Recipe Philly, a new restaurant focused on home-cooked meals, is getting ready to open in Philadelphia at Broad and Arch Streets at 1401 Arch Street.
The restaurant will open in Center City and is scheduled to debut in spring 2026, according to Philadelphia Today. The concept, founded by Ed Baumstein, grew from a company potluck during the Great Recession. The menu will be created entirely from recipes submitted by local home cooks through a contest, with winners receiving $1,000 and having their names and photos featured on the menu.
The competition began on November 8, 2025, with a casting call at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Contestants were divided into eight categories, including appetizers, soups and salads, poultry, pasta, seafood, meat entrees, desserts, and other. Recipes will be judged based on taste, creativity, and the story behind the dish. Baumstein says the goal is to celebrate community and family connections through food.
Recipe Philly will seat 175 customers and is planning a docuseries to follow the competition, the judging process, and the restaurant’s buildout. Production is being handled by Kinnane Brothers, known for independent films and comedian projects. Chef and partner Andy Revella, who has developed menus for Bennigan’s and Rainforest Cafe, will help bring the recipes to life in the restaurant kitchen.
The menu will highlight a range of dishes from classic comfort foods to international flavors, all submitted by home cooks. Winners will be able to eat free at Recipe Philly for as long as their recipe remains on the menu. The restaurant aims to combine the intimacy of home cooking with a professional dining experience, giving local cooks a platform to share their food and stories.
This will be an excellent landing space for Recipe Philly, as Center City has a dense population and strong interest in community-driven dining concepts. Baumstein hopes the model can be expanded to other cities in the future and that the docuseries may find a home on a streaming platform like Netflix or Hulu.
