New restaurants opening in Philadelphia this fall
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Rendering of Jaffa, coming to Olde Kensington. Courtesy of CookNSolo/Boxwood Architects
Philly's fall menus include plenty of new spots for dining and drinking this season.
Why it matters: Our creative, culinary town is consistently among the nation's best, and we're optimistic this openings list includes your next new hotspot.
Here are new restaurant openings on our radar this fall:
Black Dragon: Chef Kurt Evans' new spot in West Philadelphia blends Black culinary traditions with Chinese takeout — think collard green-filled egg rolls and General Roscoe's (not Tso's) chicken, coated in spicy St. Louis barbecue sauce.
- Evans, who helped create Down North Pizza in Strawberry Mansion in 2021, will also hire formerly incarcerated people, the Inquirer's Michael Klein reports — much like the North Philadelphia pizza shop's mission.
Open: Wednesday-Sunday, noon-9pm.
Enigma Sky: Get hyped, Fishtown, for the latest "sexy and chic" rooftop restaurant with great views of the Ben Franklin Bridge and Delaware River.
- It's owned by Taste Cheesesteaks' Kevin Dolce, who is also planning to open a speakeasy bar and lounge on the ground floor.
- No word yet on an opening date, but we're closely monitoring the restaurant's Instagram account.
Jaffa: Mike Solomonov and Steve Cook, the successful duo behind James Beard-winning Zahav, is opening an Israeli-inspired oyster bar in Olde Kensington this fall.
- The 120-seat restaurant is located inside a shuttered 19th-century firehouse on North Howard Street.
- Expect a mix of seafood dishes and bar classics, such as yellowtail pastrami, scallops, fried chicken thighs and a Jaffa Burger.
Dear Daphni: Restaurateur Michael Schulson is opening a Mediterranean restaurant at the Laurel building in Center City.
- Cocktails, sizzling kebabs and pita — all we can say is, "yum."
- No official opening date has been shared yet.
The Newsroom: We're news people, so naturally our ears perked up when we heard about this ink stain-inspired joint coming to Northern Liberties, where chef Ricardo Cardona will help fuse Latin and Asian cuisine.
- Rose Hospitality, the New York group behind the new restaurant, hasn't set an opening date but initially told the Philadelphia Business Journal they're aiming for September.
The intrigue: You'll access the restaurant through a hidden, speakeasy-style entrance — possibly a newsstand, per the journal.
- We hope they print their menus on site.
The bottom line: Get your forks and napkins ready!