There is a new Mediterranean restaurant coming to West Philly at 4630-32 Baltimore Avenue by the name of Aksum. The vision/inspiration for Aksum, according to owner Saba Tedla, was to create a modern, hip Mediterranean restaurant in a neighborhood that is in need of another quaint destination that locals feel comfortable calling “their spot.”

Finding an open, fitting space in West Philly was quite a challenge for them, but they ended up merging two spaces (4630 and 4632 Baltimore Avenue), which they have now transformed into a storefront which is 40-feet long and totals 980 square feet. Tedla has teamed up with Mill Creek Designs in creating the storefront design as well as the restoration of the woodwork and historical structure (something that has been an important investment for Aksum). “The shape of the building is beautiful and the west side has an amazing angle, which adds a little uniqueness to the dining area,” says Tedla.

The project has been faced with a few setbacks along the way, the biggest being the ADA-compliant bathroom, which required variance from the state. Now that this has been taken care of, they are just waiting on a fire alarm permit from L&I before they can move forward with closing the ceiling and installing hardwood floors.

With completion now set for the end of June and a fully developed menu that includes specialties such as a Mahi Mahi pita wrap, with Ffalafel, avocado and strawberry salad; and the most tempting of all, baklava with a pomegranate-honey sauce, we will be keeping our eye out for Aksum’s official West Philly arrival. —-Kaitlin Bostwick