Bridget Foy's, Grand Opening, South Street

Bridget Foy and husband Paul Rodriguez, along with parents John and Bernadette Foy, announces the grand opening of the brand new Bridget Foy's at 200 South Street this Friday, February 12th at 4:00pm. Bridget Foy's is one of Philadelphia and South Streets most beloved restaurants that has served the community for decades since the 1970s. The entire restaurant was lost in 2017 during a devastating fire. After three years of demolition, construction, design, pandemic delays, two COVID shut-downs, a giant snow storm, a East Philly Café Pop-up and limited dining capacity, Bridget Foy's is finally ready to return and make its grand debut overlooking one of Philadelphia's most picturesque corners. The new dining room and bar features a show-stopping gold tin ceiling, striking wood and tiled floors, socially distanced seating, 16 oversized windows and doors opening to the sidewalk, advanced ventilation, artwork by Bernadette and Paul, and other touches of nostalgia and Americana with a light, modern and airy twist. Outside, look for more outdoor seating than ever before with a patio cafe featuring their first-ever outside bar and service window, state-of-the-art outdoor covered heating space, plus sidewalk seating on the front of the building, with room for more along 2nd Street in nice weather. For the kitchen team, the Foy's have tapped the culinary talent of Chefs David Gilberg and Carla Goncalves of Cry Baby Pasta and formerly of Koo Zee Doo. Look for the return of updated Foy's classics and favorites, plus Gilberg's spin on American comfort cuisine. Goncalves will present her scratch pastries and desserts. At the bar, loook for cocktails that play a riff on the classics, plus a robust, accessible and affordable selection of wines. On tap, look for craft beers, wine by the glass, sparkling wine, and batched cocktails. New, look for the first-ever Bridget Foy and Cry Baby Pasta canned cocktails that are perfect to go and for take-out. Starting services include indoor and outdoor dining, dinner, weekend brunch and midday weekend menus, cocktails, beer, wine, cocktails to go, take-out, pick-up and delivery. Hours will be Wednesday to Sunday, from 4:00pm to 9:00pm for dinner, and on weekends Saturday and Sunday brunch from 11:00am to 3:00pm, mid-day menu 3:00pm to 4:00pm, and dinner 4:00pm to 9:00pm. For more info and reservations, visit bridgetfoys.com or call 215-922-1813. Connect on Instagram @BridgetFoys.

"We are so thankful for all the of amazing support over the last three years and we are so excited to bring life back to our corner of South Street," said Bridget Foy. "We have missed everyone so much and we can't wait to play host again. The neighborhood has a lot of exciting changes coming - including the work on Headhouse Square - and we see so much hope, energy and potential around us even during the pandemic. Loosing the original Bridget Foy's really helped us realize how beloved and missed we were - and we can't wait to show our appreciation and see everyone again - we have so much to catch up on."

Just in time for the return of indoor dining at 50%, Bridget Foy's will open its doors officially this Friday at 200 South Street Street - at the intersection of South and Second, nestled between Society Hill and Queen Village neighborhoods. Foy said, "While the building, the menu and many other things have changed, our focus is still the same. Bridget Foy's is Philadelphia and South Street's original corner bar and kitchen where neighbors, friends and visitors can come together for great food and service since 1978."

Bridget Foy's has been a Philadelphia and South Street staple since 1978. For the new Foy's, parents John and Bernadette will officially pass the torch to Bridget to take over all operations of the beloved family business as it starts a new chapter. While they plan to pass the torch, they will still be involved and guests will still find them sharing stories and saying hello in the dining room and bar. For Cry Baby Pasta, while Bridget will still be involved, Paul will take on leading the family's second award-winning restaurant, located just blocks away.

INTERIOR DESIGN, NEW LAYOUT, CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

The new Foy's will feature a brand-new layout and all new dining room, bar and outdoor patio. For launch, look for up to 25 guests to be seated in the dining room, and 12 guests in the bar lounge. Outside look for up to 30 guests at the time of grand opening. When guests are allowed to return to the bars, look for an added 14 barstools inside and 6 barstools outside. When dining climbs to 50% and more, look for additional dining room and bar lounge seating, too.

