Top restaurant stories of 2015
Throughout 2015, South Philly has seen some great new restaurant openings. Bing Bing Dim Sum, South Philly Barbacoa, Restaurant Neuf, Buckminster’s and Stargazy are just a few of the new spots that have opened this year. While there is certainly plenty of food news worth noting with South Philly becoming a go-to dining location, these are the stories that garnered the most attention from our readers in 2015.
Le Bok Fin pop-up restaurant and bar
The Bok School is seeing a transformation as a place for retail and maker spaces in South Philly. The plans for this massive former school are huge. So when it was announced that there would be a pop-up bar and restaurant on the roof of the school for a period of time this summer, many were excited. With amazing views of the city, Le Bok Fin was quite the attention grabber in 2015.
Triangle Tavern reopening
After being closed for six years, this long-standing establishment at 1338 S. 10th St. was brought back to life in 2015 by the owners of Cantina and Royal Tavern. We initially shared with you plans for the restaurant’s menu and outdoor seating (which has yet to come to fruition based on neighborhood opposition). Since Triangle Tavern was brought back to life in May with a mix of old and new, it has been ranked among the best bars in Philadelphia, in addition to receiving a two-bell review from Craig Laban.
Cinemug coffee and movie rental shop
While there are plenty of coffee shops around these days, movie rental shops have completely disappeared. Cinemug, located on Broad Street near Tasker, has brought back the novelty of movie rentals in this digital age with a combination coffee shop and movie rental business since they opened in January. You can hang out and enjoy some ReAnimator coffee, or just stop in to rent out some of your favorite titles, old or new, in the back room of the shop. The shop also hosts weekly movie screenings.
Seafood takeout coming to 3rd and Snyder
Earlier this month we told you about a new seafood takeout spot that would be coming to 3rd and Snyder, on the border of Pennsport and Whitman. While Neon Lobster hasn’t opened yet, the buzz surrounding the spot is growing. Over the years, this small corner spot has been home to a number of pizza places, so it’s nice to see something new and different coming to this corner. Expect to see Neon Lobster opening very soon, likely by the end of the week for the New Years Day mummers festivities.
Vegan eatery for the former Atlantic Pizza location
For 30 years, Atlantic Pizza called their location at 1401 S. 12th St. home. Now that the owners are going into retirement, a new restaurant called The Tasty is taking over the space. Expected to open in early 2016 across from Columbus Square, The Tasty will be offering a menu of items to “please vegans and meat eaters alike.” The new owners want to keep the space as a friendly diner, but with some improvements and added flair.
2015 was a great year for food and drink in South Philly, but 2016 is sure to bring even more interesting offerings to this portion of the city. Expect to see Sate Kampar, Kawaii Kitty Cafe, Perla, Black Cat Tavern and more in the coming year.
