March 18, 2026
Provided Image/Terra Grill
Terra Grill, a new American grill, will open this week in the Piazza Alta building in Northern Liberties. The space is next door to chef Laurent Tourondel's other restaurant, Scusi Pizza.
Five months after launching his Northern Liberties pizza shop, acclaimed chef Laurent Tourondel will open his second Philly spot right next door.
Terra Grill, which Tourondel says is a "remodeled" steakhouse, will open Friday, March 27, at 1099 Germantown Ave. in the Piazza Alta, a residential building next to the Piazza apartment complex. Customers can choose from poultry, beef, seafood and seasonal vegetables, all of which are cooked over an open flame.
Tourondel said the idea behind the menu is "having a good piece of meat grilled simply." Entree choices include rotisserie chicken with pickled cherry peppers and tarragon, Peking duck frites with a honey glaze, grilled branzino with soy lemon sauce and salmon in curried pineapple sauce. Tourondel also plans to serve shared plates of short rib steamed buns with pickled jalapeño-cilantro chimichurri, crab with smashed peas and avocado, and grilled artichoke with lemon aioli and garlic butter sauce.
The space features a outdoor tables in the courtyard for warmer months. Alongside dinner service, Tourondel plans to host outdoor grilling events and eventually add a weekend brunch option.
Tourondel, a native of France, operates several restaurants in New York and Miami. He won a Michelin star in 2005 for BLT Fish in New York City, though the restaurant lost it the next year. Among other accolades, he was named Restaurateur of the Year by Bon Appétit in 2007 and being included on Food & Wine's list of the top 10 best new chefs in 1998.
In November, he opened his first Philadelphia restaurant, Scusi Pizza., which serves 16-inch pies alongside salads and Italian sandwiches. With the launch of his second restaurant, Tourondel said he's eager to be a part of Philadelphia's growing restaurant scene.
"It's a step after New York, being in Philly," Tourondel said. "There is some serious food and some serious restaurants in the city, for sure."
When he first found the space on Germantown Avenue, Tourondel said that it was all one room. He decided such a big restaurant wouldn't work for the neighborhood and opted to split it into two spaces.
Six months after opening, Scusi Pizza hasn't changed much, he said, although he's added a few new menu options and secured a liquor license. The restaurants won't work in tandem, but he hopes that they can serve multiple needs for diners: one as a grab-and-go option, and another as a sit-down space.
"I think we have a great team here, and I really love the design of the restaurant," Tourondel said. "So I'm really, really looking forward to doing something in Philly. I think its a fantastic city."
