rhmuir

We are going to spend 3 nights in Phily in March. We are originally from Philly but haven't been back in 10 years. Wondered what the upscale restaurants are now. Looking for info from locals. We know about Le Bec Fin which is over thetop for us in price.

syd

Have you checked out this forum?

www.chowhound.com/boards/15

marginal_margiela

My favorites in the Rittenhouse Sq. area:

Il Portico
Striped Bass
La Croix
Susanna Foo
Devon Seafood
Rouge

On Market St:
Capital Grille
McCormick/Schmick

Others:
Budakan
Amada

Birdie

margiela - Does Vetri live up to its hype? And what is your favorite restaurant in Manayunk these days?
Thanks.

kmbp

Consider Estia and The Oceanaire Seafood Room, too.

And, if you are interested in trying a BYOB, there are many that have opened within the past few years. If I had to select only one, it would be Matyson.

rhmuir

We would like to go back to a good Italian restaurant one night. Any suggestions. Is Victor Cafe still around?

j_999_9

The Victor Cafe on Dickinson is still around. That would be a fun place to go.

Jed

We had a very good to excellent dinner at Roy's on 15th St. last night.

Best restaurant in CC is Susanna Foo. We don't like Vetri.

Best in Manayunk is Jake's.

Wife had excellent lunch at Le Bec Fin last week. But at prix fix for $52 plus $17 for glass of wine, that is expensive. Place was full.

marginal_margiela

I do like Jake's, but I haven't been there in over a year. (I used to LOVE the old Sonoma.) My husband always wants to go to Cheesecake Factory at the KOP Mall! We probably eat there once a week.

I have never been to Vetri, but one of my staff doesn't like it. She went for a birthday and said the service was lousy--which is not surprising in Philly.

I really like Rouge a lot. I always recommend it to people.

Birdie

That is very interesting about Vetri. We have been to Jake's a few times over the years and found that it has been consistently good. I was just wondering if it had maintained that quality. We have also been to the Japanese restaurant and the Greek restaurant in Manayunk and liked both.
We'll have to remember Roy's, Jed, thanks.
Cheesecake Fac.?? Do you bring your Goyard, Marginal? I do admit to liking their salads.

marginal_margiela

There is a Greek restaurant in Manayunk? Where is it?

I forgot to mention Le Bus in Manayunk. I have always liked their sandwiches.

Birdie

A couple of years ago we went to a Greek restaurant that was on the same side of the street as the Japanese restaurant. It displayed its fresh fish on ice and you would choose your fish. I wouldn't know if it is still there.
I remember Le Bus from my days in University city when it really was a bus.

Bikom

Visited Philly this fall and had an amazing meal at Vetri. Maybe I just got lucky, but the service was terrific and the food spectacular.

Also, had a great, great dessert at The Striped Bass. They have old fashioned ice cream sundaes, where they bring over a HUGE tray of homemade toppings to put on your 3 scoops of ice cream. Expensive, but really delicious. I hear dinner is also great there for fish lovers, but we only went for dessert.

If you happen to get a hankering for a cheesesteak, John's Roast Pork had the best I've ever had.

FlyingMaltese

Victor Cafe is a bit old school.

When if Philly, I like to go to Mezzaluna or the Saloon for a good Italian meal. I've never had a bad meal in either of these places. Other good choices for Italian are Locanda del Ghiottone and L'Angolo.

I haven't eaten at Vietri, but it gets consistently good reviews, including a nicely written review by Patricia Wells.

marginal_margiela

My friend, Lynn, recommends Derek's in Manayunk.

She also doesn't recall a Greek restaurant in Manayunk. Was it all the way down by Restoration Hardware? Or was it near Banana Republic?

TKT

For breakfast/brunch consider Mixto on 12th and Pine, great Cuban breakfast, the CRoissant Frnech Toast is fantastic.

I liek Pizzacato on Market and 3rd, if you are very lucky with weather you might catch outdoor seating.

For a night out with live music, Zanzibar Blue on Broad Street.

Suki

Since we do enjoy the value for the money, we tend to eat at a lot of BYO's. I second Matyson for a really first-rate meal in Center City.

This is all so subjective, but I disagree with Susannah Foo's being the best restaurant in the city. I was there last spring with 10 people so we had a broad range of the items on the menu, and while it was good, it was not outstanding.

marginal_margiela

Susanna Foo has always been hit or miss, just like Le Bec Fin for me. It depends what you order.

I would rather eat dead bugs than Le Bec Fin's snails in Champagne butter.

Birdie

I will never forget Le Bec's quenelles. Heaven.
I think the "Greek" restaurant was the Fish Gallery (?) Despite the name, the menu had a very Greek slant.

schmerl

And I love Le Bec Fin's snails. To each his own!!