Del Frisco’s Grille on South Broad Street to close location.

Del Frisco’s Grille in Philadelphia is set to close its doors on July 31 as the restaurant’s lease comes to an end. The news was confirmed by Tim Whitlock, the chief operating officer of the restaurant’s parent company, Landry’s Inc. This closure will have ramifications for the local workforce, as a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice filed by the company indicated that 51 employees are expected to be affected by the decision.

The Broad Street establishment, which boasts 250 seats, a balcony, and distinguished wine towers, opened in December 2018 on the ground floor of the Cambria Hotel & Suites located at 225 South Broad Street. While the Grille offered a more casual dining experience than its upscale counterpart, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse—situated at 15th and Chestnut streets—the closure will not impact other nearby restaurant locations under the same ownership, specifically McCormick & Schmick’s.

In his statement, Whitlock noted that the company is actively working to relocate affected employees to other Landry’s establishments in the vicinity. This move reflects a broader trend in the dynamic restaurant scene along Broad Street, which has seen various new eateries open since the Grille’s inception, including Steak 48, Loch Bar, and Leo.

While the Grille was part of a larger network of 13 Del Frisco’s locations, it faced challenges in a competitive dining market. Noteworthily, the Palm, another steakhouse competitor located in the Bellevue, was forced to close in 2020, indicating the difficulties many restaurants have encountered in recent years.

Critics of Del Frisco’s Grille have provided mixed feedback. In a past review, one noted that while the restaurant felt overly corporate and offered subpar food, certain menu items such as the prime strip steak received praise for their quality. However, the price of this steak has risen significantly, now costing .

As Landry’s CEO Tilman Fertitta recently accepted a new role as the U.S. ambassador to Italy and San Marino, the future direction of his restaurant empire remains to be seen. Fertitta’s diverse portfolio includes well-known brands such as Morton’s, Joe’s Crab Shack, and the Rainforest Cafe.

The closure of Del Frisco’s Grille marks another shift in the evolving landscape of Philadelphia’s restaurant scene, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities that local establishments face in a competitive dining environment.