All the Philadelphia-area 2025 restaurant openings to know about — so far

Late last year, I recapped the closings of 50-plus Philadelphia-area restaurants in 2024.

But optimism has always fueled the restaurant business, so there is a flip side to the gloom: By my count, at least 110 restaurants are on the way in 2025.

The bumper crop is driven by groups from out of town as well as local entrepreneurs, many opening their second, third, or even fourth restaurants.

A major splash is on the way from Jeffrey Chodorow, the one-time Philadelphia lawyer who went on to create iconic restaurants such as China Grill, Asia de Cuba, and Bar Basque. He plans to open Mr. Edison later this year in the former Polo Ralph Lauren store at the Bellevue; the landmark hotel/residence at Broad and Walnut Streets is undergoing a $100 million-plus renovation. Mr. Edison is named in tribute to Thomas Edison, who designed the Bellevue’s lighting at the turn of the 20th century. Chodorow won’t disclose the precise concept, but said that a Spanish firm, Clavel Arquitectos, is designing and that his family’s farm near New Hope will supply produce.

James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole’s Austin-based Hai Hospitality is opening a branch of Uchi, its posh izakaya, at the Josephine, 1620 Sansom St. Hai Hospitality’s in-house design team will work with Philadelphia’s Rohe Creative on the 165-seater, due to open in late 2025.

» READ MORE: Uchi, a James Beard Award-winning Japanese restaurant, is opening in Philadelphia

Uchi will join an influx of high-style Japanese restaurants in Rittenhouse area.

Everyone’s talking about Dancerobot, the izakaya that Royal Sushi & Izakaya’s Jesse Ito and Justin Bacharach are setting up with partners Stephen Simons and Dave Frank for a summer opening at 1710 Sansom St. It will serve brunch, and offer comfort food (the meal sets known as teishoku), plus Japanese takes on classic dishes — but no sushi. They’re previewing dishes now at Royal in Queen Village (e.g., koji-marinated wagyu roast beef with shallot dashi gravy, rosemary, and miso mashed potatoes).

Two other big-budget Japanese restaurants are on the way nearby: At Kissho House, due in late winter in a brownstone at 1522 Locust St., chef Zhengmao “Jeff” Chen (ex-Hiroki) plans a main room on the ground floor and an omakase experience in what he calls “the basement sanctuary.”

Stretch the Rittenhouse boundaries a bit for Teddy Sourias, who is building an unnamed Japanese/Asian restaurant in the courtyard at 1515 Market St. to complement his nearby Mediterranean showpiece, Mona. Incidentally, Center City’s oldest Japanese restaurant — Shiroi Hana, which opened in 1984 — went on the market in December. It remains open for business with an asking price of $2 million.

David Suro and family are weeks from reopening their luxe Rittenhouse-area Mexican restaurant, Tequila’s, at 1602 Locust St., nearly two years after it was damaged by fire. They’ve also created a second, more casual restaurant — the Guadalajara-inspired La Jefa — with an entrance on the Latimer Street side and operating hours from morning to late night.

Also nearly ready at Front and Oxford Streets in Fishtown/Kensington is Amá, the ownership debut of veteran chef Frankie Ramirez and his wife, Verónica, with partners Roberto Medina and Crisalida Mata, which features live-fire cooking.

In East Market, Knead Hospitality + Design from D.C. is planning several Philadelphia-area restaurants. First up is the contemporary Mi Vida, next to the MOM’s Organic Market at 34 S. 11th St.

We should soon see the opening of Supérette, the wine bar/bottle shop/market at 1538 E. Passyunk Ave. from Chloe Grigri and Vincent Stipo of Le Caveau/the Good King Tavern with Owen Kamihira, which was on last year’s list of openings. A few blocks away will be Tesiny, the oyster bar at 719 Dickinson St. from caviar queen Lauren Biederman of Biederman’s. Southeast Asian newcomers include New York’s Pig & Khao (filling Martha’s former space at 2113 E. York St. in Kensington) and Sao (from Mawn’s Phila and Rachel Lorn, at 1710 E. Passyunk Ave. in South Philadelphia). Ayat, a Palestinian restaurant with New York roots, is coming to the former Roxy Theater at 2021 Sansom St. Omar Tate and Cybille St.Aude-Tate will complete the move of Honeysuckle from West Philadelphia to 631 N. Broad St. in the spring. Unapologetic Hospitality is headed to Fishtown from New York with a so-far- unnamed Indian restaurant at 1700 Frankford Ave. Haraz will bring the Yemeni coffee house experience to Fishtown and University City. Oyster House and Federal Donuts & Chicken will open at Philadelphia International Airport. A food hall is in the works at Piazza Alta in Northern Liberties, while Wonder, a billion-dollar idea that combines a fast-casual food-hall setup with delivery, is preparing to blanket the region with locations.

Ippolito’s Seafood, the retail counter from Samuels & Sons Seafood at 13th and Dickinson Streets that closed in 2018, will return soon with a few tables for dine-in. Also due back, after four years, is HighNote Caffe, Franco Borda’s South Philly charmer at 13th and Tasker Streets that formerly was known as Francoluigi’s.

You also can’t ignore the two biggest-budget openings in the region: Stephen Starr’s Borromini on Rittenhouse Square, billed as his Italian version of Parc, or Eataly and its 23,000 square feet of Italian marketplace and dining options in King of Prussia.

B-Side Social Club (448 N. 10th St., Loft District): Michael Pasquarello (Cafe Lift, La Chinesca) plans a cocktail bar with pan pizza, Italian snacks, a sunken lounge, and pool tables to open in spring. Pasquarello has two additional projects teed up for South Jersey.

The Blue Warbler (8001 Germantown Ave., Chestnut Hill): First-time restaurateur Fred Mogul is backing what he calls an “unfussy” all-day bakery-cafe-tavern serving “edgy, eclectic comfort food” accompanied by coffee, cocktails, wine, beer, and nonalcoholic drinks. (Has “edgy” and “Chestnut Hill” ever appeared in the same sentence?) Target is fall, around the time the namesake bird flies south for the winter.

DaVinci & Yu (1819 E. Passyunk Ave., South Philadelphia): Saying he’s tired of frying chicken, Marc Grika will convert his Southern bistro Flannel into an Italian-Asian hybrid in February, inspired by a restaurant he visited in Rome. Sample dishes: aran-sushi (arancini made with sushi rice and maki roll fillings & dips); cacio e pepe e miso made with fresh pasta; and duck ginger meatballs over udon noodles.

Fleur’s (2205 N. Front St., Kensington): Three hospitality veterans — chef George Sabatino, Graham Gernsheimer, and Josh Mann — promise a fresh take on regional cuisine while paying homage to French technique in the architecturally significant 19th-century building near the York-Dauphin El stop that housed Fluehr’s Furniture for more than a century. (They’ve Frenchified the family name’s spelling.) The project will include a six-room boutique hotel, event space, and rooftop bar.

HYO (1222 Walnut St., Washington Square West): Hospitality veteran Justin Jordan plans to combine the communal spirit of Korean tabletop barbecue with premium dining, complemented by cocktails. (This is not DIY. Servers will do the cooking.) The restaurant will be on the ground floor, with group dining and karaoke on the second.

Irv’s Ice Cream (932 E. Passyunk Ave., South Philadelphia): Chef Ilissa Shapiro, who started her Latin-influenced ice cream business last summer in a trolley on Cherry Street Pier, is adding a Passyunk Square storefront this spring in the former Chilly Banana, with vegan options, pints to go, and novelties.

La Chinesca (6 Centre St., Merchantville): Michael Pasquarello is converting a former bank into the second location of the Chinese-inflected Mexican bar-restaurant he opened in Philadelphia in 2021.

