Chifa & Village Whisky After opening Distrito in 2008, Jose Garces is coming into his own this year and breaking from his label as a Stephen Starr prodigy. Look for Chifa, a Peruvian-Chinese fusion restaurant to open at 707 Chestnut Street in February. Garces is also planning to open a whisky bar/burger joint this year on 20th and Sansom Street.
Max Brenner The chocolate-themed restaurant chain is pegged to open sometime late spring or early summer at 212 S. 15th St. After Naked Chocolate Cafe’s University City shop opening last year, your chocolate fix should become even easier to cure.
Ladder 15 Set to open in early March in a historic firehouse on 15th and Sansom, this upscale gastropub is sure to be an interesting endeavor with Little Fish's Mike Stollenwerk tapped to design the menu.
Blue Angel The perennial restaurateur, Stephen Starr, is also planning to open a couple of new eateries this year. First, Starr is renovating French fave Blue Angel (which closed in 2003) with plans to re-open the restaurant at 706 Chestnut Street in March. Also in the works is a Greek-themed restaurant on Washington Square set to open sometime in April.
