Fine Line Dining, the restaurant group led by Michael Sloane and Jay Rosenthal, has some big plans for the Ambler/Fort Washington area.

In late 2024, Fine Line opened The Fort at 325 Pennsylvania Avenue in Fort Washington. For that project, a former Friendly’s was converted into a modern American restaurant with a bar and outdoor seating.

Currently, Fine Line is focusing on Academy Grill, which will fill the space at 424 South Bethlehem Pike in Fort Washington, where Cantina Feliz got its start before moving to downtown Ambler. Construction is underway, and a liquor license is being transferred to the property. Academy Grill will feature an Italian-inspired menu of seafood, steaks, and pasta, with a white-tablecloth experience.

In 2025, Fine Line acquired the long-running Dettera restaurant in downtown Ambler and plans to open an approachable Mediterranean restaurant in that space after the Academy Grill opens. What type of Mediterranean? Rosenthal stressed that more than 20 countries touch the Mediterranean Sea, and the menu will reflect that diversity.

Chef Jeff Power was the executive chef of Dettera and is now with Fine Line Dining and will be heading the kitchen of Academy Grill. Dettera is open and preparing for Ambler Restaurant Week, running from January 19th to 26th. View Dettera’s restaurant week menu here. Reservations are available online.

Fine Line Dining’s first restaurant was Jasper’s Backyard in Conshohocken.

Photo: The bar at The Fort. The Fort
Disclosure – Fine Line Dining is an advertiser