Over the weekend, Nick Elmi — of Laurel, In the Valley, and formerly Royal Boucherie — opened his latest venture in Bala Cynwyd on the Main Line. An all-day cafe with breakfast, lunch, coffee, and pastries, the Landing Kitchen is the latest development at the Ironworks at Pencoyd Landing, right across the river from Manayunk. Open-faced tartines and breakfast sandwiches are available, alongside roasted carrots and deluxe grilled cheeses with sides of bowfin caviar.
The restaurant is a project from Elmi and his business partner and fellow restaurateur Fia Berisha through their recently established restaurant group, BE Hospitality. Elmi has been a staple of the Philadelphia restaurant scene for years, memorably bringing home an accolade as winner of Bravo’s Top Chef season 11 in 2014. He was also nominated for a James Beard award in 2020.
Next on the list for BE Hospitality will be Lark, a “coastal Mediterranean” spot on the seventh floor of the same building at the Ironworks this spring.
![Smoked Salmon Toast with pickled red onion, dill-caper cream cheese](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xEkKxQTK_CFH_wa13O1afl7sXWw=/0x0:3600x2400/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:3600x2400):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22371930/Smoked_Salmon_Toast.jpg)
![the interior coffee bar at the landing kitchen with three hanging pendant lights and a mismatched wood bar](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bGY6hBc1UXQbVkDrOdhFbd3048M=/0x0:2226x2287/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2226x2287):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22372043/full_bar.jpeg)
![Roasted carrots on a gray plate](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/il9Pp7FQ7pk_VE9y7MbExdfrZbs=/0x0:3600x2400/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:3600x2400):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22371933/RoastedCarrots_NealSantos.jpeg)
![the interior of the landing kitchen with big garage windows and tables set up](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dc16y9Z4imkKbC92kC3FinDSvJ4=/0x0:3600x2400/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:3600x2400):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22372083/dining_area.jpeg)
![a grilled cheese with caviar on the side](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KgxMdGrBpJ_SraW3XCBt6Y7eCic=/0x0:2400x3600/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2400x3600):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22372088/cheesyboi.jpg)
![the exterior of the landing kitchen on the riverfront](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sAsUkSeybhuqYR34KXNSE8b6n0g=/0x0:3600x2400/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:3600x2400):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22371940/exterior.jpg)
The Landing Kitchen is located at 617 Righters Ferry Road in Bala Cynwyd. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with indoor and outdoor seating options available. Takeout and delivery is available.