Inside, long-time patrons will see the biggest change in the new design and layout. The dining room and the bar switched places - giving the dining room a more separate feel, while also making way for a first floor bathroom. The bar is now to the right of the entrance and connects directly to the new outdoor patio cafe. There is a full service window that connects the indoor and their first-ever outdoor bar. When life returns to a more normal time, and bar service is allowed again, the bar and patio were designed to work together and compliment each other for a bustling happy hour and brunch scene. The kitchen was moved entirely downstairs, to make room for the additional dining and bar space. For diners, the new positioning of the dining room means perfect views from your table of the under-construction new Plaza at Headhouse Square. In addition to the bathroom now on the first-floor, there are additional rest rooms on the basement level. The first floor bathroom is ADA compliant.

For interior design, Foy wanted to bring back all the familiar vibes and take inspiration from the original Bridget Foy's - she wanted it to be welcoming, familiar, comfortable and not deviate from those core elements, but she also wanted to add a contemporary spin and upgrade, change the layout and brighten up the dining room. The décor features the original color pallet with American reds, blues, grays plus rich woods and mixing in some newer patterns. The stunning golden tin ceiling is inspired and a tip of the hat to the original tin ceiling in the original Foy's. For changes, seating was made even more comfortable, and even more sound proofing was added that the original Foy's.

For artwork, look for two familiar names in the family to grace the walls of the new Bridget Foy's. Bernadette and Paul created all the original artwork. Much of the artwork at the original Bridget Foy's was by Bernadette - and she recreated some pieces and took inspiration from others. Rodriguez and Bernadette Foy also designed the art inside Cry Baby Pasta.

Outside, the new exterior was meant to resemble a slightly updated contemporary version of the original Bridget Foy's with the outdoor space and seating, the brick-work and the stars. The stars on the front of the building were one of the only elements salvageable from the fire - and they were restored and now hang proudly over 2nd and South once again.

For the complete rebuild, the Foy's tapped Headhouse Square neighboring business, Ambit Architecture and Rich Villa. Villa was a fan and patron at Bridget Foy's and he is located just seconds down the street in South Street Headhouse District.

For the process, when asked who made the decisions and how was it working with family on this very emotional project, Foy said, "The entire family - including my Mom and Dad and Paul - we all together designed the new Bridget Foy's. It was a challenging process and it was great to all support each other. Being family, sometimes we all didn't see eye to eye and we all had to compromise, but I would say all and all it came out great and brought us even closer together during such a hard time for our family."

FOOD AND DRINK

In the kitchen, look for two familiar faces to create the new menu. Executive Chef Gilberg (Cry Baby Pasta, Koo Zee Doo) will lead the kitchen team with his updated versions of Foy classics plus new comfort food and elevated bar fare. His wife and chef Carla Goncalves - also known for her talent at Cry Baby Pasta - is making from scratch all the pastries. Additionally, look for Cry Baby Pasta homemade fresh pasta to be served in several dishes.

For the new menu, Foy wanted to bring back the big classics and stand-outs from the original menu with other selections of American comfort and elevated pub food. There's something for everyone - and for every taste. So many familiar dishes and flavors for classic Foy lovers. Plus dishes that are new spins on those Foy's classics. She noted her favorite dish and upgrade being the burger. She said, "The new burger is definitely one of my favorites. It features a new meat blend ground inhouse featuring brisket, chuck and dry aged."

Sample dishes include:

BUFFALO & BLUE
Classic hot wings w/ crudité and blue cheese

PIRI PIRI WINGS
Grilled & basted with hot sauce, butter and white wine

ROASTED BRUSSEL SPROUTS
Pepperoni Ranch

GRILLED SWEET POTATOES
Apple Butter, Date molasses, Crème Fraiche

FRENCH ONION DIP
Ralette Cheese, Caramelized Onion, Toast Points

CRAB HUSH PUPPIES .
remoulade

TOMATO SOUP
Grilled Cheese Dipper

SHORT RIB & BLACK BEAN CHILI
Sour Cream, Sharp Cheddar

HARVEST CHOPPED SAL AD
Kale, Farro, Squash, Pears, Seeds, Cheddar, Sherry Vinaigrette

EAST PHILLY BURGER
7 oz daily grind on brioche w/ Shrettuce, Tomato, and American Cheese, House Sauce

