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$$$$ | Old City | American
Happy sounds have always emanated from diners in this comfortable, elegant eatery, but the menu of modern American fare went from tasty to transcendental when Eli Kulp took over the kitchen in early 2012. The chef is known for his innovative pastas, love of local meats, and mastery of fermentation. Sit as far back in the restaurant as possible to watch Kulp and his colleagues at work in the open kitchen.
306 Market St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19106, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sat.
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$$$ | Old City | American
This sunny, clean-cut younger sibling of perennial favorite, Fork, is half clubhouse for its Old City neighbors, half food tourist magnet (thanks to a flood of national press). Open all day, grain-brained High Street will take you from cortados and kougin-amans in the morning to duck liver meatball sandwiches in the afternoon to creative alt-flour pastas—matcha lasagna anyone?—at night. Eli Kulp is the acclaimed chef and partner, but the secret weapon is bread prodigy Alex Bois, a veteran of Sullivan Street bakery in New York. The James Beard Award Rising Star nominee just got a brand-new, double-deck MIWE oven, and his loaves have never been better.
308 Market St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19106, USA
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$ | Fishtown | Café
When real estate agents want to sell house-hunters on Fishtown, they take them to the new world headquarters of La Colombe, a combination café, bakery, roaster, distillery, and neighborhood clubhouse that would make Noah’s Ark look like a canoe. Artsy graffiti covers the crusty brick walls, and communal tables stream down the center of the space. You order at the counter: savory scones, sandwiches on excellent baguettes, kale salad, and coffee, of course. Ask for a Black & Tan (half Pure Black cold-brew, half nitro-draught latte) and no one will know you’re not a local.
1335 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19125, USA
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$$$$ | Rittenhouse Square | Eclectic
Jonathan Cichon has proven himself to be a worthy successor to this luxe establishment and one who forges his own way with graceful dishes using seasonal, prestige ingredients. He is bigger on elegance and shorter on whimsy than his predecessors, with dishes like foie gras with mango, scallop terrine, and veal cheeks with coconut, carrot, and plum. Combined with a 500-plus-label cellar of high-end bottles and a gorgeous dining room overlooking Rittenhouse Square, a meal here is guaranteed to be one of your most memorable. There's also the $75 blowout Sunday brunch—a tremendous value, believe it or not.
210 W. Rittenhouse Sq., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19103, USA
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$ | University City | Lebanese
Housed into a former bank building in the Spruce Hill area of West Philly, Manakeesh specializes in the Lebanese flatbread of the same name. Served warm from the oven, the puffy, round loaves come with both traditional toppings (za’atar, kafta) and unorthodox ones (B.E.C., cheesesteak), which speak to the diverse crowd of university types and transplants from the Middle East that fill the lounge-y, tapestry-lined space. Encased behind glass along the front counter, pistachio baklava cut in a dozen different shapes glitter like jewelry. A box makes an excellent take-home treat. Note that the bakery closes briefly on Friday afternoons.
4420 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed 1–2:15 Fri.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | Rittenhouse Square | Modern American
Pub & Kitchen has been a favorite since it opened in 2009, but the food has never been better since chef Eli Collins relocated here from Daniel Boulud's empire a couple years ago. From house-baked whisky-sage bread to gnudi crafted with local ricotta to a kick-ass cheeseburger, Collins can really cook. But even if he couldn't, locals would flock to this energetic saloon to unwind with friends or catch the game. In what used to be a dive bar, P&K is an unpretentious, attractive hangout with hardwood floors, exposed brick walls, tables fashioned from reclaimed floor joists, and familiar rock music playing from the speakers.
