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Say Hello to These New Philly Restaurants

Posted on December 7, 2023   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Abby Fritz

Abby Fritz

Hello Hey Philly readers, Abby Fritz here! While you can usually catch me producing for the City Cast Philly pod, I’m going to be stopping by every once in a while to share news and interviews about food and booze in the city. This week, I have two new spots for you to visit, and one to look forward to in 2024!

Three chefs known for their panzerotti (kinda like a calzone, but deep-fried) pop-ups across the city now have a permanent home. Paffuto, which means plump in Italian, perfectly describes the menu full of “gluttonous” sandwiches and in-house baked pastries like maritozzi, a type of Italian cream bun.

🌐 Bella Vista

⏰ Open now!

Tap your foot to some tunes while sipping a cocktail in this self-proclaimed “audiophile lounge,” featuring an extensive vinyl collection and a sound system to match. The team behind Sassafras opened this new music-centered bar yesterday with plans for events such as Hi-Fi Tea on Sundays and member-only nights.

🌐 Old City

⏰ Open now!

Kampar (Bella Vista)

From the chef behind Saté Kampar, a wildly popular Malaysian restaurant that closed in 2020, comes a new restaurant called, simply, Kampar. The new 7th Street location will be more than twice the size of chef Ange Branca’s earlier storefront and will support cooking over open fire — think whole fish slow-cooked over charcoal — YUM!

🌐 Bella Vista

⏰ Coming in early 2024

Send me all your Philly foodie recs and favorite characters, and you may just find them featured here one day! Cheers! 🥂

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