Photo via tastiesoulfood.com

A fine-dining soul food restaurant has opened on a block not exactly known for upscale sit-down eateries. Tasties Soul Food is launching where Pappy’s Pizza used to be, just north of Girard on 52nd Street. The restaurant is from Barbara Devan, a home-grown Southwest Philly success story who already runs two fast casual take-out restaurants under the Tasties brand. You may remember her from Jollies West, now the Corner Bar at 38th and Lancaster (right across from the site of the notorious Women’s Medical Society), or the old Tasties food truck, which would be often spotted near 48th and Market.

Tasties Restaurant features a full bar and will have brunch options on the weekend. In addition to standard soul food fare like BBQ chicken, turkey chops, candied yams and collard greens, Devan has added fancier options like fried lobster, lamb and mussels to the menu. 

“I’m bringing a luxurious, upscale dining experience to an underserved community,” says Devan in a press release. There are plans to open an upstairs lounge above the main restaurant as well, though it will not be ready to receive customers until later in May.

Tasties Soul Food is located at 1212 N. 52nd Street, right next door to the original Tasties, which is a take-out jawn.

The restaurant hours are: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.–12 a.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.–11 p.m.

For more information, visit: www.tastiesoulfood.com.

– Mike VanHelder