By Metro Philadelphia<\/p>\n
Philadelphia\u2019s dining scene is kicking off the new year with a wave of exciting restaurant openings. From Michelin-recognized spots to James Beard Award-winning chefs, the city offers plenty of reasons to get out and explore its latest culinary offerings.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s dig into all the deliciousness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Banshee<\/p>\n
Helmed by Ben Puchowitz and Shawn Darragh, this new South Street bistro takes you on a Euro culinary adventure inspired by Spain, France and England in a warm and inviting Scandinavian-style space. Take your pick from small plates, like Barnstable Oysters or Grilled Kyoto Carrot, and larger bites, like roast half chicken and Spanish mackerel. Pair it with beer, wine, non-alcoholic drinks or specialty cocktails from the bar, like the vodka-forward Tropical Contact High.<\/p>\n
1600 South Street, bansheephl.com<\/a><\/p>\n Bomb Bomb Bar<\/p>\n Under the care of Joey Baldino, \u00a0this new spot draws on nostalgia from Deb and Frank Barbato\u2019s original corner bar. Look out for a revamped drink menu featuring frozen cocktails and pepperoncini martinis, a refreshed back-room dining room and a dinner menu that leans into the seafood Bomb Bomb is known for, such as Lobster Francese, as well as the famed barbecue ribs that have defined the place.\u00a0<\/p>\n 1026 Wolf Street, bombbombbar.com<\/a><\/p>\n Casa Oui<\/p>\n \u00a0This brand-new all-day cafe in Queen Village offers the best of both daytime and nighttime dining, with a full breakfast and brunch menu available through the afternoon and robust dinner offerings in the evening. Bridging the French and Mexican influences of owners C.J. Cheyne and Israel Nocelo, the new spot serves breakfast sandwiches and sumptuous pastries during the day, and at night it rolls out items like steak and ceviche.<\/p>\n 705 S. 15th Street, casaoui.toast.site<\/a><\/p>\n Cerveau<\/p>\n This new Callowhill spot, Cerveau (the French word for \u201cbrain\u201d), challenges you to stretch yours a little bit. The surrealist older cousin to chef Joe Hunter\u2019s previous pizzeria, Pizza Brain, Cerveau is a modern, non-fussy spot to indulge in imaginative pastas, pies and other small bites, like veggie- and seafood-forward starters and Italian-style sandwiches called\u00a0tramezzini.<\/p>\n 990 Spring Garden Street, cerveauphilly.com<\/a><\/p>\n dancerobot<\/p>\n James Beard-nominated sushi chef, Jesse Ito, sets a seductive and scrumptious mood at his new Rittenhouse Square izakaya. To start, dancerobot offers a menu of Japanese-inspired takes on American comfort food, featuring Japanese-style pizzas, Wagyu roast beef and hamburg steaks and cheesy mentaiko\u00a0omelettes, with a late-night\u00a0konbini\u00a0menu \u2014 inspired by the marvels that are Japanese convenience stores \u2014 and weekend brunch to come.<\/p>\n 1710 Sansom Street, dancerobotphl.com<\/a><\/p>\n DOH\u014c\u00a0<\/p>\n This Mt. Airy takeout-only taqueria was one of the good things to come out of the pandemic. Now, DOH\u014c \u2014 a portmanteau of \u201cDO\u201d for dough and \u201cHo\u201d for its Hortter Street home \u2014 has graduated from a Latin-Asian fusion ghost kitchen to a full-service sit-down restaurant. Continuing to blend Latin American and East Asian flavors with European technique, DOH\u014c trades fluffy bao-tortilla tacos and tempura shrimp bowls for savory pastas and pork belly buns.<\/p>\n 18 W. Hortter Street, dohorestaurant.com<\/a><\/p>\n Emilia<\/p>\n One of the most highly anticipated restaurant openings of 2026 is chef Greg Vernick\u2019s ambitious take on a neighborhood trattoria in Fishtown called\u00a0Emilia. The James Beard Award-winner \u2014 Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic in 2017 \u2014 will turn the reins over to Meredith Medoway, \u00a0his longtime chef de cuisine at Vernick Food & Drink, as she helms a show-stopping wood-fired grill. Her ever-changing seasonal menu will lean on live-cooking, featuring innovative dishes inspired by Italy\u2019s Emilia-Romagna region, including homemade pastas and crudos.