Seasoned Philadelphia restaurateurs and collaborators Stephen Starr and Aimee Olexy opened the Love in Rittenhouse Square in November. The sophisticated yet relaxed café celebrates creative and seasonal American cuisine, with dishes such as crispy duck salad, truffle gnudi, seared New England scallops, and rosemary-garlic lamb roast. The 2,500-square-foot, bi-level restaurant seats 100, which includes an 800-square-foot upper-level loft that fits 45 for receptions or 20 for seated meals at a communal table.
Top Chef winner Nicholas Elmi opened Royal Boucherie in a restored Victorian building in Old City in November. The bi-level restaurant seats 150 in total and features several spaces that can be used for smaller events, including a 600-square-foot upstairs private room and bar that fits 55 guests for cocktail receptions and seats 40; a semiprivate, 150-square-foot downstairs dining area that seats 25; and a 500-square-foot outdoor space that seats 30. The American brasserie serves a French-inspired menu with a focus on charcuterie, shellfish, and classic cocktails.
Tuna Bar opened in November, bringing a bistro-style dining experience to Old City. The atmosphere is refined yet relaxed, with white marble, wood decor, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Offering a seafood-heavy menu, the kitchen churns out dishes like scallop crudo, creamy rock shrimp, lobster fried rice, and specialty sushi rolls. The 2,600-square-foot restaurant seats 81, and partial buyouts are available for groups as small as 30 guests.
As of February, Rittenhouse Square is home to Clubhouse, a sports bar and lounge with two themed escape rooms, the city’s only ice lounge, more than 30 TVs, classic bar games, throwback video games, and more. Nachos, tacos, mozzarella sticks, and other bar-fare staples comprise the food menu, while the drink selection includes wine, mixed cocktails, signature punches, and beer in cans, bottles, and on tap. The 10,000-square-foot venue can accommodate 225 guests for events. Six guests can participate together in each escape room challenge, and the ice lounge has space for eight.
New Jersey-based mini-chain Porta opened a Philadelphia location in January. The Midtown Village restaurant serves authentic Neapolitan pizza in varieties that appeal to vegans, vegetarians, and meat eaters, as well as pastas and shareable dishes. The venue includes a variety areas for events. The main floor measures 4,500 square feet and includes a “classic” side and a “fancy” side; the former seats 144 guests and features communal tables and mismatched chairs, while the latter includes smaller tables and seats 34 total guests with an additional 14 seats at the bar. A 2,200-square-foot mezzanine with seating for 78 overlooks the main dining room.
As part of its ongoing series of renovations, Parx Casino in Bensalem debuted Liberty Bell Gastropub in February. The farm-to-fork menu includes hearty dishes like chicken pot pie, truffle burgers, oyster shooters, and seared tuna. Guests can ogle the giant rotisserie in the middle of the dining room, which cooks meats such as chicken, beef, turkey, and lamb. Measuring 7,000 square feet, the restaurant seats 230 guests, and the decor includes organic and reclaimed materials, offering a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere for events. Sixteen 75-inch HDTVs, as well as an 11-foot-wide LED video wall and a built-in sound system, are available for planners’ use.
Danlu opened in December in University City. The restaurant offers a stylish space adorned with eye-catching murals, modern lighting and artful tilework. The menu includes eclectic, Taiwanese-influenced dishes like Peking duck, crispy edamame pot stickers, and citrus-cured salmon, alongside 20 rotating beers on tap. Measuring 3,500 square feet, the bi-level space accommodates 170 seated guests or 250 for cocktail-style events.
Oloroso opened in Midtown Village in December. The menu from executive chef Townsend Wentz includes Spanish tapas like blistered peppers, marinated tuna, and short rib croquetas, along with larger dishes like roasted sea scallops and braised lamb shank. Measuring 2,500 square feet, the chic eatery seats 100 guests and features a custom-crafted mahogany bar, vintage Persian rug upholstery, and a 35-foot hand-painted mural depicting the Conquest of Mallorca.
