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Here are some of the Philly-area restaurants that have closed

The Philadelphia region’s restaurant scene is in constant motion, even without a pandemic.

Brittany Wardzinski (left) and Sara Cunningham (right) have a drink at P.J. Clarke's at the Curtis, 6th & Walnut Streets, in August 2019. P.J. Clarke's plans to reopen.
Brittany Wardzinski (left) and Sara Cunningham (right) have a drink at P.J. Clarke's at the Curtis, 6th & Walnut Streets, in August 2019. P.J. Clarke's plans to reopen.Read moreTOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer

The Philadelphia region’s restaurant scene is in constant motion, even without a pandemic.

Restaurants close for myriad reasons beyond “slow business.” The pandemic has created an additional dimension. Even so, restaurants keep opening.

At the start of 2021, the forecast was still bleak. Some restaurants mitigated the effects through stepped-up takeout and catering. Even so, the business climate in the first quarter of 2021 is challenging, but a gradual thaw is being seen.

Here are the restaurants that closed during the pandemic. Confirmed permanent closings are marked in bold:

February 2021

The Baker’s Jar in South Philadelphia.

January 2021

Umai Umai in Spring Garden (reopen for takeout); Day by Day in Rittenhouse; Southwark in Queen Village (closed till April), Gigi in Queen Village, Olly in Queen Village; OCF Coffee in Old City; Ambra in Queen Village; Real Food Eatery’s location in Bala Cynwyd; Big Gay Ice Cream in Center City.

December 2020

Memphis Taproom in Kensington (“till spring”); Goose Island in Northern Liberties; Honey’s Sit N Eat’s location on South Street (temporary; it’s handling delivery at its Northern Liberties location); Francoluigi’s in South Philadelphia (temporary, reopening as High Note Cafe in late 2021); Twisted Tail in Society Hill (reopening March 19; doing a fish pop-up called What’s the Catch?); Paper Street Pub in Manayunk; Melograno in Rittenhouse (temporary); Bar in Washington Square West (temporary); Bar Amis in South Philadelphia (temporary); ; Urban Saloon in Fairmount (temporary); Lai Lai Garden in Blue Bell (closed temporarily by fire Dec. 24); Clementine’s Stable Cafe in North Philadelphia (reopens March 25).

November

Res Ipsa Cafe in Center City; Porta in Center City; Brickwall Tavern in Center City; Trios in Northern Liberties (now operating from 1308 W. Girard Ave. as a “ghost kitchen” for deliveries); City Tap House in Logan Square and University City (temporary); The Goat in Rittenhouse (temporary); Cicala at the Divine Lorraine (temporary); Monk’s Cafe in Center City (temporary); Zavino in Center City and University City; Tredici in Center City; Neighborhood Ramen in Queen Village (temporary); Libertine in Center City (temporary); Spice Finch in Rittenhouse (reopening March 18); Royal Boucherie in Old City (temporary); Grey Lodge Pub in Northeast Philadelphia; Yue Kee food truck at Penn; Catahoula in Queen Village (temporary); Bridgewater’s Pub in 30th Street Station; Continental Mid-town in Rittenhouse (temporary); Mercer Cafe at the Navy Yard (temporary); Borough Brewhouse in Jenkintown; Butcher’s Smokehouse in Washington Square West; B2 Sushi in Bala Cynwyd; Winkel in Washington Square West (temporary); Gabi in Spring Garden (temporary); Bistrot La Minette (temporary); La Peg with Haas Biergarten at Penn’s Landing (closed till spring); City Winery at the Fashion District (temporary); Lucky 13 in South Philadelphia (temporary); Trattoria Giuseppe in Newtown Square; Tavern on Camac in Washington Square West (temporary); Louie Louie in University City (temporary); Jones in Washington Square West (temporary).

October

CheU Noodle Bar in Washington Square West; June BYOB in South Philadelphia; Green Soul in Spring Garden (becoming Warmdaddy’s); City Tavern in Old City (may return eventually under new management); Cafe Crema in South Philadelphia; all Snap Kitchen locations; Continental in Old City (temporary).

September

Nourish on South Street (fire; it reopened in South Philadelphia); Beijing in University City; Charlie Brown’s locations in New Jersey; High Street on Market (moved from Old City to Washington Square West); Flow State Coffee Bar in Kensington; Alma de Cuba in Rittenhouse (temporary).

August

Midtown III diner in Rittenhouse; Bibou in South Philadelphia (coming back as a grocery); Spicy Belly in Wissahickon; Le Bus Cafe in Rittenhouse; Warmdaddy’s in South Philadelphia (to be revived at 1410 Mount Vernon St. on April 1); Grand Lux Cafe’s location in Cherry Hill; Founding Fathers in Southwest Center City (temporary).

July

Dmitri’s in Northern Liberties; V Street in Rittenhouse; Chestnut Diner in Rittenhouse; Tiki in Washington Square West; Time in Washington Square West (temporary); Poi Dog Philly in Center City; Manny Brown’s on South Street; the Bards in Rittenhouse; Bainbridge Street Barrel House on the Bella Vista/Queen Village border; Gaslight in Old City; Toll Man Joe’s in South Philadelphia; LALO at the Bourse in Old City; Saxbys location at 20th and Walnut Streets; Pizza Fresca in Washington Square West (moving); Naf Naf Grill’s location in Mount Laurel; Zoe’s Kitchen’s locations in Cherry Hill, Newtown Square, Wayne, and Blue Bell; Inchin’s Bamboo Garden in Rittenhouse; Szechuan East in Northeast Philadelphia.

June

R2L at Two Liberty Place in Center City; Mama’s Vegetarian in Center City; Applebee’s at 15th and Chancellor; Ristorante San Marco in Spring House (Ambler); Mad Rex in Fishtown.

May

Bourbon Blue in Manayunk; Paesano’s in Fishtown; Mad River in Manayunk; Sate Kampar in South Philadelphia; Farmicia in Old City; Vitarelli’s in Cherry Hill; Besito in Ardmore; Noboru in North Wales.

April

Zinburger in Cherry Hill; Main & Vine in Villanova (now LaScala’s Fire).

March

The Palm in Center City; Samosa Vegetarian in Center City (temporary).

January 2020

La Veranda on Penn’s Landing; Cafe Lift’s Narberth location (now Royal Cafe Narberth); Sandler’s on 9th in Washington Square West; South Philly Bar & Grill in South Philadelphia; Koukouzeli in South Philadelphia (now Casa Mexico); Helm Rittenhouse in Rittenhouse; Yang Ming in Bryn Mawr (now Jin Ding); Tasty Place in Chinatown; Ruby’s Diner in Ardmore.