Center City is lining up a new two-for-one from Michelin-recognized Scratch Restaurants Group, the outfit led by chefs Phillip Frankland Lee and Margarita Kallas-Lee. The team is planning a hybrid concept that pairs a casual burger counter up front with a hidden omakase den in the back, a speakeasy-style setup that would add another reservation-heavy tasting menu to Philadelphia’s downtown dining scene.
Local Report: Burger Joint Out Front, Secret Sushi in the Back
According to the Philadelphia Business Journal, Scratch Restaurants Group is planning a Center City spot where the street-facing room runs as a burger shop, while a tucked-away backroom operates as an omakase counter. Co-owners Margarita Kallas-Lee and Phillip Frankland Lee are named as the partners behind the project, which would hide the intimate sushi experience inside the more casual counter-service operation. The Business Journal report did not include a confirmed opening date or full menu details.
Speakeasy Strategy They Have Used Before
The planned layout tracks closely with a playbook the Lees have already tested in other cities. Their model is to keep a high-turn, casual counter out front, then conceal a reservation-only omakase bar behind a discreet entrance in the same space. Coverage of the group’s Denver opening described guests slipping into the omakase den through a passage inside the burger shop, a design that maintains a 10-seat counter experience while keeping the storefront humming during the day. That structure lets the team combine walk-in burger traffic with a higher-priced tasting menu under one roof, which helps manage the financial risk that comes with new markets, according to Westword.
A Michelin Pedigree Behind the Menu
Sushi by Scratch and Pasta|Bar have drawn national attention for the Lees, capped by a Michelin star in 2021 for the Montecito Sushi by Scratch location. Their quick expansion has been closely watched as they replicate a mix of intimate tasting rooms and more relaxed concepts in multiple cities. For a deeper look at how the group built its Michelin credentials and began rolling out new outposts, see reporting from The Press Democrat.
What Diners Can Expect
Across the group’s existing locations, the omakase counters stay deliberately small and reservation focused, while their burger and other casual formats are geared toward quick service and walk-in customers. Past Sushi by Scratch experiences have leaned on tightly timed seatings and multi-course menus. Sister concepts such as NADC Burger keep the front-of-house offering to a short, repeatable lineup that can move fast. The company highlights Sushi by Scratch, Pasta|Bar and NADC Burger as part of its portfolio and emphasizes a “from-scratch” philosophy in its hospitality playbook on Scratch Restaurants and on LinkedIn.
Where This Fits in Philly
Center City is already home to both late-night burger stops and intimate omakase counters, so Scratch’s combo concept would be tapping into existing demand rather than trying to invent it from scratch. Recent downtown roundups have flagged a busy season of openings and several small-format Japanese projects, suggesting plenty of curiosity for new sushi experiences alongside casual fare. For a snapshot of what is trending right now, see the latest Philadelphia Hit List from Resy.
Key details such as the exact address and official opening date were not included in the Philadelphia Business Journal’s report, and Scratch Restaurants Group has not yet announced a public timeline for its Center City debut. For now, curious diners will have to keep an eye on local coverage and the company’s own channels for word on reservations, pricing and when that backroom omakase counter will actually open its doors.
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