<\/p>\n 2406 Frankford Avenue, emiliaphilly.com<\/a><\/p>\n Fetch Park<\/p>\n Atlanta\u2019s Fetch Park has landed in the City of Brotherly Love, offering pups plenty of leash-free fun \u2014 and a bar and cafe for the humans. The concept \u2014 which took over the old Bark Social spot on Main Street in Manayunk \u2014 offers craft cocktails, local brews, Southern fare, pub grub and other surprises like boozy cereal and a retro diner-themed doggy ice cream parlor. Watching the game on one of the outdoor TVs? Fetch Park\u2019s \u201cwoof wardens\u201d are around to keep an eye on your pup.<\/p>\n 3720 Main Street, fetchpark.com<\/a><\/p>\n Forest & Main Brewing Co.<\/p>\n An Ambler go-to for great beer, Forest & Main Brewing Co. has opened its first Philly location in Fishtown. Like its suburban sibling, the new taproom pours its own brews \u2014 a house lager, pilsner and Festbier \u2014 some English-style ales and a variety of other drafts, plus a selection of local cider, wine and cocktails. The Fishtown outpost also serves up a menu of creative vegan- and vegetarian-friendly eats by James Beard-nominated chef Dane DeMarco of\u00a0Gass & Main.<\/p>\n 1416 Frankford Avenue, forestandmain.com<\/a><\/p>\n Gather Food Hall<\/p>\n Gather Food Hall<\/a> in University City brings five restaurants and a chic bar under one roof. Take a culinary world tour, grabbing doughy desserts and fried chicken from Federal Donuts or Peruvian empanadas and pork belly sandwiches from Mucho Per\u00fa. Or hit up family-owned South Philly staple El Mictlan for Mexican fare or quick-service restaurant Bowl\u2019d Masala for Indian-inspired bowls. Straight from FDR Park\u2019s Southeast Asian Market, Sahbyy Food dishes out Cambodian street food, including its famous lemongrass cheesesteaks, while the Bulletin Bar is on drinks with cocktails, beer and wine.<\/p>\n 3025 Market Street, gatherfoodhall.com<\/a><\/p>\n Huda Burger<\/p>\n From chef Yehuda Sichel\u2019s Rittenhouse Square sandwich shop comes Huda Burger<\/a>. The casual countertop eatery dishes out chicken sandwiches, curly fries, milkshakes and soft serve from 1-900-Ice-Cream, but the main attraction here is the smashburgers. What makes them so special? It\u2019s the buns. Inspired by Japanese Shokupan, Sichel\u2019s milkbuns are fluffy, mildly sweet and freshly baked, creating the perfect vehicle for their out-of-this-world sandwiches.<\/p>\n 1603 Frankford Avenue, hudaburger.com<\/a><\/p>\n Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley<\/p>\n Kevin Kelley\u2019s restaurant empire has made its Philadelphia debut with the opening of Kitchen + Kocktails in Midtown Village. Taking over the ground floor of the\u00a0Cambria Hotel,\u00a0the restaurant offers Southern comfort food classics, Instagrammable decor and a lively atmosphere. On the menu: tasty plates of fried chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, jerk lamb chops and a lineup of cocktails for lunch and brunch.<\/p>\n 225 S. Broad Street, kitchenkocktailsusa.com\/philadelphia-pa<\/a><\/p>\n La Santa Bar & Restaurant<\/p>\n La Santa Bar & Restaurant in Hunting Park offers a fully loaded Latin American-Japanese fusion menu that runs the culinary gamut. Grilled skirt steak layered with sweet plantains, mofongo with plump shrimp, juicy filet mignon and traditional paella are just a few of the items. So, where does the Japanese side come in? Sushi. Bonus: The spot is open late.