Several new restaurants are set to open in the Philadelphia area this March, featuring diverse cuisines from South Indian vegan fare to Mexican specialties. Highlights include the first local outpost of the popular PopUp Bagels chain and an Italian kitchen in Bucks County. Opening dates remain tentative amid preparations.
The Philadelphia region's dining scene is expanding with a variety of eateries slated for March launches, though exact dates are subject to change. Among them is Bengaluru Cafe at 809 N. Second St. in Northern Liberties, a vegan and vegetarian spot drawing from Karnataka's street food traditions. It will serve items like chaats, tomato masala salad, and vada pav, a spiced potato fritter in soft bread with chutneys. Owner Sri Saravanan, who runs a location in Fairfax, Virginia, plans to open around March 20.
In Glendora, Carmen’s Table at 200 E. Evesham Rd. will bring Puerto Rican barbecue flavors. Roselyn Gonzalez, from Booker’s Restaurant Lounge & Grill in Camden, is honoring her mother Carmen's recipes with smoked meats enhanced by Caribbean sofrito, taking over the space once occupied by Kitchen 519.
Cugini’s, at 6522 Lower York Rd. in New Hope, is a project by cousins Frank Picone and Anthony Adragna. The 135-seat Italian kitchen and bar in the former New Hope Star Diner aims to blend date-night appeal with family dining. Adragna previously managed Cafe Antonio in Morrisville, while Picone hails from a family that started V&S Pizza in Fairless Hills and Ariana’s Pizza in Levittown.
Duo Restaurant & Bar has soft-opened at 90 Haddon Ave. in Haddon Township, led by brothers Artan and Arber Murtaj alongside Andi and Tony Lelaj of Il Villaggio in Cherry Hill. The pub offers burgers, crab cake sandwiches, raw oysters, rib-eye meatballs, and Italian mains for lunch and dinner daily.
Mi Vida, from Knead Hospitality of Washington, D.C., debuted at 1150 Ludlow St. in East Market. This Mexican venue features lunch on weekdays, weekend brunch, and dinner with a 23-seat bar boasting 130 tequilas and mezcals.
PopUp Bagels marks its Philadelphia debut at 10 Coulter Ave. in Ardmore's Suburban Square, in the ex-Juice Press spot. Originating as a 2021 pandemic baking venture in Westport, Connecticut, the chain promotes 'grip, rip, and dip' with hot, unsliced bagels for tearing and dipping into rotating cream cheese spreads. Bundles of three, six, or a dozen are available, alongside coffee but no sandwiches. Further sites are planned in Center City, Marlton, and Princeton/Hamilton.
Finally, 1793 at 7 E. Park Ave. in Merchantville will deliver a six-course contemporary American tasting menu starting at $115, crafted by chef Chris Bennett, formerly of June BYOB. Focusing on seafood, pastas, risottos, and duck, the space evokes an upscale library with dark woods and leather seating. Bennett, a former carpenter, is overseeing the build-out for refined yet relaxed fine dining.