La Grange (915 Antique Alley, Yardley): Father-and-son restaurateurs Vincent and Marc Masso (La Stalla of Newtown, Bucks County) and business partner Michael Geonnotti are restoring a 200-year-old stone barn within the new Prickett Preserve development as a restaurant-bar that will offer traditional yet casual French comfort food from chef Peter Woolsey (ex-Bistrot La Minette). Think Parc, but instead of Rittenhouse Square, you’re looking at Shady Brook Farm.

LeoFigs (2201 Frankford Ave., Fishtown): Justice and Shannon Figueras (he’s a Jersey Shore-bred wine-biz lifer, she’s an executive with Bacardi) are creating a winery, bar, and restaurant at Frankford and Susquehanna in Fishtown, which they hope to open in late winter-early spring.

Little Sister (110 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield): “Southern Italian by way of South Philly” sums a third project from Michael Pasquarello, a BYOB with 19-foot ceilings in downtown Haddonfield; no timetable.

The Lodge by Two Robbers (738 S. 11th St., South Philadelphia): Vikram and Vivek Nayar of Two Robbers Spirits are taking over Hawthornes at 11th and Fitzwater Streets in Bella Vista. They plan a cozy, wooden interior, a cocktail program that takes center stage, and an expanded food menu with a focus on brunch. Target opening is spring.

Malai (260 S. 18th St., Rittenhouse): Pooja Bavishi, a first-generation Indian American, grew up making (and eating) desserts. “I love the idea of giving someone something that will never make them sad,” she said. In 2014, she made her own ice cream with Indian-inspired spices and flavors (cardamom, star anise, ginger root, mango, etc.), then segued into retailing from pushcarts in New York. In 2019, she opened the first Malai shop in Brooklyn, branching into national mail order. Earlier this year, she opened in Washington, D.C. Philly’s Malai location, due this spring with scoops and seating, came about after real estate broker Stefanie Gabel of MSC spotted a Malai mention in Bon Appetit four years ago and made, literally, a cold call.

The Rabbit Hole (201 W. Sixth Ave., Conshohocken): Carol’s Place, the longtime Conshy watering hole, will yield to a wine bar this spring with small plates from Tony and Alysa Avila, who own the nearby Our Daily Bagel.

Ringo (2001 Federal St., Point Breeze): You might say that Spread Bagelry cofounder Larry Rosenblum is going another round with baked goods. This shop, expected to open in late January, will specialize in baked “pancake” doughnuts, sweet and savory, with toppings. Sweet options include maple brown butter, honey pistachio, and chocolate almond fudge. Savory will include Southern-style sausage gravy and cheese fondue. The signature sandwich is the G’Ringo, a McGriddle-like creation of two doughnuts, eggs, cheese, and bacon, pork belly, or turkey sausage, with maple syrup and maple brown butter — all grilled together on a panini press.

Here are the rest. Restaurants expected to open in the next month are denoted with Δ.

Amma’s South Indian Cuisine (280 N Sycamore St., Newtown): Sathish Varadhan and Bala Krishnan’s highly touted Indian mini-chain will subsume the former Zoes Kitchen at Route 532 and Durham Road in Newtown, Bucks County.

Burtons Grill & Bar (312 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne): This syndicated pub chain overspreading the East Coast out of Andover, Mass., is taking over a former Main Line Chili’s; its gluten-free offerings draw legions of fans.

Colt & Filly.55 (Shops at Valley Square, 1501 Main St., Warrington): An Italian American sports bar from chef Brad Daniels and partners including John Krinis, who also have Tresini near Ambler. Replacing Bar Louie, they plan an island-shape pizza bar serving different varieties of pizza, including ultra-thin-crusted pizza tonda, plus a bar menu. Daniels is also behind Pizza Freak, a frozen pie that critic Craig LaBan described as “one of the best frozen pies I’ve eaten.”

Δ Eshkol Ethiopian Cuisine (36 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore): Casual Ethiopian food from Teshime “Tesh” Gebermedhin; due to open in late January.