<\/p>\n 4301 N. 5th Street, lasantapa.com<\/a><\/p>\n Manong<\/p>\n With a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game, chef Chance Anies\u2019 new Filipino-American grillhouse is a playful, \u201990s fever dream. Meaning \u201celder brother\u201d in the Filipino dialect of Ilocano, Manong \u2013 the fun sibling restaurant to\u00a0Tabachoy\u00a0\u2013 pays tribute to Anies\u2019 Filipino-American roots and the decade of his youth with a menu spanning breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. Said menu mines Filipino flavors and the best parts of your fave chain restaurants to bring you Bloom Shrooms, Balong Burgers, Dynamite Lumpia and more.<\/p>\n 1833 Fairmount Avenue, manongphilly.com<\/a><\/p>\n Pine Street Grill<\/p>\n It\u2019s not every day that a freshly minted Michelin-starred dynasty opens up a new place. Amanda Shulman and Alex Kemp \u2014 the couple behind globally\u00a0acclaimed Rittenhouse Square restaurants\u00a0Her Supper Club\u00a0and\u00a0My Loup\u00a0\u2014 take the culinary party over to Fitler Square for their latest venture: Pine Street Grill. The duo\u2019s spin on an everyday neighborhood spot serves up American and Philly classics (chicken nuggets and soft pretzels for starters), plus a lineup of sandwiches, burgers, soups, salads, heavier entrees and desserts \u2014 like the cookie skillet (a Her Place favorite).<\/p>\n 2227 Pine Street, pinestreetgrill.com<\/a><\/p>\n Rhythm & Spirits<\/p>\n This laid-back restaurant and bar bridges contemporary Italian cuisine, sophisticated Spanish influences and live music for a new nightlife experience in the heart of Center City. The menu and vibes reflect co-owner Lee Sanchez\u2019s Italian and Spanish upbringing, with housemade pasta entrees like cacio e pepe and crispy chicken parmesan, and traditional dishes like paella and\u00a0gambas al aljillo\u00a0(saute\u00e9d shrimp in saffron garlic butter). Stay tuned: Morning cafe hours are on the way.<\/p>\n 1617 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, rhythmandspirits.com<\/a><\/p>\n Rockwell & Rose<\/p>\n Located inside the Curtis Center, the modern-casual steakhouse pays homage to the building’s history, which once housed the iconic publication\u00a0The Saturday Evening Post, known for its Norman Rockwell illustrations and for debuting Rosie the Riveter. Dressed in a soft palette of pinks and golds, the restaurant \u2014 the sibling of P.J. Clarke\u2019s \u2014 features a menu of prime cuts, fresh seafood and homemade pastas. For drinks, expect a lineup of classic cocktails representing Rockwell and floral creations symbolizing Rose, as well as beer, cider and wine.<\/p>\n 601 Walnut Street, rockwellandrose.com<\/a><\/p>\n Scusi Pizza<\/p>\n Making his Philadelphia debut, Michelin-starred chef Laurent Tourondel turns the kitchen into his playground once again at Scusi Pizza, his newly opened casual American restaurant in Northern Liberties. Embodying the beautiful simplicity of a truly great slice, the airy restaurant churns out classic and creative pies, Italian-inspired sandwiches, tasty small plates and house-made soft serve.<\/p>\n 1099 Germantown Avenue, scusipizza.com<\/a><\/p>\n Seaforest Bake Shop<\/p>\n Baker Suerim Lee brings a new labor of love to Graduate Hospital with Seaforest Bakeshop. Suerim (whose name means \u201cseaforest\u201d in Korean) highlights the flavors of her culture \u2014 and a few family recipes \u2014 with menu items like gochujang and scallion cheesy rolls, kimchi ricotta hand pies, sweet potato cheesecakes, Bulgogi-style mushroom pocket pies, peanut and sesame cookies and more. Not to be missed: the ever-changing, all-vegetarian menu is made from scratch.<\/p>\n 625 S. 16th Street, seaforestbakeshop.com<\/a><\/p>\n Secondhand Ranch<\/p>\n This new Fishtown concept slings Western-themed cocktails while you hunt through racks of vintage clothes and goods. Half saloon, half thrift shop, the Wild West spot gives a second life to salvaged goodies, while patrons knock back frosty brews; flavor-infused shots; and cocktails like the Cowboy Mule (a Moscow Mule with whiskey, tequila or mezcal), the Spicy Saddle (a marg-like pineapple and jalape\u00f1o creation), and the Gold Rush. What\u2019s on the menu so far? Hot dogs and hot peanuts.