Now, the husband and wife chefs are bringing those flavors back, to Wallingford, Delaware County.
Husband and wife chefs and owners Lee Steyer and Jessie Prawlucki-Styer shuttered the South Philly Fond and moved to Delaware County during the pandemic.
They say they immediately began looking around for a place to open a restaurant near their new home.
He handles the savory side of the menu, which he describes as eclectic American with French technique.
Dishes include a classic beef burgundy- braised short ribs, done with carrots, celery and onions, red wine served on a parsnip puree; and a short rib rilettes breakfast sandwich.
It's 100% braised short ribs, whipped together, chilled then pan seared, almost like Scrapple.
It's topped with cheddar cheese and a sunny egg and served on a parmesan aioli- slathered brioche bun.
Jessie specializes in desserts. She makes a butternut creme brulee with roasted butternut squash and pumpkin pie spices blended with custard.
It's caramelized and topped with cardamom-whipped cream cheese and a Palmiere cookie.
Her peanut praline serves as a bed for a malted milk chocolate mousse with dark chocolate on top.
It's layers and layers of chocolate and peanut butter with a peanut brittle on top.
The couple's new spot on Providence Road had been a French Moroccan restaurant.
They were looking to buy; the previous owner was looking to sell and so they took the restaurant over, staff and all, for 2 weeks. Then they flipped it to Fond BYOB, without interruption.
The only meaningful decor addition is a nostalgic menu on the wall from a restaurant in Reading run by Lee's great-grandfather then grandfather.
For Lee and Jessie, the new venture is all about putting family first, opening a restaurant that's a short commute from their home while recreating a city favorite in the suburbs.
The couple hasn't completely left the city, though.
They still have The Dutch, a breakfast, lunch and dinner spot in East Passyunk.