The team behind Libertee Grounds is set to debut a new bar next year.
Priyank Rambhia, Sanil Shah and Kanay Patel are joining forces with Sidecar Bar and Grill owner Mike Metzger to launch Lucky Duck.
“We just wanted a name that was fun, playful, cheeky–all embody the brand we’re looking to build,” Rambhia told What Now Philadelphia.
He continued, “My two business partners are my best friends from childhood. We talk about brands we want to create and styles we want to create. These conversations kind of go in passing–there’s some things that stick, things that don’t. The duck did stick.”
The tavern is planned for the ground floor of the newly built Rivermark Northern Liberties apartment complex.
“We essentially want to be an amazing neighborhood bar on the waterfront. Let’s call it a ‘riverside tavern.’ We’re taking a lot of inspiration from the bars that you can find around Philadelphia and even New York City–places that are filled with great cocktails, great beer and timeless food, elevated but very Americana bistro,” Rambhia said.
Metzger and Shah will lead the food program, featuring tavern favorites, shareable small plates, and a North Jersey–style pizza bar. A late-night window inside the bar will keep the slices coming after hours. Guests can expect classic and waterfront-inspired cocktails, a curated wine list and an “amazing” Guinness pour.
Lucky Duck will showcase a rustic design with dark wood, warm tones, and modern art accents. The 3,500-square-foot space will offer indoor dining year-round and outdoor seating during the warmer months. Floor-to-ceiling bay windows will highlight views of the Delaware River and the Ben Franklin Bridge.
The new venue hopes to draw an older crowd and introduce something new to the neighborhood.
“I’m definitely excited to trailblaze the waterfront. I’m really excited to create a space that’s for a bit of an older crowd. We’re designing this for millennials, which is what we are,” Rambhia said.
He continued, “We typically like to design and create businesses that we would want to hang out in ourselves. We find that using ourselves as the customer base, at least as a baseline, is a good starting point. And then from there, it’s just about letting the business open and having your customer base tell you kind of what they want.”
Lucky Duck is slated to open in spring 2026.
[Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to include an official interview with Priyank Rambhia.]
