Food scene is heating up

Plenty of menus and locations to choose from — closer to home or in the city

There are many new places to dine in Center City Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs. From sushi to sweets, you’re sure to find places to please your palate.

SWEETGREEN » A new location of this fast casual salad chain is opening this fall in Wayne. It will have outdoor seating and free parking. Sweetgreen has two other Main Line locations — one in Ardmore and the other in King of Prussia, as well as locations in the city.

REBEL HILL BREWING COMPANY » Phoenixville welcomes Rebel Hill, a seven barrel brewhouse specializing in craft beer styles such as IPA, pale ale, saison and stout. Indoor and outdoor seating available. 420 Schuylkill Road in Phoenixville.

GREYSTONE OYSTER BAR » There’s a new place to get seafood in West Chester. Greystone Oyster Bar also has a full bar with cocktails, wine and craft beer including locals brews. 7 N. Church Street in West Chester.

THE COPPER CROW » There’s something new to crow about in Horsham. The team behind Blue Bell Inn has opened a new restaurant called the Copper Crow. The restaurant serves modern American cuisine and the extensive menu includes everything from steaks to brick oven pizza. The restaurant has three bars >> inside, outside and on the rooftop. Open for lunch and dinner. At 116 Welsh Road, Horsham.

DANDAN NOODLES » A chic Sichuan & Taiwanese restaurant and full-service bar has opened at Suburban Square in Ardmore. DanDan also has locations in Wayne and Center City. Lola’s Garden recently opened in Suburban Square too.

UP TO ELEVEN CAFE » Ardmore welcomes this coffee shop with a twist. Watch for Reanimator Coffee, Kismet Bagels as well as e-bikes and a repair service. The coffee house has indoor and outdoor seating. It is located at 65 Cricket Avenue, in the Cricket Flats apartments.

IZAKAYA BY YANAGA » Kevin Yanaga has experience at some of the city’s best sushi restaurants >> Morimoto, Zama, Izakaya in the Borgata in Atlantic City, Double Knot and Pod. And now he’s the executive chef, partner and namesake of his own restaurant >> Izakaya by Yanaga. The menu features traditional Japanese dishes plus Yanaga’s modernized twist on the classics. It includes small and large plates priced and portioned for sharing. The stylish 60seat restaurant is located at 1832 Frankford in Fishtown in the space that was formerly Aether. The full bar offers a large selection of Sake, most of which are not available elsewhere in the city, Japanese and locally-brewed beer and cocktails. In the late fall, a high-end 12-seat tasting room, called Omakase by Yanaga, will open in the middle of the restaurant.

SONNY’S COCKTAIL JOINT » This neighborhood spot replaced The Cambridge at 1508 South Street. It’s all walk-in (no reservations) at this laid back bar with great drinks, surprisingly good food and a cozy outdoor area with retro decor and a fire-pit.

1-900 ICE CREAM » You’ll be craving the locally-made ice cream known for its creative flavors. Vegan ice cream too. It replaces Parlour at 18 W. Lancaster Avenue in Ardmore.

DEPAUL’S TABLE » This sophisticated Italian steakhouse in Ardmore serves crafted cocktails and expertly prepared steaks in an opulent setting. 7 East Lancaster Avenue in Ardmore.

THE STORY » This former VFW Outpost has been transformed into a coffee shop and bookstore. The story is that it intends to be a community gathering place that supports the community. 49 East Lancaster Avenue in Ardmore.

DOLCE ITALIAN » Dolce Italian on the ground floor of the new W Hotel at 1439 Chestnut Street just opened. The stylish restaurant specializes in seasonally inspired Italian dishes including homemade pastas, veal Milanese, whole branzino, Neapolitan-style pizza, seafood risotto and meatballs over polenta. At the helm is Chef Terry White, who honed his skills at The Palm, Del Frisco’s, Sullivan’s, Sugarhouse and the Revel. The bar has an extensive wine list and serves specialty cocktails. The dining room is bright and energetic with mid-century modern furniture. The restaurant’s location makes it convenient for pre- or post-show dinners on the Avenue of the Arts and meetings at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

LMNO » Stephen Starr’s 17th Philadephia restaurant, LMNO, is now open at 1739-1749 North Front Street in Fishtown. The menu features Baja Mexican cuisine cooked on a custom live-fire grill. Think seafood, roasted meats in crispy tacos and fire-roasted vegetables paired with agave spirits. The large complex is also home to an art gallery, a bookstore with rare and out-of-print selections and a music venue that will host live music and DJs.