1946 Lombard St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19146, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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$ | Chinatown | Eclectic
When the Reading Company opened its train shed in 1892, it was the only one in the country with a market tucked away in its cellar. The trains are long gone, but the food remains. And while disagreeing over the best cheesesteak is a popular pastime in Philly, pretty much everyone can agree on pancakes at the Dutch Eating Place, the roast pork sandwich at DiNic's, whoopie pies at the Flying Monkey, and double chocolate-chip cookies at Famous 4th Street. Recent years have seen worthy newcomers to the entrenched mix: German deli Wursthaus Schmitz, Valley Shepherd Creamery's grilled cheese counter, and La Divisa Meats, for example. Get here early to beat the lunch rush. Seventy-five-minute tours every Wednesday and Saturday highlight the market's history and offerings (call 215/545–8007 to make a reservation).
12th and Arch Sts., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, USA
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$ | South Philadelphia | Modern American
Once upon a time, before South Philly was home to the city’s hottest zip codes, a little wood-clad tavern named South Philadelphia Tap Room opened with a roster of local, craft beers in the largely Miller-Coors enclave. Twelve years later, the Newbold neighborhood has grown up around this catalyst (SPTR’s owner actually coined the name), and the bar has established a reputation for sourcing some of the best and most exclusive beers around the country. Longtime chef Scott Schroeder is one of the city’s most underappreciated; on his menu you can count on grilled halloumi snacks, assertively seasoned salads, and bluefish that will make you love bluefish. Local, organic produce and meats are the focus, served with none of the associated boasting.
1509 Mifflin St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19145, USA
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$$$$ | Center City East | American
Aimee Olexy's Talula's Table in Kennett Square was an unlikely phenomenon—the little country market had a months-long backlog of reservations for its lone farmhouse table. Olexy's urban extension of that runaway success has no market and plenty of tables inside a sprawling, high-ceilinged space decorated with Alice Waters quotations printed on the walls. A charming outdoor courtyard with a garden glows under twinkly lights. A game of musical chefs has not diminished the seasonal menu (dandelion greens Caesar, smoked summer corn ravioli), and the knowledgeable servers do a great job explaining interesting cheese boards with names like "Not Your Granny's" and "Secret Stash."
210 W. Washington Sq., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19106, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.–Sat.
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$$ | Center City East |
The opening of this hip, industrial-chic trattoria by chef Marc Vetri rendered his talents more accessible to those who don't have the foresight to make reservations months in advance at his celebrated eponymous restaurant nearby. The small plates of Roman comfort food by longtime chef Brad Spence feature interesting elevated takes on Roman classics like tonarelli cacio e pepe, trippa alla Romana, and rigatoni all'amatriciana. Try to grab one of the six first-come, first-served stools at the chef's counter to watch the James Beard–award-winning action.
412 S. 13th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19147, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Reservations essential
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$ | East Passyunk | Asian
Funky, unorthodox dim sum gets the graphic artists, indie film producers, and jewelry designers (and all their visiting parents) in the door at Bing Bing. But beyond the high-low appeal of hot dogs swaddled in steamed bao and everything-spice buns with lox and furikake cream cheese, there’s real finesse with the doughs and dumplings by chef Ben Puchowitz. For a place that proudly bills itself as inauthentic, Bing Bing gets all the important stuff right. Bonus points for tiger-strength cocktail pitchers and booths fashioned out of Chinese wedding beds.
1648 E. Passyunk Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19148, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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$$$ | Chestnut Hill | American
Located in the former nursery of its next-door neighbor, Robertson's Flowers, Cake has expanded from its bakery roots into a full-fledged restaurant, offering lunch throughout the week, brunch on Sunday, and dinner on Thursday and Friday. The sweets and pastries are still a highlight, although the menu includes creative twists on lunchtime classics: try the Philly cheesesteak marsala or the croque monsieur brushed with apricot mustard. With light streaming in through the greenhouse glass and the florist's fountain still occupying the center of the room, this is a graceful option for starting the day. Dinner is served only on Fridays, reservations required.
8501 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19118, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner Sat.–Thurs.
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$$$ | University City | American
A popular hangout for the Penn crowd, this contemporary gastropub keeps five dozen craft beers and other brews running from its extensive tap system, and pairs them with a New American menu offering a little of everything, from burgers, brick-oven-style pizza, and salads to mussels, roasted salmon, and grilled rib eye. You can grab a seat at the huge wraparound bar, sit in the spacious dining room, or hang out on the terrace around one of five stone fire pits.
