Upscale Restaurant To Replace Michael's Diner In Bensalem

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —An upscale restaurant is going to replace the old Michael's Diner on Street Road.

Blue Sunday II will take over the building at 3340 Street Rd. after the Bensalem Township Council approved a liquor license transfer at its meeting Monday.

Paul Herron, in representing the entity known as Top Pot and Korean Barbecue Inc., told the council that two brothers have operated the business for more than a decade.

The brothers employ 100 people at 15 restaurants with locations in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and Florida. Herron said that eight of those restaurants are in the Philadelphia region.

Two of those restaurants have liquor licenses and are located in Philadelphia at 1635 Market St. and 3717 Chestnut St., Herron said.

"You're bringing a good business and jobs and we appreciate it," Council Vice President Joseph Pilieri said. "We're upgrading our township businesses. It takes businesses like this coming to Bensalem to make that change."

When Herron went to pass around a sample menu to council members, Pilieri, Councilman Joseph Knowles and Council President Ed Kisselback joked that they hoped he was bringing food samples.

Herron told the council that the owners are making a "substantial investment" of $400,000 to renovate the 7,500-square-foot building, which he said should take three-to-four months before it will open.

He said that the brothers purchased the property about a year ago. Herron said renovations have already begun.

The restaurant will have a seating capacity of 160 people, a bar for 20 people, and an outside patio for 35 people, Herron said.

Business hours will be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 12 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Herron said that one of the two brothers will serve as on-site manager and that the restaurant will offer limited sales of takeout beer and a full-service menu featuring Sushi, steaks, seafood, and other "first-class" fare.

"Their menu is a little higher priced than the Applebee's and Chili's of the world," Township Solicitor Joseph Pizzo said. "This is something the council would like to see."

"It's a totally different restaurant, and much more expensive than those," Knowles said. "I'll be going there."