge, shown, will open their second concept: V Street in Rittenhouse. (Photo by Neal Santos for Visit Philadelphia)
City Tap House Logan Square
City Tap House opens a second outpost in Philadelphia, this time on Logan Square. Its 40 taps, two cask engines and a near-encyclopedic list of bottles will make it an exceptional new destination for beer lovers, while the menu promises similarly well-crafted, seasonal sandwiches, pizza and large plates. Logan Square, 2 Logan Square | MORE INFO
Blue Duck Sandwich Company
Its name precedes its cookery Blue Duck Sandwich Company won the 2014 Burger Brawl before it even opened the doors at its Northeast Philly headquarters. The modern strip mall BYO delivers creative lunch (shredded duck confit on toasted onion roll; General Tso's wings with wasabi blue cheese) and brunch fare (duck eggs Benedict with cherry sriracha hollandaise) at an affordable price point. Northeast Philadelphia, 2859 Holme Avenue | MORE INFO
Crime and Punishment Brew Pub
Brewerytown returns to form with the opening of Crime and Punishment Brew Pub, a brand new craft brewer on Girard Avenue. Brewerytown, 2711 W. Girard Avenue | MORE INFO
Big Gay Ice Cream
Soft-serve superstar ice creamery Big Gay Ice Cream has set its sights on Philadelphia, and plans to bring its frozen treats to the upcoming SouthStar Lofts coming to the northeast corner of Broad and South Streets. South Street, 521 S. Broad Street | MORE INFO
Juniper Commons
Also on a roll is Kevin Sbraga, now prepping his third project, Juniper Commons, a rotisserie-based eatery in the Southstar Lofts on Broad and South streets. South Street, 521 S. Broad Street | MORE INFO
Following the smash success of his University City restaurant, The Fat Ham, chef Kevin Sbraga will open Juniper Common on South Street. (Photo by M. Edlow for Visit Philadephia)
Petit Rti
Speaking of rotisserie, Olivier Desaintmartin (of Zinc and Caribou Caf) plans to sell simple roasted chickens and gourmet pantry items at his Petit Rti. Washington Square West, 248 S. 11th Street | MORE INFO
Bing Bing Steam House
Bing Bing, the second offering from the creative and cool Cheu Noodle Bar gang, promises dim sum and dumplings galore on East Passyunk. East Passyunk, 1648 E. Passyunk Avenue | MORE INFO
Joe's Steaks + Soda Shop Fishtown
Joe’s Steaks & Soda Shop (which re-branded from Chink’s Steaks last year to much fanfare) is expanding with a second location in Fishtown. The new shop will be located at the coveted intersection of Frankford and Girard in the long-vacant New Acropolis diner. Fishtown, 1200 Frankford Avenue | MORE INFO
Kensington Quarters
The Pasquarello Restaurant Group of Prohibition Taproom, Bufad Pizza and Cafe Lift continues to break new ground, with an upcoming eatery in Fishtown dubbed Kensington Quarters , a butcher and beer shop set to go in next to Bottle Bar East. Fishtown, 1310-12 Frankford Avenue | MORE INFO
Spread Bake Shop
After a few stalls, Rittenhouse Square's super popular Spread Bagelry is expanding to take over the former Brown Betty spot across the street with Spread Bake Shop, specializing in muffins, biscotti, scones and pies. Rittenhouse, 269 S. 20th Street | MORE INFO
Whetstone
Chef Jeremy Nolen of South Street’s German beer hall Brauhaus Schmitz sets his sights on solidly American cooking at his upcoming eatery, Whetstone. Queen Village, 700 S. 5th Street | MORE INFO
Aldine
Chef George Sabatino has been a key fixture in acclaimed kitchens all around the city, working at such hot spots as Fork and Barbuzzo before helming his own kitchen at Stateside. Now, Sabatino takes his next big step with the opening of Aldine, a new restaurant at 19th and Chestnut streets in the second-floor space that was once Noche. Rittenhouse, 1901 Chestnut Street | MORE INFO
Girard
Coming this fall: Girard Brasserie and Bruncherie, a "progressive" locally sourced French Fishtown restaurant with a no-tip (read: fair wages) policy. Fishtown, 300 E. Girard Avenue | MORE INFO
Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran have a new restaurant in the works for the huge space at 13th and Locust streets and it’s gonna be good! (Photo by Jason Varney)
Turney & Safran at 13th and Locust Street
Midtown Village magnates Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran, owners of Barbuzzo, Lolita, Jamonera, Grocery, Open House and Verde, have been extremely busy with the reboot of Lolita, an event space above Barbuzzo and a yet-to-be-named concept adjacent to Little Nonna's on 13th and Locust streets. We can’t wait for these latest developments to come to fruition. Midtown Village, 13th and Locust streets | MORE INFO
Palladino's
Chef Luke Palladino is well-known for Italian eateries in New Jersey, but this fall he will debut his first Philadelphia outpost. Housed in the former Colombo's building in the East Passyunk neighborhood, the Italian restaurant will serve as an anchor to a still-developing corridor of Passyunk, near Broad Street and the upcoming East Passyunk Gateway public space. East Passyunk, 1934 E. Passyunk Avenue | MORE INFO
Brick & Mortar
Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. alum Mike Welsh spreads the serious cocktail love to the Loft District with Brick & Mortar, which has plans to serve an American tavern menu alongside its craft cocktails. Callowhill, 314 North 12th Street
Tredici
Owners of the sleek 13th Street pizzeria Zavino announced a new addition for early 2015: Tredici will also emphasize Italian cookery, while weaving in Greek, Spanish and French traditions. Midtown Village, 114 S. 13th Street | MORE INFO
A Michael Schulson Project
On the heels of Independence Beer Garden, chef Michael Schulson will be opening an unnamed-as-yet "Second Midtown Village project," featuring Japanese fare such as sushi and robata. Midtown Village | MORE INFO