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$$ | East Passyunk |
Funky, unorthodox dim sum gets all the cool kids in the door at Bing Bing, which proudly bills itself as inauthentic. But beyond the high-low appeal of cheesesteak bao buns and corned beef ribs with beet barbecue sauce, there’s real finesse from chef Ben Puchowitz’s kitchen here. Bonus points for large-format cocktail pitchers and comfy booths modeled after Chinese wedding beds.
1648 E. Passyunk Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19148, USA
Known For
- Creative dim sum variations
- Shareable cocktails
- Young lively crowd
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.–Thurs.
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$$$$ | Society Hill |
Copious portions of regional Italian cuisine are served in the brick-walled dining room of this early-18th-century granary. Don't miss the acclaimed Caesar salad prepared table-side by the genial owner, who thoroughly enjoys animated conversations with his guests. Tuesday-night lobster specials make the trip to the Society Hill area more than worthwhile.
120 Lombard St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19147, USA
Known For
- Hearty Italian cuisine
- Romantic dining room
- Weekly lobster special
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Bella Vista |
The cheery atmosphere inside this long, narrow bistro exudes warmth and attention to detail, from the flea-market knickknacks picked out by chef Peter Woolsey and his Burgundian wife, Peggy, to the ceramic pitchers of house wine delivered to your table. Woolsey studied at the Cordon Bleu, fell in love with French food culture (and Peggy), and came back to his native Philadelphia to share the experience with his city; regulars swear by the mustard-braised rabbit with housemade pasta; pork cheeks braised in Malbec; and the exemplary desserts that speak to Woolsey's extensive training as a pastry chef.
623 S. 6th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19147, USA
Known For
- Romantic atmosphere
- Classic French bistro menu
- Authentic ingredients
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays, Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Rittenhouse Square |
Converted from a private club with blacked-out windows, this Dublin-style pub has been packing them in for rivers of Irish draft and kitchen specialties. Guinness-battered fish-and-chips could have been produced on the "auld sod," and the malt vinegar to sprinkle over it all does little to dampen the crisp crust. The first-floor bar is noisy and spirited—show up before happy hour to snag a seat—but the mood gets a bit quieter as you climb the steps to the dining room or walk downstairs to the basement bar.
247 S. 17th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19103, USA
Known For
- Traditional pub fare
- Casual atmosphere
- Vast beer selection
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Old City |
This Stephen Starr restaurant is presided over by a 10-foot-tall gilded Buddha who seems to approve of the fusion food that pairs Pan-Asian ingredients with various cooking styles. The truffled edamame dumplings and tuna tartare spring rolls are tasty, but much of the appeal is in the theatrical decor and people-watching, also prevalent at Buddakan's outposts in New York and Atlantic City. A long "community table" provides an opportunity to dine with anyone else who snags this center-stage space. Be prepared for a loud and lively atmosphere.
325 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19106, USA
Known For
- Creative Pan-Asian cooking
- Eye-catching decor
- Lively scene
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekends, Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Center City West |
One of restaurateur Stephen Starr's many ventures is housed in an old wood-paneled and marbled brokerage (from which it borrows its name). Here the dishes are traditional rather than fancy (wedge salad, filet Oscar), portions are hefty, and the sides classic (green beans amandine, creamed spinach). A pair of showstopper chandeliers, a New Yorker–style mural depicting tony pooches clad in pencil skirts and smoking robes, and leather banquettes skew closely to the restaurant's avowed 1940s supper club aesthetic. The juicy, dripping burger is the word at lunch.
1500 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19102, USA
Known For
- Juicy steaks
- Weekday lunch options
- Baked Alaska
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekends, Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Center City East |
It's only fair to question whether Capital Grille is a restaurant or an art gallery. When you first enter the Philadelphia dining room of this high-end national chain, you'll find walls covered with exquisitely framed paintings and pedestals bearing bronze statues. Steaks and chops for the power crowd come in two sizes: large and larger. A baby lobster (about a pound) makes an excellent appetizer along with the requisite green salad and shrimp cocktail. The wine cellar is ample and fairly priced for a selection of excellent bottles.
1338 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, USA
Known For
- High-end steaks and chops
- Business crowd
- Power lunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekends, Credit cards accepted
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$ | Parkway Museum District |
At the far eastern end of the Parkway sits this small café, a glass-enclosed pavilion that offers good views of City Hall. On the menu are a range of good hot and cold coffee-based drinks, along with breakfast items, pastries, and familiar sandwiches and salads; you can also have a cocktail, beer, or wine at the little bar or at your table. It closes by 7 or 8 pm.
110 N. 16th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19102, USA
Known For
- Alfresco dining or sipping in season
- Convenient spot at beginning or end of Parkway exploration
- Good pastries and cookies
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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$$ | Manayunk |
Known for the varieties of pad Thai—from crispy duck to peanut-crusted scallop—and delicious soups, this Thai bistro is a nice, calming escape from the noisy restaurant scene of Main Street. Enjoy authentic Thai flavors in your lime-infused Thai sausage, po tek (a spicy seafood hot pot with basil and lemongrass) portioned for two, or the various face-flushing curries.
4371 Main St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19127, USA
Known For
- Numerous versions of pad Thai
- Crazy noodles (stir-fried wide rice noodles with colorful veggies)
- Consistently good Thai food
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch Fri., Credit cards accepted
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$$$ | University City |
A popular hangout with the Penn crowd, this contemporary bar and grill pours a staggering six dozen draft options, with a heavy focus on American craft beer. This selection pairs well with an accessible gastropub menu offering a little of everything, from burgers and brick-oven pizzas to mussels and prime steaks. You can grab a seat at the huge wraparound bar, sit in the spacious dining room, or hang out on the terrace around one of five stone fire pits overlooking busy Walnut Street.
