New restaurant adds to booming North Broad Street scene

NORTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Robert and Benjamin Bynum opened their new restaurant South on the 600 block of North Broad Street. It's the latest addition in a now booming restaurant scene.

"We feel like north broad is an exciting area. We feel like it's an area whose time has come," said Robert.

They're the new kids on the block on North Broad Street. South is a southern fusion restaurant and jazz venue.

"There are great restaurants in the area and I think there are more coming. The Divine Lorraine is coming and I think to have a facility that has jazz just adds to the mixture of entertainment options in the area," said Robert.

In the old space that was once Stephen Starr's Route 6, South brings a real taste of the south - like the classic shrimp and grits.

"Everywhere from Carolinas down to Florida all the way across Louisiana and Mississippi, where I'm from, and even into Texas. The idea behind the food part of the restaurant is really to culminate all of that and to show all cultures from the south," said Executive Chef, Paul Martin.

The Bynam brothers may be new to North Broad, but they are hardly new to the city. They owned the famous Zanzibar Blue on South Broad and now, they are bringing the vibe up north.

"Philadelphia has a jazz history, a jazz heritage of that for so many years has been taken for granted and we feel like Philadelphia's in need of another venue that promotes jazz and presents jazz in a very upscale fashion," said Robert.

Celebrated Philadelphia restaurateur Marc Vetri opened neighboring Osteria 8 and 1/2 years ago - and Alla Spina, just next door, 4 years ago. His team is thrilled for the new addition

"The whole vibe of the neighborhood is gonna be a lot cooler. I mean a jazz bar and bourbon. You have Alla Spina, an Italian gastropub. You have Osteria. Santuccis is opening up catercorner from us, which is great and will add a South Philly flare to it, which is really cool. We are so excited for new neighbors," said Brad Daniels, Chef de Cuisine at Osteria.

The city is also investing in the area by installing decorative solar spires over the summer, landscaping and more improvements to help bridge the gap from Center City to the Temple University area.