2008

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January 2008

• 2204 Liberty Bar – The facade was completed for years and finally the insides are done too.
• Bottom of the Sea – This mini seafood chain has opened at the former Kama Sutra on South Street.
• Kujaku – The former Peacock on the Parkway has been taken over by the Uzu Sushi people and re-branded Kujaku.
• Maoz Vegetarian – Philadelphia’s second Maoz has opened at 11th and Walnut.
• Vietnam Cafe – Chinatown’s Vietnam has a swank West Philadelphia offspring at 47th and Baltimore.
• Yakitori Boy – A two story Sushi and karaoke bar in Chinatown has had its soft opening.

February 2008

• Blue In Green – The mainly breakfast spot the formerly had locations in Old City and Restaurant Row is coming to 12th and Chestnut.
• Bocelli – A new Italian BYOB has opened at the top of the hill in Chestnut Hill.
• California Pizza Kitchen – The area’s second CPK has opened at the City Ave complex next to Target.
• Pearl – The peeps behind Red Sky have opened a midtown spot on Chestnut. Ari Weiswasser formerly a sous chef at Striped Bass and at New York’s Gilt and Daniel has been named executive chef.
• Penang – Jerseyites can save a toll now when they get a craving for Malaysian food.
• Random Tea Room & Curiosity Shop – Open at 713 N 4th Street the Random Tea Room features over 40 teas, homemade scones and other baked goods

March 2008

• Jin House – Jin House which went up in smoke with the building at 11th and Spruce back in 2003 is back at 1117 Locust Street by the March.
• Prime – The fancy upstairs neighbor of the new Finn McCool’s has opened at 12th and Sansom.
• O.N.E. at Rittenhouse – The Mansion is no more. A new father and son team is in its place.
• Philadelphia Brewing Co. – The Philadelphia Brewing Co. is brewing and should have its first beers out by the end of the month.
• Swallow – A European inspired bistro has opened on Liberties Walk.
• Tinto – Tinto has expanded its tight quarters taking over next door.
• Zot – The Belgian restaurant is shuffling some things around. Upstairs now houses Zotikot, a sports bar as well as a wine bar.

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.
• 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.
• California Pizza Kitchen – Another branch opens, this time in Plymouth Meeting.
• 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.
• Goodburger – The New York based mini-chain has put down stakes on the 1700 block of Chestnut Street.
• JL Sullivan’s Speakeasy – The people who brought us McFadden’s bring us a high-end sports bar at the former Zanzibar Blue location in the Bellevue.
• Mama Palma’s – The Fitler Square pizzeria is set to reopen May 27th after a costly fire.
• Maia – Brother chefs come together to create this two floor restaurant and food market in Villanova. It’s official, May 6 is opening night.
• Nicholas – Weekly changing menu of local ingredients is the M.O. of this Moyamensing Avenue spot.
• Sassafras – The refurbished Sassafras has reopened with lots of the old standards.
• 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.
• Victory Brewing Co. – The new Victory Brew Pub has opened and it is swell.
• Vino Volo - There’s a brand new wine bar at PHL.
• 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

• Blackfish Avalon – The Conshohocken favorite is opening a shore location this June.
• Cavo Crepe Café – Manayunk creperie is open.
• Chickpeas Falafel & Grill – Mama’s Grill has become Chickpeas. It seems the rest has remained the same.
• Da Vinci Ristorante – The former Tre Scallini is set to be reborn as East Passyunk’s latest Italian restaurant.
• Houlihan’s – The largest Houlihan’s has opened in Cherry Hill.
• The Institute – It’s a strange location at 12th and Green but they promise a good beer selection.
• J.C. Dobbs – The live music has returned to this South Street institution.
• King of Tandoor – Indian barbecue at 1824 Callowhill Street.
• Market at Comcast Center – It’s a promising food court and market underneath the Comcast Center.
• Plaza Cafe – Georges Perrier’s Table 31 isn’t his only restaurant at the Comcast Center, Plaza Cafe offers an al fresco taste of Perrier.
• South Philly Bar & Grille – Sports bar comes to cheesesteak nexus of 9th and Passyunk.

