Manayunk is in the middle of one of its biggest shifts in years. More than 1,800 new residential units are proposed along or adjacent to Main Street, part of a wave that has already brought a dozen new businesses to the corridor over the past two years. Neighbors have raised concerns about traffic and parking, but the momentum reflects real demand for the neighborhood's riverside charm and walkability.
Meanwhile, deep South Philly has a new reason to make a reservation. Waltz, from owner Joe Dougherty, opened this spring at Front and Ritner in the Whitman neighborhood, occupying two rowhouses near the Walt Whitman Bridge. The Italian American menu leans into old-school comfort with a few modern touches, think chicken parm on a silver platter, house-made tortellini with mushroom and sage, and a lively bar pouring negroni sours and blackberry-sage margaritas. The space fills up fast most evenings, a sign that the neighborhood was ready for exactly this kind of spot.
- More than 1,800 new residential units are proposed for Manayunk's Main Street corridor
- A dozen new businesses have opened along Main Street in the past two years
- Waltz, a new Italian American restaurant from owner Joe Dougherty, opened this spring in the Whitman neighborhood
- The menu blends old-school South Philly comfort with a few modern touches, and reservations are recommended
Between Manayunk's growth and a new favorite table in Whitman, Philadelphia keeps giving residents reasons to explore beyond their usual neighborhood. Both are worth a visit this season.
👉 Read more on Manayunk's development here
Attribution: The Philadelphia Inquirer
Photo Credit: Monica Herndon / The Philadelphia Inquirer
