While James Beard Award Winner Chef Marc Vetri has made the city the home of his Philadelphia restaurants, the restaurateur sees a future where the culinary offerings in the suburbs are just as vibrant as the city. That’s why he’s made Bryn Mawr the home of his new steakhouse. The Philadelphia Business Journal reports that Vetri has mulled opening a steakhouse for the last 15 years and will finally do so in the second half of 2022 on the Main Line at 915 Lancaster Ave., the former location of Enoteca Tredici. The 5,00o sq. ft. space will seat about 130 and serve high-quality meat and vegetable dishes, some cooked in the restaurant’s charcoal-fired wood grill.
Vetri hasn’t revealed the restaurant’s name but says it will be a “feminine” and “welcoming” name inspired by his Italian roots. The Philadelphia Inquirer previously identified the project as an Italian steak house. One thing Vetri has said for sure is that his restaurant will be inviting to all.
“The restaurant who thinks they have a specific demographic, they’re going to fail,” said Vetri.
Vetri and his partner Jeff Benjamin also run Vetri Cucina in Center City, Fiorella in South Philly, Osteria Fiorella in Las Vegas, and Mr. Maurice’s Italian in Kyoto, Japan. Their Pizzeria Vetri locations were sold to Urban Outfitters in 2015. Vetri and Benjamin also run a charitable endeavor called Vetri Community Partnership. Vetri said he was inspired to open in the suburbs after becoming frustrated with the strict regulations imposed on city restaurants during the pandemic.
“The city is still super vibrant, but I don’t think it’s really going to come back until we really start to get some new leadership here,” Vetri said. “This mayor has really made it hard for small businesses to function here.”
He sees the proximity of the suburbs to I-475, Villanova, and nearby shopping malls as something restaurants could work in synergy with. He also sees a chance to cater offices relocating to the suburbs, workers who will continue to work remotely, and families looking for quality dining options.
