Restaurant recommendations in Philadelphia?
 

My daughter and I will be in Philadelphia at the end of October to look at colleges; we love fine restaurants with good wine lists. Any recommendations? We will be right downtown...

Le Bec Fin and Striped Bass are Philadelphia's top of the line, though there are quite a few others just a cut below them. Both of these restaurants are conveniently located in Center City (no such thing as downtown in Philly). Call well ahead for reservations -- and enjoy!

Do a web search for Lyle Ungar's restaurant reviews. I find it helpful and accurate.

The top restaurants in Philly:

1. The Fountain
2. Ralph's
3. Deux Chimenees
4. Budakan
5. Alma de Cuba
6. The Devon
7. Rouge
8. Jake's on Main Street in Manayunk
9. Striped Bass
10. Lacroix

Le Bec Fin is outrageously expensive. The last time I was there, with a party from my workplace, our bill was $5,000 for 10 people.

I also like Capital Grille for filet mignon and caviar.

Christine Gonos

Take a look at the wonderful website:

http://www.chowhound.com/boards/show/15

The people there will have plenty of opinions!

For dinner plus a great wine selection, I don't think you can beat Panorama at the Pennsview Inn on Front Street: http://www.pennsviewhotel.com/ristor...ama/index.aspx

You can also enjoy Le Bec Fin without sacrificing your daughter's college fund by eating at the downstairs bar: http://www.lebecfin.com/laBar.cfm

Handmaiden, your group was obviously drinking some very nice wine at Le Bec Fin. Nonetheless, the "prix fixe" for dinner is $138 and lunch is total bargain at $54. It's worth the experience.

Monadnock, if you don't mind bringing or picking up wine in Philadelphia, the BYOB scene is really going strong here. I'm a native Philadelphian...what schools are you looking at?

My teens loved Tangerine. Good food, high energy, great decor.

Philly is now known for some very good, new small restaurants that are BYOB. Our liquor laws are pretty arcane so lots of restaurants dispense with the hassle and concentrate on food while letting folks bring their own wine. You have to buy wine at a "state store" (aka liquor or package store elsewhere). You get to drink the wine you want and save a bit of money. There are other new restaurants with good buzz and worth a visit -- a departure from the old standbys noted in other posts. www.chowhound.com is a good resource, or google BYOB restaurants in Philadelphia.
Here's a random list of some newish places (some byob/some w/ liquor licenses):
Southwark, Ansill, Pif, Gayle, Little Fish, Mercato, Horizons Philadelphia (vegetarian), Next, M

I like Suzana Woo. It is very good oriental cuisine.The location is on the same street as Le Bec Fin. Theater district I believe. There is a little Italian Restaurant on Passyank right off of South Street. Ginochis is the name. It is a BYOB. It has always been a fav of mine. Get there early as it is generally crowded. On Broad there is Upstairs at Valarri's.(??) I was there this past Mothers day and it was very good. (Not a BYOB.)

My wife and I have celebrated a 20 year anniversary at Le Bec Fin and a 50 year birthday at The Fountain. We found both to be exceptional, far beyond any other restaurants we have been to. *IF* price is no object, I recommend either with enthusiasm.

Thank you everyone!

Buongiorno, we have narrowed it down to University of the Arts (grad school); she is an artist and teacher...

Philadelphia does offer a lot of choices for restaurants. You might want to try Buddakan or Morimoto. They just opened a second Buddakan and Morimoto in NYC, and they are popular with a young and hip crowd. Whereabouts in Philadelphia are you looking at colleges? There are also some good restaurant options in the Philly suburbs, if that is where you will be.

Reporting back! Thank you all for your help. We had dinner courtesy of friends on Friday night at Bistro St. Tropez; it was very good; dinner Saturday at Striped Bass which was extraordinary in every way: service, ambiance, the meal itself. We also managed to squeeze in cocktails and appetizers at the Four Seasons, and that was a treat too (and is a good way to try the Philly Cheese Steak--in the form of a spring roll).

Leave it up to the Four Seasons to make a cheesesteak fancy.

But, you missed the ambience of sitting outside amidst traffic while gulping down a cheesesteak. Just kidding.

I hope you had a good time.

Isn't the Designer's Marketplace (where Bistro St. Tropez is) a dangerous place on your wallet? They have such gorgeous furnishings and decor for the home?

Well, I didn't see any price tags on the beautiful furnishings and decor--so I'm guessing you are correct!