Federal Donuts & Chicken (Plymouth Square Shopping Center, 200 Ridge Pike, Conshohocken): The homegrown chicken and doughnut chain’s Montgomery County franchise location is due in late spring.

Δ Jolene’s (29 E. Gay St., West Chester): At the old Spence’s Oyster & Eating Saloon, 3 West Hospitality is close to opening an upscale but inviting bar-restaurant whose modern menu is infused with classic French influence, plus wines, beers, liquor, and cocktails.

Δ MaGerk’s (25 Summit Square Shopping Center, Langhorne): The growing sports bar, which has a new location in Royersford, will replace Manny Brown’s soon.

Maison Lotus (175 E. Lancaster Ave., Wayne): Win Hospitality (Azie, Blue Elephant, Teikoku, etc.) plans a romantic French-Vietnamese hybrid on the former site of Margaret Kuo’s flagship, perhaps in late February or early March.

Mama-San (226 N. Radnor-Chester Rd., Radnor): Win Hospitality’s fast-casual sushi concept comes to a former Buena Onda, likely in February.

Napa Kitchen & Wine (Ellis Preserve, Newtown Square): California wines and laid-back vibes at a 200-plus-seater (based in Midlothian, Va.) coming to this Brandywine Valley lifestyle center.

Nature’s Vin (193-195 E. Lancaster Ave., Wayne): Natural wine fan Ragini Parmar is behind this bar/boutique in the former Cowan’s Flowers; expect a small-plate menu and a tasting room in the first half of 2025.

Steel City Brewing (132 E. Lincoln Highway, Coatesville): Philip and Kate Ferro (Kings Tavern, Main Line Tavern) are behind this long-in-the-works brewery-beer hall with a hundred-foot bar in Coatesville’s old YMCA; it’s now targeting May.

Testa Rossa (523 W. Lancaster Ave, Wayne): Fearless Hospitality, which recently opened the first casual Testa Rossa in Glen Mills, will bring a second location to Wayne’s former Bertucci’s this summer.

Δ Top Pot & Korean BBQ (Montgomery Mall, North Wales): Eddie Zheng’s hot pot/Korean barbecue mini-chain will open inside the mall on Jan. 18.

Triple Crown (Radnor Hotel, 591 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne): Fearless Hospitality is taking over all the event spaces at the Radnor Hotel, including its restaurant, now due in spring.

Besides Eataly, the King of Prussia Mall will see Lazy Dog (a family-friendly sports bar), Netflix House (an immersive experience keyed to Netflix), and Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar (a tropical theme).

The Kibitz Room (128 Town Center Rd.): The Cherry Hill deli is opening a branch in King of Prussia.

Amma’s (7000 Midlantic Dr., Mount Laurel): Sathish Varadhan and Bala Krishnan’s Indian mini-chain will take replace a Naf Naf Grill next to Mount Laurel Wine & Spirits.

Federal Donuts & Chicken (Marlton Square, 300 Route 73 South, Marlton): The homegrown chicken and doughnut chain’s Marlton franchise location is due in the first quarter of the year.

Δ Heng Seng Noodles (1467 Brace Rd., Cherry Hill): Anthony Huong owns Heng Seng, a Cambodian restaurant in South Philadelphia. His children, Annie, Lange, and Sarah, are branching out to Cherry Hill’s Hung Vuong shopping center with a more expansive menu; it’s up for late January or early February.

KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot (1500 Almonesson Rd., Deptford): This lively hot pot chain offering Korean barbecue is looking at a spring opening.

Lazy Dog (East Gate Square, 1361 Nixon Dr., Moorestown): The family-friendly sports bar will replace a Don Pablo’s in East Gate Square in the first quarter of 2025.

Nunzio (706 Haddon Ave., Collingswood): Owner Michael DeLone is planning extensive changes at the restaurant he bought from Nunzio Patruno three years ago.

Penny’s Bagels (212 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield): Chris Fetfatzes and Heather Annechiarico, whose Philly holdings include Grace & Proper, will transform the former Joey’s into a bagel shop. They’re aiming for Memorial Day.

Roy Rogers (614 Haddonfield Rd., Cherry Hill): The old-time fast-food restaurant is coming back, Fixins Bar and all, in a former PDQ location in Cherry Hill. The press release says it all.

Taco-Yote (33 E. Main St., Moorestown): Carlos Melendez of Conshohocken’s Coyote Crossing is working on a taqueria, with a microbrewery, that he wants to franchise.

Dominic Piperno of Collingswood’s hit Hearthside is constructing an unnamed bar-restaurant at 105-107 Haddon Ave. in Haddon Township.

Δ The Avery (117 Chestnut St.): This Old City bar-restaurant, due to open in mid-January, was known as Eleven Social early on, when retired Phillies star Jimmy Rollins was listed as a partner. Chef Montana Houston and sous chef Ja’mir Wimberly-Cole, both alums of Restaurant Aleksandar in Rittenhouse, are on board with owner Matt DeLima.

BOTLD (119 S. 18th St.): The specialty-spirits bottler, which opened a companion cocktail bar in Washington Square West last year, is planning a bar at its Rittenhouse location too.

Buena Vista (123 Chestnut St.): Jorge and Jess Martinez will soon open the seventh location of their Mexican restaurant, taking the vast former bank building that last housed Han Dynasty.

Cafe Ole (900 N. Delaware Ave.): Old City’s popular Middle Eastern-inspired brunch spot is opening a new location at the Five on Canal Apartments.

Cake & Joe (1735 Market St.): Sarah Qi and Trista Tang are thinking about spring for the third location of their pastry/breakfast/lunch shop.

Calozzi’s (1701 Ben Franklin Parkway): Steven Calozzi of Russo’s Pizza in New Hope, whose family hails from Robbinsville, N.J., plans a February/March opening for his Trenton-style pizzeria in the long-shuttered Subway sandwich shop on the Parkway. There will be seating on two levels. He says he’ll keep the menu simple — pizzas, salads, baked ziti, meatballs, but no cheesesteaks. (There’s family history with Calozzi’s in Seattle, Wash., but no current connection.)

Chibanos (1127 Pine St.): The former Effie’s in Washington Square West is being taken by Evan Fong Jaroff, who melds his background – his mother is Chinese and born in Cuba, his dad is Russian American Jewish – into pressed sandwiches. He said the opening date is TBD.

Di Passare (151 S. 24th St.): An all-day restaurant occupying the former Sotto, which had a cafe on the Walnut Street Bridge at 24th Street as well as a dining room beneath the bridge.

Enigma Sky (1030 N. Delaware Ave.): Kevin Dolce of Taste Cheesesteak Bar (and the future Taste Taco Bar) is behind this three-story restaurant and rooftop lounge in the former Golf & Social. There’s currently no timetable for opening.

F1 Arcade (1330 Chestnut St.): Formula One racing comes indoors (via simulators) at the former West Elm store; no timetable.

Finish Your Champagne (1084 N. Delaware Ave.): Also from Kevin Dolce, this luxe lounge is a companion to his nearby Enigma Sky. There’s no timetable for it, either.

Flight Club (1411 Walnut St.): The syndicated darts parlor is targeting the first quarter of 2025.

Garage (1501 Spruce St.): The third location of this sports bar (after Fishtown and South Philadelphia) is due to open soon on the ground floor of an actual parking garage, where Fox & Hound was.

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant (1700 N. Broad St.): The Delaware-born brewpub chain will set up in Temple University’s former bookstore.

Kenny’s Wok (Concourse at the Comcast Center, 1701 JFK Blvd.): Chinatown’s Kenny Poon says robots will cook the pan-Asian food at his fast-casual eatery.

Liquorette/Wine Dive (1534 Sansom St.): Plans are jelling at the former Nails by Anna D, as Chris Fetfatzes and Heather Annechiarico install Wine Dive, their former bar/shop on South Street, on the ground floor and a stylish bar called Liquorette upstairs. Also collaborating with the couple is Susan Freeman, who’s behind Grace & Proper; no timeline.

The Little Gay Pub (102 S. 13th St.): The D.C. gay bar, a magnet for pols and celebs, is prepping a spot with a roof deck in Washington Square West. After months of prep, the “fast work” starts this week, said partner Dito Sevilla.

Madis Coffee (1441 Chestnut St. and 601 Walnut St.): The University City coffee roastery plans two locations: inside the Elements hotel and the Curtis Center.

Rhythm & Spirits (1617 JFK Blvd.): This Italian restaurant, originally from Atlantic City, specializes in chocolate, cocktails, and combinations thereof; it’s on track for this winter for the former Classic Cake at Suburban Station.

The Saints (1901 Chestnut St.): Kido Nwani is headed to the former Noche space above Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams for his restaurant, whose menu will feature West African cuisine, plus what he calls “intercontinental” American and Italian cuisine. He says he’s backed off initial plans for a late-night lounge.

Taco Bell (1614 Chestnut St.): Initially planning a Taco Bell Cantina serving beer and cocktails, franchisee Danny Patel now says he is moving forward without a liquor license.

Val’s (2047 Green St.): Real estate broker James Vallery, taking over the Fairview in Fairmount, expects to open his bar-restaurant serving comfort food from breakfast through late night in mid- to late-January.

The Cormorant (2301 Frankford Ave.): The erstwhile Bob’s Happy Hour Tavern at Frankford Avenue and Dauphin Street is getting a makeover/takeover by Vintage Syndicate, behind such spots as Time, Garage, Starbolt, and Vintage. Concept: old-school vibe, easy, cheap, comfortable. It’s up for February.

Δ Emmett (161 W. Girard Ave.): Chef Evan Snyder and Julian van der Tak have set Jan. 28 for their South Kensington restaurant, a 38-seater in the former Primary Plant Based that focuses on wood-fired cooking (a blend of Levantine cuisine with elements from around the Mediterranean). A full bar, with eight seats, will offer natural wines, cocktails, and nonalcoholic drinks.

Garage Sale Vintage (1148 Frankford Ave.): This Denver-based concept, melding a vintage shop and a taco bar, is coming to a former bank building at Frankford and Girard Avenues — directly across from Garage Fishtown. Ergo, Garage is suing over the name.

Gertie (Piazza Alta, 1099 Germantown Ave.): Wharton grad Nate Adler is behind this “Jew-ish” diner from Brooklyn, headed to the Piazza Alta hopefully this spring.

ILU (2118 E. Dauphin St.): Vintage Syndicate is behind a changeover of Kensington’s former Old Philadelphia Bar into a cocktail bar with Spanish tapas. ILU doesn’t mean “I love you” — it’s the nickname of partner Patrick Iselin’s grandmother Iluminada. Timeline seems like early spring.

Joe & Kay (704 N. Second St.): Owen Kamihira (El Camino Real and the forthcoming Supérette) and sons are planning a Northern Liberties izakaya at the former Blind Pig. It’s named in honor of his grandparents, who owned a farm in Washington State before the family was interned during World War II.

Δ Kinto (1144 Frankford Ave.): Most of the crew from Fishtown’s cabaret/restaurant Fabrika is behind what is shaping up to be a snazzy but far more low-key Georgian bar-restaurant, with an extensive Georgian wine list, in a new building just up the block. It should be open soon, said partner Lasha Kikvidze.

Korea Taqueria (2563 Trenton Ave.): Alexander Sherack and Rene Lopez, now dispensing Korean-Mexican grub at 31st and Tasker Streets, are looking at a spring opening for their sequel.

Mecha Noodle Bar (1700 N. Front St.): “Asian soul food” is the quick description of this Connecticut-based ramen/pho bar coming to Fishtown; no timeline.