VAN LEEUWEN ICE CREAM » Van Leeuwen Ice Cream started as a food truck in NYC and has now rolled into Philly with flavors like Peanut Butter Brownie Chip, Earl Grey Tea and in partnership with Federal Donuts, Strawberry Lavender Donut. Van Leeuwen is known for its made-fromscratch dairy and vegan ice creams. Just after opening its first Philadelphia location on the northeast corner of 13th & Sansom in Midtown Village (where Capogiro’s used to be), Van Leeuwen announced that it would open two more local spots — one in Rittenhouse and the other in Fishtown.

PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART RESTAURANTS » The Philadelphia Museum of Art recently unveiled a $230 million renovation that offers new opportunities to celebrate the city and to showcase works by artists with connections to Philadelphia. Constellation Culinary Group, the museum’s food and beverage partner, has embraced the museum’s commitment to Philadelphia with new locally-focused food and beverage options. Executive Chef Mark Tropea’s Stir has reopened for the first time since March 2020 with a new menu that features ingredients from regional farms. The Café will serve locally-grown produce, locally-made bread (Lost Bread Company), local coffee (Passero’s Coffee) and local beer. In addition, a new Chef-in-Residence program will feature local chefs the first weekend of every month, coinciding with the popular pay-as-you-wish admission policy.

KURRY SHACK » This fastcasual Indian restaurant in South Philly recently opened new locations in Rittenhouse (2101 Chestnut Street), Francisville (1339 Poplar) and Old City (6 N. 3rd Street). Watch for two more locations coming soon.

ANCIENT SPIRITS & GRILLE » America’s first Ayurvedic herbal restaurant and cocktail lounge just opened in a large space at 1726 Chestnut Street in Rittenhouse. Guests can take a survey that will recommend food and drink tailored to their individual needs based on their physical and emotional health or order off the menu. Lots of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

FIGO RISTORANTE AND FIGO PIZZERIA » This Italian restaurant and bar has opened at 1033 N. 2nd Street in Northern Liberties.

MA LESSIE’S CHICKEN & WAFFLES » The newest vendor to open at Reading Terminal Market is serving Southern cuisine.

ARISTAEUS BREWING » This new brewery in Langhorne has indoor and outdoor seating. Serves beer, nitro cold brew coffee, wine, hard seltzers and specialty cocktails plus light fare. 2475C Big Oak Road in Langhorne.

VILLEKEBABS AND PLATTERS » This MediterraneanAfghan restaurant serves kebobs, gyros, wraps and more. The restaurant serves certified 100% Halal food. 1722 Sansom Street.

FREE WILL BREWING » This Perkasie-based brewery has opened its third location in the region in the lobby of the Broad Theater in Souderton. Enjoy sours, IPAS, stouts and other beers it is known for in the lobby or during a show. 24 West Broad Street in Souderton.

FAR EAST DESCENDANT » Restaurant and bar with a scenic rooftop bar. Serves Cantonese cuisine and a unique cocktail program including craft cocktails, spiked herbal teas and rotating Baack jow (Baijiu) drinks. 251 N. Clarion Street in Chinatown.

GREAT BARN BREWERY » In addition to New Hope, this Kintnersville-based brewery now has a location in Warrington. The newest location has 30 beers on tap, live music and inside and outside seating. 1500 N. Main Street in Warrington.

KORSHAK BAGELS » These crisp, chewy bagels are made with natural wild yeast starter. Grab a delicious bagel and schmear at 1700 South 10th Street (at Morris) in South Philly.

FARINA PASTA & NOODLE » Homemade pasta cookedto-order from the underground restaurant space that was formerly Luke’s Lobster. 132 S. 17th Street in Rittenhouse.

NESHAMINY CREEK BREWING COMPANY » This awardwinning brewery has opened a third location in The Station, at 139 North Main Street in Dublin, PA. The brewery is offering 12 rotating beers on tap and take out beer.

FERRY & MAIN » This new restaurant in the Logan Inn is a farm-to-table concept with an open kitchen and large bar. The Whiskey Lounge, in the historic section of the building, is a speakeasy-style bar with 300 varieties of liquor. 10 West Ferry Street in New Hope.

AMSTERDAM COFFEE BAR » This new coffee house in New Hope serves coffee and baked goods and has a bonsai gallery. 5667 York Road in New Hope.

HARPER & PENNYS » This new bistro inside the Main Street Marketplace in Doylestown serves lunch and dinner. 22 South Main Street in Doylestown.

NIKOS RESTAURANT » A family-owned restaurant serving Mediterranean and New American food. 385 Oxford Valley Road in Yardley.

JUNE BYOB » This BYOB moved across the bridge from South Philly to South Jersey. It can now be found in Collingswood.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE STORY This former VFW Outpost has been transformed into a coffee shop and bookstore. The story is that it intends to be a community gathering place that supports the community.