<\/p>\n 1148 Frankford Avenue, secondhandranch.com<\/a><\/p>\n Sweet 45<\/p>\n Fantasy becomes reality with Sweet 45, an ice cream shop-meets-listening room from Nashirah Felder (better known as DJ Na$h). By day, you can enjoy scoops of mango water ice, ice cream topped with fried plantains and caramel and more while listening to picks from the shop\u2019s vinyl collection \u2014 curated, of course, by the founder of the popular Interna$hional Bounce party series herself. By night, DJs transform the scoop shop into Philly\u2019s buzziest new nightlife destination.<\/p>\n 2000 N. Front Street, instagram.com\/sweet45philly<\/a><\/p>\n The Bread Room<\/p>\n A bakery by day and a pastry workshop by night, The Bread Room<\/a> is James Beard Award-winning restaurateur Ellen Yin\u2019s latest gift to Philly\u2019s dining scene. Helmed by High Street\u2019s executive chef Christina McKeough and head baker Kyle Wood, the warm and rustic Old City spot features artisanal breads, homemade baked goods and savory sandwiches. The Bread Room\u00a0 hosts evening baking classes, private events and, soon, a visiting baker series.<\/p>\n 834 Chestnut Street, thebreadroomphl.com<\/a><\/p>\n Tria Events<\/p>\n This new wine-focused venue and immersive classroom opened in October as an extension of Tria\u2019s pioneering legacy of bringing exceptional wine experiences to the masses. Located steps from their original Rittenhouse Square location, Tria Events sits in a historic rowhouse that can accommodate up to 32 guests for classroom-style tastings and 45 people for standing receptions. Wine director Lauren Harris leads nuanced tastings on everything from California cabernet and Piedmont nebbiolo to indulgent explorations of Alpine wines and cheese.\u00a0<\/p>\n 1726 Sansom Street, triaphilly.com<\/a><\/p>\n Trung Nguy\u00ean Legend<\/p>\n Trung Nguy\u00ean Legend \u2014 an international Vietnamese coffee brand known for high-quality products and cultural experiences \u2014 has opened a new cafe. The menu features a wide selection of authentic Vietnamese coffees, globally inspired brews (yuzu coffee, tiramisu lattes), macrobiotic drinks and teas and culturally inspired eats like b\u00e1nh m\u00ecs and grilled pork rice noodles. There are a few ground rules \u2026 downstairs is casual: mainly intended for to-go coffees; upstairs is prime real estate: the open-air rooftop terrace, with comfy tables and twinkling lights, is the only place where customers can order signature Zen, Ottoman and Legend coffee services.\u00a0<\/p>\n 113-117 Washington Avenue, trungnguyenlegendphilly.com<\/a><\/p>\n Uchi Philadelphia<\/p>\n Acclaimed Austin-based restaurateur Tyson Cole brings his renowned upscale sushi restaurant to Philly. Uchi\u2019s Philadelphia opening is a big deal in terms of prestige (Cole has snatched up every accolade there is, including a James Beard Award) and size. Its sleek Rittenhouse Square dining room seats 127 diners, plus more at the sushi bar. Featuring an \u00e0 la carte menu of premium fish with creative accouterments like flounder topped with candied quinoa (hirame usuzukuri), the restaurant also offers 10-course traditional omakase and vegetarian tasting menus as well as a somakase tasting menu.<\/p>\n 1620 Sansom Street, uchi.uchirestaurants.com<\/a><\/p>\n WineDive<\/p>\n WineDive has risen from the ashes \u2014 after its South Street predecessor and namesake was prematurely lost to a 2022 fire \u2014 and this cozy, new iteration transforms a Rittenhouse Square nailery into the stuff of retro, wine-fueled dreams. With low lighting and moody dark wood paneling, the cool and unpretentious dive gives off vibes somewhere between \u201cOld Hollywood\u201d and \u201cAtlantic City.\u201d Open until 2 a.m., it boasts a 20-bottle-long wine list (and $5 house wines all day, every day), doing justice to its name.<\/p>\n 1534 Sansom Street, winedive.com<\/a><\/p>\n