Medium Rare (1540 Frankford Ave.): This lively D.C.-based eatery’s “thing” is steak frites; it’s setting up in Fishtown next to Suraya this spring.

Δ The Newsroom (1002 Germantown Ave.): Latin-Japanese cuisine in a speakeasy setting is due to open soon next to SIN at the Beverly in Northern Liberties.

Percy (1700 N. Front St.): The crew from the Forin Cafes is working with New Jersey-based developer Urby and the Fishtown Collective on this upscale American restaurant designed by Shawn Hausman Design and targeting April-May. The chef is Jack Smith, formerly of a.kitchen.

Terra Grill (Piazza Alta, 1099 Germantown Ave.): Chef/restaurateur Laurent Tourondel is behind this stylish restaurant opening in Piazza Alta; no timeline.

LaScala’s Fire (12002 E. Roosevelt Blvd.): Rob LaScala’s casual, wood-fired Italian chain will locate in the Far Northeast near the Top Golf.

Source Brewing (4334 Main St.): The Colts Neck, N.J., brewery, with an outpost in Fishtown, is building out a grand brewery in a 19th-century bank in Manayunk.

Brewery ARS (1715 McKean St.): Sean and Andy Arsensault say they have a way to go, but they plan to move their brewery a few blocks away into a cobblestoned courtyard, and will pick up Mexican food from the Burrito Feliz food truck.

Izzy’s (2654 S. 11th St.): Isrrael Romero of the South Philadelphia bruncherie Izzy’s 33 is working on a new spot at 11th Street and Oregon Avenue with Mark Galasso, who co-owns Oregon Steaks a block away.

Lillian’s (1900 S. 19th St.): Bartender Sam Ahern, previously at Fitler Club and Cicala, plans to offer a full bar and light snacks/charcuterie in what she calls a cozy, Euro-influenced space with five seats at the bar and about 20 for dining, plus outdoors at 19th and Mifflin Streets. “Lillian” was Ahern’s great-great-grandmother. The story goes that she ran a speakeasy in North Jersey, and if you had no cash, she’d accept jewelry — hence the nickname “Diamond Lil.” Summer is the target.

Skinny Joey’s Cheesesteaks (3020 S. Broad St.): “Skinny” Joey Merlino, who’s been grilled by authorities over his reputed underworld connections, is doing some grilling of his own in a new shop near the sports complex.

Sonny’s Cocktail Joint (1508 South St.): Chris Fetfatzes and Heather Annechiarico plan to revive their highbrow-meets-lowbrow bar, which has been shut down by fire since 2022.

Taste Taco Bar (300 South St.): Kevin Dolce plans to set up a taco bar at the former Jon’s Bar & Grille at Third and South this spring, while keeping the iconic mural of the Three Stooges' Larry Fine.

Amina Ocean (4101 Market St.): Felicia Wilson and chef Daryl Harmon, now in their early days of their latest restaurants — Avana, at Park Towne Place, and Fia, at 13th and Spruce Streets — are planning a Southern seafood restaurant for late 2025 at 3.0 University Place, an eight-story commercial lab and building at 41st and Market Streets.

Corio (3675 Market St.): Italian-inspired restaurant next to Two Locals at uCity Square from David Feola, former chef-partner of Ember & Ash, and Heather Feola, former assistant general manager at Vernick Food & Drink, with support from Ryan Mulholland, CookNSolo’s director of operations and longtime general manager of Vernick Food & Drink. They’re looking at late February or early March.

Bardea Restaurant Group, behind the restaurants Bardea Food & Drink and Bardea Steak, will take over culinary operations of DE.CO food hall. Bardea now has two stalls (Pizzeria Bardea and Taqueria El Chingon) and soon will open more, including Casa Nonna’s, a full-service Italian American restaurant and bar; Bean By Bardea (coffee and pastries); and Sumac (Mediterranean). Two blocks away, Bardea also soon will open Roost Pub & Kitchen (829 N. Market St.), specializing in comfort food.