3925 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA
Known For
- Craft beer on tap
- Hearty pub grub
- Young and lively crowd
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$$ | Center City West |
You're not sure what decade you're in once you enter the vast, retro playground that shares a name with the Old City martini lounge, also from blockbuster restaurateur Stephen Starr. The cognoscenti have moved on, but others still line up for a spot on the popular rooftop lounge or sit inside, in a swinging wicker basket chair, a sunken banquette, or a baby-blue vinyl booth. The global tapas menu includes Korean tacos, French onion soup dumplings, and lobster mac 'n' cheese.
1801 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19103, USA
Known For
- Large portions
- Solid martinis
- Rooftop bar
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Old City |
People who have been to Havana swear this place is a dead ringer; in any event, it's lovely, with balconies and fancy streetlights, and even a leaded-glass window on the interior. An entire drinks menu is devoted to rum from everywhere in the Caribbean and Central and South America, including Cuba Libre's own brand, and of course, the mojitos are excellent. The appetizers, like Cienfuegos-style beef empanadas and malanga fritters, are authentic. Rice and black beans are served with classic entrées like vaca frita and ropa vieja.
10 S. 2nd St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19106, USA
Known For
- Cuban cuisine
- Mojitos
- Salsa dancing
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$ | Rittenhouse Square |
This two-level gourmet shop has a dazzling array of prepared foods, mouthwatering pastries, and creamy gelato. Sampling the wares can make for a good snack, but if you require something more substantial, head to the recently redone café upstairs.
1730 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19103, USA
Known For
- Grab-and-go lunch options
- Pastries
- Cheese selection
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$$$ | Fairmount |
Away from the Parkway, this intimate, cash-only BYOB focuses on the flavors of Morocco and the Mediterranean, setting the mood with simple decor including Moroccan lamps, trays, and decorative items. The baked Brie in clay pot appetizer with honey 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, and fish options are plentiful. The many lunch choices include appetizers, salads, and sandwiches, as well as mains.
2501 Meredith St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19130, USA
Known For
- Mediterranean tapas plate
- Varied lunch menu
- Choices for non-meat eaters
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., No credit cards
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$$$ | Northern Liberties |
A spacious neighborhood hangout on bustling 2nd Street, Heritage is an industrial-style restaurant where you’ll find live music on the dining-room stage, live herbs creeping over the reclaimed ceiling beams, and lively cooking from chef Mackenzie Hilton. Regulars gravitate toward the hearty sandwiches served with crisp fries, the signature cocktails, which are largely named after classic songs, or one of the 30-plus draft-beer options.
914 N. 2nd St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19123, USA
Known For
- Live music
- Seasonally focused menu
- Extensive draft-beer list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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$$$ | Chestnut Hill |
This high-quality sushi joint has friendly service and particularly good rolls, including fun ones like the Hollywood—a massive creation with tempura shrimp, avocado, salmon, and eel sauce. Near the bottom of Chestnut Hill, Hokka Hokka also serves a variety of tempura and other Japanese dishes for the non-sushi eater.
7830 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19118, USA
Known For
- Creative sushi rolls
- Cozy fireplace
- Good service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekends, Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Fairmount |
A colorful mural of freewheeling Day of the Dead skeletons gives this cheerful Fairmount cantina its name, but the polished ceviches, tacos, and enchiladas from Jose Garces veteran Tim Spinner are what will really make you happy. A deep tequila library informs the bar and cocktail list; try a flight of añejos or margaritas in flavors like lychee and chili. Weekend brunch includes hearty options like huevos rancheros.
2321 Fairmount Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19130, USA
Known For
- Worthy happy hours
- Vegetarian options
- Patio dining in season
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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$$$$ | Penn's Landing |
Peter Woolsey, whose tenured Bella Vista bistro, La Minette, is beloved by Francophiles, bet big on an out-of-the-way Penn’s Landing sequel named for his wife, Peggy. Housed in a former water pumping station, the digs are catnip for engineering and architecture nerds; rivet-studded I-beams crisscross the ceiling like a catwalk, and soaring arched windows overlook the brontosaurus hoof—like supports of the Ben Franklin Bridge. The menu hits a wide swath of comfort-food notes—New England clam chowder, pot roast, chicken and dumplings—with occasional Gallic flourishes. A spacious outdoor courtyard with a bar is in use for most of the year. The restaurant shares an address with the headquarters and main performance space of the FringeArts organization.
140 N. Christopher Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19106, USA
Known For
- Waterfront views
- Impressive architecture
- Theatrical touches
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.-Sat.
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$$ | Northern Liberties |
This authentically Mexican family-run place is an anomaly in sceney Northern Liberties. The colors, both inside and out, are warm and bright and the food is simple and rather gently spiced, apropos of the family's roots in the town of Puebla. Mexican sodas and fruity juices complement the restaurant's BYOB policy.
426–28 W. Girard Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19123, USA
Known For
- Hearty weekend brunch
- BYOB margaritas
- Convenience for large groups
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | East Passyunk |
Sublime charcuterie, ethereal pastas, and interesting wines by the glass are just a few of the details that make Le Virtù one of the best Italian restaurants in town. The sun-washed space began with a fierce dedication to the underappreciated region of Abruzzo, where the owners run culinary tours; that focus has been sharpened under the direction of talented chef Damon Menapace. Keep an eye out for Le Virtù’s events, which range from rare wine tastings to performances by visiting Abruzzese musicians. The quaint outdoor patio is one of the neighborhood's most charming alfresco options.
1927 E. Passyunk Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19148, USA
Known For
- Rare Abruzzese cuisine
- Excellent pastas
- Charming atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch