Openings

Openings is Foobooz’s comprehensive list of restaurants, bars and clubs that are coming soon to Philadelphia and its environs. If it’s on the horizon or even a bit beyond, it should be on the list. Of course we rely on tips as to what restaurants are opening and when. So if you know of something new, don’t be stingy, Tip! For more information, check out the Opening Soon section. Openings from previous months can be found here.
Updated May 12th

April 2008

• Devil’s Den -The couple who brought you Manayunk’s Old Eagle Tavern has brought a 28-tap beer bar to 11th and Ellsworth.
• Chink’s Steaks - The famous Northeast cheesesteakerie will be opening a takeout only location on Columbus Blvd.
• ¡Cuba! - Chestnut Hill is on the look out for some Latin flair this April.
• Food & Friends Neighborhood Market - New food market at 20th and Spruce that will dedicate half of its shelf space to beer!
• Kanella - The former owner of Mezze is going to be trying his hand at a mainly Mediterranean spot in Washington Square West.
• King of Tandoor - Indian barbecue at 1824 Callowhill Street.
• Les Bons Temps - Good Cajun-Creole is on its way downtown as John Mims is opening a restaurant on South 12th Street.
• Memphis Taproom - Brendan Hartranft from Nodding Head has opened his own place deep in the heart of Port Fishington at Memphis and Cumberland.
• Mélange Café - Haddonfield location of the popular Cherry Hill Louisiana spot is set to open April 30th.
• Rick’s Cabaret - Rick’s will be taking over the Home Depot sized strip bar Crazy Horse Too on Delaware Avenue.
• Time - The former Ludwig’s has been reborn under the tutelage of Vintage’s Jason and Delphine Evenchik as a beer and spirits spot with ” updated country club fare.”
• The Waverly - Bistro 7’s Michael O’Halloran is looking to open his second spot by April but lease problems might have it delayed.

May 2008

• 10 Arts by Eric Ripert - Le Bernardin chef Eric Ripert’s spot at the Ritz Carlton is aiming to open this spring.
• Apothecary Bar & Lounge - The Original Caribou Cafe owner is coming back to the city, 13th Street to be exact with a high-end cocktail list that is quite intriguing.
• Ashoka Palace - Northern Indian comes to 38 S 19th Street where Bootsie’s tried to make a go at it.
• Azul - Casual Mexican from George Markakis of Old City’s GiGi is headed to 10th and Spruce.
• Cavo Crepe Café - Manayunk crepe is right around the corner.
• Chima - Brazilian at 20th and JFK has the dry wall in and big graphics on the windows.
• Chipotle - The Chipotle borg continues to expand, this time in Ardmore.
• Cooper’s Brick Oven Wine Bar - Jake’s in Manayunk is looking to add a more casual wine bar next door.
• Da Vinci Ristorante - The former Tre Scallini is set to be reborn as East Passyunk’s latest Italian restaurant.
• Garlic - Old City’s Soho Pizza is looking to open a pizzeria with a bar at 21st and Chestnut this May.
• Goodburger - Look for this New York based mini-chain to be putting down stakes on the 1700 block of Chestnut Street.
• JL Sullivan’s Speakeasy - The people who brought us McFadden’s aim to bring us a high-end sports bar at the former Zanzibar Blue location in the Bellevue.
• Maia - Brother chefs come together to create this two floor restaurant and food market in Villanova. It’s official, May 6 is opening night.
• Minar Palace - The cheap Indian favorite is returning! According to the Manager of Operations the new Minar at 1304 Walnut Street will “open no later than March of 2008.” OK, maybe May….
• Nicholas - Weekly changing menu of local ingredients is the M.O. of this Moyamensing Avenue spot.
• Sassafras - The refurbished Sassafras should be reopening sometime in May.
• Sticks & Stones - E. P’unk to get a non-Italian, non-Mexican place to eat come May.
• Table 31 - A behemoth restaurant by Georges Perrier and Chris Scarduzio is under construction at the Comcast Center. The 3 floor spot is aiming to open in May, 18.
• Union Gourmet Market & Cafe - Chef Felix Maietta is opening a cafe in the Washington Square West featuring indoor/outdoor dining, Sunday brunch and selection of artisanal cheeses, cured fish and charcuterie.
• Yards Brewing - The new Delaware Ave brewery has a floor and they’ll be brewing in April. That should mean fresh beer in May.
• Zahav - The people behind Marigold Kitchen and Xochitl are opening a Israeli-Mediterranean restaurant at the base of the Society Hill Towers on May 5th.

June 2008

• Earth Bread + Brewery - Tom Baker who was the one man crew behind Heavyweight Brewing is setting up a brew pub in Mt. Airy.
• El Camino Real - Owen Kamihira is turning Deuce into a “Mexican border bar.”
• El Fuego - A second branch of El Fuego is headed to 2104 Chestnut St. Frozen drinks, and DJ nights will differentiate this spot from the original Walnut Street location.
• H.I. Rib & Co. - A taste of New Orleans is opening to open by June at the former Lone Star in Conshohocken.
• Parc Bistro - Starr is going French again, this time on Rittenhouse Square. But you’ll have to wait till June to dine outdoors here.
• Root - Slow food and sustainable agriculture are the buzzwords for this eatery coming to the 1000 block of Spring Garden.
• South Philly Bar & Grille - Sports bar comes to cheesesteak nexus of 9th and Passyunk.
• Tiedhouse - The General Lafayette Inn is opening a tiedhouse (brewery related bar) this summer at 2001 Hamilton Street.

Over the Horizon

• Adobe Cafe - East Passyunk is getting an off shoot from the Roxborough Southwestern spot.
• Alison Two - Alison Barshak is branching out with a second Montco restaurant. Follow the progress on her blog.
• Blackbird Dining Establishment - Blackbird chef/owner Alex Capasso is scouting locations in Philadelphia for a second restaurant, this one focusing on wine.
• Cactus Bar & Grill - The folk behind the Bayou in Manayunk are looking to a Southwestern restaurant and Bar just down the block.
• Cabaret - Looks like Neil Stein is getting back in the restaurant game, taking over the Restaurant M just off of Washington Square.
• Chelsea Prime & Teplitzky’s - When the Chelsea in Atlantic City opens it won’t have one but two Stephen Starr restaurants. Chelsea Prime will be a 1940s style steakhouse and Teplitzky’s will be a “groovey coffee shop.”
• Del Frisco’s Double Eagle - This high-end extension of the Lone Star chain is heading into the Packard Building, 15th and Chestnut, in late 2008.
• Distrito  - The third of the Jose Garces empire is slated for July 2008, it will be Mexican, located “at the corner of 40th & Everywhere” or as the rest of us call it, Chestnut Street.
• Evolve - The neighborhood surrounding 13th and Locust didn’t like the idea of a strip bar. Now the idea has evolved into a dinner theater.
• Girasole at the Symphony House - The former Locust Street mainstay is opening inside the Symphony House on the Avenue in the Arts.
• Hadar Nisimi - Former Aden top guy is looking to open a Mediterranean, French and Greek restaurant just up the block in Northern Liberties.
• Heroes - A superhero themed restaurant at the old Engine 46 Steakhouse seems like a bit of a long shot, but we’ll see.
• J.C. Dobbs - Could we see the return of J.C. Dobbs to South Street. We could!
• Johnny Manana’s - Construction is underway at 2031 Walnut Street for an outpost of the East Falls Mexican bar and restaurant.
• Kite & Key Gastropub - Look for the former Savannah’s on Callowhill to open as a gastropub owned by a former Bishop’s Collar bartender.
• L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon - If the Unknot, which almost seems to good to be true gets built it will have a signature restaurant by Joël Robuchon.
• La Minette - The building with the dalmatian mural is going to be another French restaurant in the area.
• Lucky Strike - Summer has come and gone and still no sign of the roof top deck at Lucky Strike.
• Mad River - In addition to taking over the Grape Street Pub in Manayunk the Mad River peeps are opening a new concept at 1528 Sansom Street.
• Mamaia - New gastropub in the former Cafe Habana on 20th between Sansom and Chestnut.
• Mango Moon - The team from Chabaa Thai is planning a Thai lounge for Main Street in Manayunk.
• Noble - “Seasonal American” is coming to the former Gioia Mia on Sansom Street.
• Otolith - Girard Avenue seafood store and restaurant has cleared a zoning hurdle and can now worry about the rest of the details of opening a restaurant.
• Pagano Market - Expect the quick service market and restaurant serving sandwiches and pizzas to open this summer at Commerce Square.
• Prive - The former Bluezette is next going to be a contemporary Greek restaurant.
• Sam’s Grill - Devil’s Alley owner Susan Schilisman is bringing her Sam’s Grill concept the corner of 11th and Sansom.
• Sassafras - Sassafras is coming back after an extensive refurbishing.
• Sofitel - Stephen Starr is going to be taking over the Chez Colette and La Bourse spaces in the Sofitel lobby.
• Stephen Starr -  Washington Square has been rumored to be becoming a Japanese concept this spring. But perhaps Starr’s Izakaya spot will be in The Lanesborough at 16th and Locust. And then there’s the gastropub slated for Chestnut Street.
• Stogey Joe’s - Kristian Leuzzi who has experience at Kristian’s is planning a neighborhood bar for Passyunk and Moore.
• Tiffin Store - The popular Girard Ave spot is said to be looking for a second location in Mt. Airy.
• Tony Luke’s - Will Tony Luke’s ever take over the Reading Terminal steak sandwich torch from Rick’s Steaks at the Reading Terminal Market or will Rick’s get to stay?
• Tria Cafe - A third Tria? This one in Queen Village? Maybe, maybe not.
• Union Trust - A big time independent steakhouse is set to come to the 700 block of Chestnut Street. The project is backed by real estate maven Joe Grasso.
• Wagamama - Noodle and small dishes chain is reportedly looking for a location in University City.
• Wolfgang’s Steakhouse - This New York City based mini-chain will be coming to the AAA building on Market Street at 21st.
• Yoshi - Japanese eatery coming to 20th Street across from Twenty Manning.