July 2008

• Bumblefish – New Asian fast food comes to 10th Street near Market.
• Cactus Bar & Grill – The folk behind the Bayou in Manayunk are looking to a Southwestern restaurant and Bar just down the block.
• 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.”
• Distrito – Jose Garces has opened his Mexican playground at 40th and Chestnut.
• Dos Segundos Cantina – The second Cantina from the Los Caballitos people has opened in Northern Liberties.
• Ekta – More Indian for Girard Avenue as Ekta opens.
• Kite & Key Gastropub – The former Savannah’s on Callowhill has opened as a gastropub owned by a former Bishop’s Collar bartender.
• 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.
• Parc Bistro – Starr is going French again, this time on Rittenhouse Square.
• Paxia – Molcajet Mixto is under new ownership and has been renamed Paxia.
• Phoebe’s BBQ – The South Street takeout barbecue spot is looking to open a second location in Manayunk on Umbria Street.
• Q-Ba Bar & Restaurant – Salsa dancing and Cuban food at 3rd and Girard.
• Sketch – Quality hamburgers are on the menu at this Girard Avenue casual.
• Tiffin – A Mt. Airy branch of the popular Girard Ave Indian restaurant is set to open in mid-July. Additional locations are being talked about for South Philly and Center City.

August 2008

• Cooper’s Brick Oven Wine Bar – Jake’s in Manayunk is looking to add a more casual wine bar next door.
• Cream and Sugar – Philly-centric sweets in UCity.
• Du Jour Gourmet Market – Outpost of this Haverford Cafe opens at the Symphony House.
• Home Slice – It’s a new pizza place on Liberties Walk.
• Hummus – Self-serve falafel and pita sandwiches at 40th and Walnut.
• La Minette – The building with the dalmatian mural is going to be another French restaurant in the area.
• Phileo – Pinkberry yogurt finally strikes the City of Brotherly Love.
• Prive – The former Bluezette is next going to be a contemporary Greek restaurant.
• Pumpkin Market – South Street gets a new produce market across from Pumpkin Cafe.
• Root – Slow food and sustainable agriculture are the buzzwords for this eatery coming to the 1000 block of Spring Garden.
• Station Bar & Grill – Belgian beers and pool at this former South Philly nuisance bar.

September 2008

• Adobe Cafe – East Passyunk is getting an off shoot from the Roxborough Southwestern spot.
• Bar 210 – Lacroix gets a bar right in the restaurant.
• Brown Betty Dessert Boutique – The NoLibs dessert spot is looking to open near Rittenhouse Square at 269 S 20th Street.
• Cafe L’Aube – Crepes and waffles are among the menu items at this South Street Cafe.
• Cassizzi’s – Stylish pizza in Port Richmond.
• Cavanaugh’s Rittenhouse – Barristers is being taken over by the Cavanaugh’s crew this September.
• Cret Cafe – The Parkway cafe and tourism spot is has opened at the base of the Parkway.
• 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 August at the former Lone Star in Conshohocken.
• Joe’s Peking Duck Original 1984 – Joe Poon is back in the restaurant game with an Old City address.
• Kung Fu Necktie – The former Penalty Box in Fishtown has a new identity.
  
• Melograno - The 22nd and Spruce BYOB is headed to Sansom Street.
• Mémé – David Katz is taking over the current Melograno this September.
• 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 September….
• Mix – Old City’s Soho Pizza is looking to open a pizzeria with a bar at 21st and Chestnut.
• Paxia – The former Molcajete Mixto is officially open now.
• Pub & Kitchen – The late Chaucer’s is looking to be reborn early this fall as a causual bar with good food.
• Taproom – 19th and Ritner gets a spot that features a Django chef and an interesting menu.
• Yards Brewing – The new Delaware Ave brewery has a floor and they’re brewing. And maybe a brew pub too.
• Zocalito – The owners of Las Tarascas en Zocalo opened a cafe next to their Lancaster Avenue restaurant.