CHEESEBURGER ROYALE
Bacon, Fried Onions, Smoked Cheddar, Steak Sauce

CRISPY CHICKEN
B&B Pickles, Honey Mustard

SLOPPY BELL A
Bbq mushrooms, adzuki beans, vinegar slaw

STEAK FRITES
roasted maitake, bordelaise

FISH & GRITS
Grilled catfish served with creamy grits with spicy pickled collards peanut gremolata

SHELLS & CHEESE
Smoked ham, scallion, ritz cracker crumble

LASAGNA
Fresh Pasta sheets layered with butternut squash, swiss chard, veggie bolognese with garlic bread

At the bar, Paul Rodriguez leads the program with help from top mixologist Guy Smith. Together they created the cocktail menu that their own riffs on the classics. On tap, look for 14 selections including eight beers, two red wines, two white wines, one sparkling and one draft cocktail. For wine, look for wines by the bottle and glass, with a focus on diverse, approachable and affordable selections perfect for both regulars, neighbors and tourists. For sports and movie lovers, look for two giant 60 inch HD televisions at the bars for sports events, movie nights and other special programming - when that returns and is allowed with seated bar service.

For something new and exciting, Bridget Foy's will debut their first-ever canned cocktails which are perfect to go with take-out food. Look for two selections below - each inspired by the family's two restaurants:

Bridget Foy's - PALOMA
Tequila, Citrus, Grapefruit Soda, Aperol Float

Cry Baby Pasta - Don't Cry, Be Bitter
Aperitivo, gin, lemon-lime cordial, tonic

BRUNCH HOT SPOT RETURNS

Bridget Foy's has been known for many years for being an award-winning weekend brunch destination as well as a top spot for outdoor dining. Like in the former Bridget Foy's, the new building has an outdoor cafe - but in a new and exciting format. This time around, Foy added a new outdoor cafe and bar with bar seating and table seating, state-of-the-art powerful overhead heaters, lush greenery, lighting and decor, and more. Additionally, look for a sidewalk cafe that is also covered and heated, with panels and greenery between the sidewalk and tables for privacy, safety and added vibe. Additional traditional side-walk seating will also make its debut when the nice weather returns on South Street plus around the corner on Second Street.

MAKE NEW MEMORIES

Bridget Foy's and the Foy family have been part of the most special day of thousands of people's lives over the decades - hosting rehearsal dinners, baby showers, bridal showers, anniversaries, birthdays and more. When the time is right and allowed, look for Bridget Foy's return to private and special events. In the meantime, celebrate your occasions with your immediate pod from tables inside and out.

SPECIAL THANKS

Foy shared, "On behalf of the entire Foy family, we are so thankful and honored to have the support of the community. From the minute the fire tore through our beloved restaurant, we have gotten nothing but amazing support and love from our patrons, friends, neighbors and people all over the region. Almost every day since the fire people have sent their well wishes, or asked when we would be reopened. We want to thank those that supported the fire fundraiser and our employees - and also thank you again to the firefighters who put their lives at risk."

COMING SOON

Down the road, look for expanded hours, expanded days of operation, happy hour, catering, expanded menus for food, drink and beer, additional sidewalk seating and seating on 2nd Street side of building, bar seating, special events, and special occasion group dining.

JOBS

Look for 16 jobs created from this grand opening to start with up to double that number later in the year when the restaurant expands hours and outdoor seating capacity. Foy added, "We are fortunate to bring back some of our talented staff who were still available all these years later. Look for some familiar faces!"

SUMMARY AT A GLANCE:

Bridget Foy's
200 South Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-922-1813
bridget@bridgetfoys.com
https://bridgetfoys.com/

Operating Hours:
Wednesday to Friday, 4:00pm to 9:00pm
Saturday and Sunday, 11:00am to 9:00pm

Service Hours:
Dinner - Wednesday to Sunday, 4:00pm to 9:00pm
Brunch - Saturday and Sunday, 11:00am to 3:00pm
Midday Menu - Saturday and Sunday, 3:00pm to 4:00pm

Reservations - Resy
Delivery - Door Dash

Launch Services:
Dinner, Weekend Brunch, Take-out, Delivery, Dine-in, Indoor Dining, Heated and Cover Outdoor Dining, Outdoor Cafe, Outdoor Sidewalk Cafe, Outdoor and Indoor Bars