Philly Food News Roundup for November

A roundup on Philly food news & headlines for November!

Nov 27, 2021

I hope you all had a very Happy Thanksgiving and that you enjoyed your turkey (or tofurky) dinners. It’s incredible to think that it will soon be Christmas and another year is over! The year brought some very exciting developments in the Philadelphia restaurant scene. Perhaps I’ll do a recap on the year in Philly food next month. If you can’t wait, you should read Mike Klein’s Inquirer article about pandemic-era openings. While some beloved and long-standing restaurants were shuttered, there were some exciting openings, too. Let’s take a look at November, though. It was a great month!

What's New!

There were plenty of openings in November!

The Fin Surf & Turf by Crab Du Jour is soft-opened in Fishtown, next to the recently opened Brooklyn Bowl near The Fillmore. This area of Fishtown has become a hot entertainment complex. Let’s hope this new food option fares better than its predecessors Mad Rex and the Italian spot that was there, which was abysmal. This is a new concept by the Crab Du Jour chain of seafood boil restaurants.
Beehive Bakeshop opened on Frankford Avenue in Fishtown offering sweet treats and La Colombe coffee.
Primary Plant Based is now open on Girard Avenue in Fishtown, specializing in globally-influenced vegan dishes using local ingredients. Sounds pretty lofty to me, but I’m sure it’ll be great.
Jennifer Zavala’s Juana Tamale is open on East Passyunk Avenue offering a small menu featuring her famous birria tacos, tamales, birria ramen, vegan wings, Caesar salad, and churros.
Federal Donuts opens the 10th location in Center City, off Benjamin Franklin Parkway, which will seat more than at any of its other locations.
Scoop DeVille opened its 3rd ice cream shop on South Street next to Federal Donuts, offering its housemade ice cream, milkshakes, ice cream cakes, layer cakes, cheesecakes, and other baked goods, as well as hot chocolate bombs perfect for the colder months.
Oldstone opens in New Hope, taking over the spot where the famous Marsha Brown’s operated for 18 years.
Crab Du Jour opened in East Norriton, pushing the chain closer to 100 restaurants up and down the East Coast.
Tim Hortons cafe and bakeshop is now open in Stratford, NJ. This is the area’s first location of the popular chain of Canadian coffee shops with more to come, including one in Cinnaminson.
SoBol Smoothie Bowls is open in Moorestown, NJ. This is South Jersey’s first franchise of the fruit bowl concept based out of Long Island, NY.

Did I miss anything? Let me know!

What’s Coming Soon!

A quick roundup of what will be opening soon or in the coming months.

El Taco will open a new brick & mortar in University City. A previous location in Powelton Village has been open since 2018 serving tacos, quesadillas, and burrito bowls. The new location should be open by the end of the year.
Osteria 545 aims for a December opening in Paulsboro, NJ. The new Italian restaurant which will be run by 3 partners, replaces Nino Gervasi’s in a small building in a shopping center.
Naan Indian Bistro will open at the Moorestown Mall. No date yet, but they’re hiring, so it should be soon.
Spread Bagelry will open its first South Jersey location in Cherry Hill. The popular Montreal-style bagel shop currently has seven locations in Philadelphia and Philly suburbs. It is aiming to be open by Spring 2022.
Good Dog Bar is opening its 2nd location in Atlantic City. The popular Center City bar and restaurant heading to the Jersey Shore. It’s currently under construction and aims for an April 2022 opening.

Did I miss anything? Let me know!

In Other News!

Some other fun food news stories you might be interested in reading.

A Look at Hook & Master. I visited the new pizzeria and tiki bar in Fishtown by Chefs Jose Garces and Steven Seibel and provided my thoughts.
La Peg was named one of the most beautiful restaurants in the US by OpenTable. Do you agree?
Is Philly Flan the next big thing? It will be if South Philly’s Dave Mannion has anything to do with it.
Christmas Village in Philadelphia is now in full swing. A great place to take the whole family for the sights and sounds of the season, and of course, the food and drink.
Craftsman Row Saloon on Jeweler’s Row is massively decked out for the holidays. There’s also a special holiday-themed menu complete with milkshakes, cocktails, and food items.
The Sisterly Love Collective Presents Holiday Market Series. Dubbed the “Mrs. Claus Holiday Markets,” it will feature female-owned/operated vendors offering food, drink, home decor, and holiday-themed items. Shop and support local this holiday season.
Where to Splurge on Bougie Brunch in Philadelphia. If you’re looking to upscale your brunch experience, you might want to consider one of these places.
Where to Eat Pho in Philadelphia. Eater Philly has the run-down on where to get a warming bowl of Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) now that the weather is turning colder. What’s your favorite Pho spot? Let me know in the comments.
Where to Eat Vegan Food in Philadelphia. Eater Philly also roundups up the best places for plant-based food in Philadelphia.
The Pepper-Jawni at Haddonfield’s Pizza Crime is named NJ’s Best Pizza. I have tried this pizza and concur that it’s an outstanding pizza. It’s no wonder, the chef was trained by Philly’s Marc Vetri.
Human Village Brewery in Pitman, NJ will permanently close at its current location after 5 years. There are no plans to reopen in the future.
A Dining Guide to Bordentown. If you’ve ever been to Bordentown, NJ, you know just how charming it is. It has a hopping food scene, too.

Know of any other fun Philly food news? Let me know!

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