October 2008

• Alison two – Alison Barshak is branching out with a second Montco restaurant. Follow the progress on her blog.
• Bella Vista Beer Distributors – The 11th Street beer distributor is moving across the street to giant new warehouse. The current facility will become a 1,200 bottle beer shop. Those are tears of joy.
• Blue20 – High end seafood will be headed to Route 70 in Cherry Hill.
• Buckhead Saloon – Well at least it isn’t Tiki Bob’s.
• Butcher & Singer Steak & Seafood – Stephen Starr is reconceptualizing Striped Bass into a steak and seafood restaurant.
• Earth Bread + Brewery – Tom Baker who was the one man crew behind Heavyweight Brewing is setting up a brew pub in Mt. Airy.
• Hot Dog Corner – The latest Blue In Green is going to make way for a hot dog spot.
• Izumi – East Passyunk gets sushi.
• Lucky 13 – New pub on East Passyunk by bartender turned owner, Clark Newman.
• Mi Lah Vegetarian – White tablecloth vegetarian dining arrives at 16th and Chancellor.
• Mikey’s American Grill and Sports Bar – The Left Bank’s Ecco Qui is getting transformed into a sports bar.
• Novitá Bistro – About 40 seats in this Mediterranean BYOB set for the 1600 block of South Street.
• Sakeya – The Academy House is being graced with another restaurant, this time a Japanese pub concept.
• Soul – Creole influenced restaurant has opened in Chestnut Hill.
• Sticks & Stones – E. P’unk to get a non-Italian, non-Mexican place to eat.
• Tiedhouse – The General Lafayette Inn is opening a tiedhouse (brewery related bar) this fall at 2001 Hamilton Street.
• Witch Bistro – American bistro on Moyamensing.

November 2008

• Argan Moroccan Cuisine – Quick service Moroccan comes to 17th Street.
• Betty’s Speakeasy – Table for 12 and fudge come to Grays Ferry Avenue.
• Boutros’ Mediterranean Specialties – New tenant at the Bellevue food court.
• Capogiro – The Radian building is open at 39th and Walnut and Capogiro is one of its first tenants.
• Del Frisco’s Double Eagle – This high-end Double Eagle is heading into the Packard Building, 15th and Chestnut.
• Di Vino Wine Bar – Rittenhouse Square gets a new wine and cheese bar.
• Flanigan’s Boathouse – Wayne is getting Conshohockinized with Flanigan’s replacing the Wooden Iron.
• Frank’s Old Philly-Style Sandwiches – Open in the belly of the Comcast Center specializing in roast pork, chicken cutlets and steaks.
• Giorgio on Pine – The former Valentino Ristorante on the 1300 block of Pine Street is going to be re-born as a similar Italian BYOB, Giorgio on Pine.
• Jonathan Best Cheese & Dairy – The Chestnut Hill farmers’ market mainstay is following the Rt. 23 to a stall in the Reading Terminal Market.
• Naked Chocolate Cafe – The second NCC is opened on Penn’s campus this month.
• Paddock at Devon – The former John Harvard’s in Wayne has reopened.
• Paesano’s – Modo Mio has opened a sandwich shop on Girard Avenue.
• Prohibition Taproom - Cafe Lift couple looking to take over Canavan’s Pub/Makers Mark in the lofts section.
• Thai Chef & Noodle – Casual sit-down Thai comes to 2028 Chestnut Street.
• Wokano – 200-seat Chinese spot opening at 11th and Washington.

December 2008

• Craft Ale House – Honesty in naming, Craft Ale House has come to Limerick.
• El Camino Real – Owen Kamihira is turning Deuce into a “Mexican border bar.”
• The Institute – The 2nd floor opens mid-December, the kitchen about a month after that.
• Irish Pol – Jagers in Old City is now Irish Pol and is portraying itself as a beer bar.
• MangoMoon – The team from Chabaa Thai is planning a Thai lounge for Main Street in Manayunk.
• Mexican Post Express – The popular Mexican chain is opening a taco stand in the Comcast Center.
• Pagano Market – The quick service market and restaurant is serving sandwiches and pizzas at Commerce Square.