Philadelphia, PA - Chef Yun Fuentes, one of Philadelphia's trusted collaborators, has opened "Bolo" at 2025 Sansom Street this spring alongside MilkBoy owners Tommy Joyner and Jamie Lokoff from MilkBoy. Their Latin-Caribbean dining spot and rum bar will offer a lively saloon scene space on its first-floor saloon while providing plenty of seating on its second-floor tabletop - The location once housed Il Pittore by restaurateur Stephen Starr, which closed in 2016. Look for: Bolo in Rittenhouse Square Offers Weekday Happy Hours
Philly's Caribbean-Inspired Restaurant and Rum Bar
Bolo is Fuentes' tribute to his grandfather, who inspired his food journey. After working at Jose Garces' Tinto and Village Whiskey, Stephen Starr's Alma de Cuba, Fuentes joined the team behind Milkboy. It served as executive chef for the last two years.
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Chef Fuentes brings his childhood memories of eating his grandparents' cuisine, which has inspired him to explore Latin American and Caribbean comfort food dishes.
The menu features Latin American and Caribbean comfort food with an emphasis on pork, chicken, and shrimp dishes such as pinchos - wooden skewers of grilled pork, chicken, or shrimp served on wooden skewers - mofongo (deep-fried mashed plantains with chicharron topping) as well as Caribbean seafood stews will all play prominent roles on this day's menu.
The 3,400-square-foot restaurant has an old San Juan-style rum bar on the first floor with a few small tables for walk-in diners to dine in the bar area, offering comfort foods featuring pork, chicken, and shrimp dishes like pinchos (skewered pieces of grilled pork, chicken or shrimp served on wooden skewers), mofongo (deep-fried mashed plantains topped with chicharron) as well as Caribbean seafood stews prominently featured. Wooden stairs lead guests up to the second floor, where regular plates featuring authentic Caribbean and Latin American dishes will be offered.