3925 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA
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$$$$ | Old City | Latin American
People who have been in Havana swear this place is a dead ringer. In any event, it's lovely, with balconies and fancy streetlights, and even a leaded-glass window—on the interior. An entire menu is devoted to rum from everywhere in the Caribbean and Central and South America, including Cuba Libre's own brand. The appetizers, like lobster empanadas and crab cakes, taste fairly authentic; rice and black beans are served with just about everything, of course, and the mojitos are renowned.
10 S. 2nd St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19106, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekends
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$ | Rittenhouse Square | Israeli
Think of Dizengoff as Zahav lite. This graffiti-tagged spin-off of the nationally acclaimed Israeli restaurant is modeled after the hummus stalls of Tel Aviv, specializing in the dreamy chickpea puree crowned with an array of creative, seasonal toppings. Each bowl is served on a plastic cafeteria tray with sharp pickles and fluffy, warm-from-the-oven pita. When the pita runs out, Dizengoff rolls down its garage door for the day.
1625 Sansom St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19103, USA
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$$ | Chestnut Hill | American
Although primarily a restaurant—families are welcome and ever-present—not a bar, this is a beer geek destination. Run by the former owners of Heavyweight Brewery, it always has four specialty brews made on the premise available. The rest of the taps are almost entirely local craft beers (Victory, Stoudts, Sly Fox, etc.) Once a month they dedicate all their taps to one local brewery and pour all their specialty brews. If you want grub to go with your suds, the flatbread pizzas are light and crispy with all natural ingredients (there is an Earth-friendly emphasis) and topped with unique flavors like pumpkin seeds, black beans, and banana-pepper pesto. Meat lovers need not fear—there's also sausage. The salads are excellent, as are snack plates of olives and cheeses. There's also a good and unusual wine list and house-brewed kombucha.
7136 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19119, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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$$$ | Fairmount | Mediterranean
A large fig tree sets the tone for this simple restaurant. Some Moroccan specialties are woven through the menu. Otherwise, the flavors of the Mediterranean permeate. The baked Brie in clay pot appetizer with honey, lavender, and almonds is a standout; usually there's a good tagine (stew of meat or poultry simmered with vegetables, olives, garlic, and spices) on the menu.
2501 Meredith St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19130, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$$ | Northern Liberties | Modern American
The best restaurant to open in years in once-scrappy, now-uber-developed Northern Liberties is Heritage, an industrial hanger where you’ll find live jazz on the dining room stage, live herbs creeping over the reclaimed ceiling beams, and lively cooking from chef Sean Magee. Idiosyncratic seafood towers have quick become the signature order here, though whatever Magee is doing with foie gras is also definitely worth your attention.
914 N. 2nd St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19123, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weeekdays
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$$ | Fairmount | Mexican
A mural of freewheeling Day of the Dead skeletons gives this neon Fairmount cantina its name, but the polished ceviches, tacos, and enchiladas from Jose Garces veteran, Tim Spinner, are what will really make you happy. A deep tequila library informs the bar and cocktail list; try a flight of añejos or margaritas in flavors like lychee and chili.
2321 Fairmount Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19130, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$ | Old City | French
Peter Woolsey, whose tenured Bella Vista bistro, La Minette, is beloved by Francophiles, bet big on an out-of-the-way Penn’s Landing sequel named for his wife, Peggy. Housed in a former water pumping station, the digs are catnip for engineering and architecture nerds; rivet-studded I-beams crisscross the ceiling like a catwalk, and soaring arched windows overlook the brontosaurus hoof–like supports of the Ben Franklin Bridge. Woolsey’s brassiere-inspired menu means plump Burgundy snails, poutine topped with beef Bourgogne, and le hamburger done with triple-crème cheese, onion jam, and brioche.
140 N. Christopher Columbus Blvd. , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19106, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays