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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 | Pizza
When Bon Appétit calls your pizza the best in America, you ramp up production, prepare for the onslaught, and plan an expansion. Right? Not for Joe Beddia, the lanky pizzaiolo stationed behind the counter at his eponymous Fishtown shop every night. He’s doing the same thing he’s done since opening in 2013: craft about 40 pizzas a night from his long-fermented dough and local ingredients like Hidden Hills Dairy’s Old Gold aged Gouda and Green Meadow Farm bacon. There’s no seating, no phone number, no credit cards, and the line starts forming at 4 pm. Yes, they’re worth it.
115 E. Girard Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19125, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Tues.
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$$$ | Society Hill | Mediterranean
Chef Michael Solomonov has brought great buzz to several restaurant locations in Philadelphia. With his latest entry, steeped in the milk and honey and hummus and lamb of his native Israel—as well as the cultures that have left a mark on that Promised Land—he's done it again. Taking advantage of its dramatic perch above one of the city's oldest streets, the stripped-down Zahav relies on architectural features such as picture windows and soaring ceilings to create spectacle. The open kitchen, on view behind leaded glass, is the true stage. There, a small staff mixes and matches a melting pot of flavors for a modern Israeli menu whose highlights include house-baked laffa (flatbread), kebabs of impossibly tender chicken cooked over hot coals and served with sumac onions and Israeli couscous, and addictive florets of fried cauliflower served with a lemon-and-dill-spiked lebneh (yogurt cheese). The legendary smoked and pomegranate juice-braised lamb shoulder should be reserved in advance.
237 St. James Pl., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19106, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$ | Rittenhouse Square | Cuban
A bit of scrolled ironwork greets diners, followed by a swank bar pulsating with Cuban music that lets everyone know this is a happening place. Find a seat here because you may wait a while, even with a reservation. The service is a bit chaotic, but the mojitos are refreshing and you won't be easily bored. The decor is evocative of pre-Castro Havana, with dim lighting, mod seating, and larger-than-life images of tobacco fields projected onto the walls. The menu contains a few genuine dishes, such as lechon asado (crispy roasted pork) and a wide selection of ceviche, all prepared by star chef Douglas Rodriguez. Although oysters are not generally considered Cuban, they're a knockout here, served fried over fufu (mashed sweet plantains studded with bacon).
1623 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19103, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$ | Society Hill | Italian
Copious portions of regional Italian cuisine are served in the brick-walled dining room of this early-18th-century granary. Don't miss the acclaimed Caesar salad prepared table-side by the genial owner, who thoroughly enjoys animated conversations with his guests. Tuesday-night lobster specials make the trip to the Society Hill area more than worthwhile.
120 Lombard St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19147, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$ | Bella Vista | French
The cheery atmosphere inside the long, narrow bistro and in the outside courtyard illuminated by candles and twinkling strings of lights exudes warmth and attention to detail, from the flea-market knickknacks picked out by Chef Peter Woolsey and his French wife in Burgundy 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 his wife, a Frenchwoman, and came back to his native Philadelphia to share the bistro experience with his countrymen. The place has quickly become a neighborhood favorite, with regulars swearing by some standouts including the Alsatian-style Flammenkuchen appetizer of caramelized onions, bacon lardoons, and crème fraîche on flatbread; the perfectly simple lemon sole in white-wine butter sauce; and the light and airy beignets that speak to Woolsey's extensive training as a pastry chef.
623 S. 6th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19147, 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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$$$ | Fairmount | Mediterranean
A large fig tree sets the tone for this simple restaurant. Some Moroccan specialties are woven through the menu. Otherwise, the flavors of the Mediterranean permeate. The baked Brie in clay pot appetizer with honey, lavender, and almonds is a standout; usually there's a good tagine (stew of meat or poultry simmered with vegetables, olives, garlic, and spices) on the menu.
2501 Meredith St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19130, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$$ | 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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$$$ | Old City | French
Peter Woolsey, whose tenured Bella Vista bistro, La Minette, is beloved by Francophiles, bet big on an out-of-the-way Penn’s Landing sequel named for his wife, Peggy. Housed in a former water pumping station, the digs are catnip for engineering and architecture nerds; rivet-studded I-beams crisscross the ceiling like a catwalk, and soaring arched windows overlook the brontosaurus hoof–like supports of the Ben Franklin Bridge. Woolsey’s brassiere-inspired menu means plump Burgundy snails, poutine topped with beef Bourgogne, and le hamburger done with triple-crème cheese, onion jam, and brioche.
140 N. Christopher Columbus Blvd. , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19106, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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$$$ | East Passyunk | Italian
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, terra-cotta–and–buttercup-colored space began with a fierce dedication to the region of Abruzzo, where the owners run culinary tours; that focus has been both broadened and more deeply explored under the direction of chef Joe Cicala. Keep an eye out for Le Virtù’s events, which range from rare wine tastings to performances by visiting Abruzzese musicians. And don’t miss the unique and always delicious desserts from Cicala’s wife, Angela Ranalli.
1927 E. Passyunk Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19148, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$ | Fairmount | American
Located down the street from Eastern State Pen, London Grill has been around for decades but has never been better than right now. They've annexed an old doctor's office next door and turned it into Paris Wine Bar and continue to reinvent the dinner with on-trend choices like ricotta toast with heirloom tomatoes, Korean fried chicken, and foie mousse on banana bread. Because it's so close to the Art Museum, the restaurant often offers special menus to coincide with blockbuster exhibits, and brunch features a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar.
2301 Fairmount Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19130, USA
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$$$ | Center City East | Italian
This BYOB in a former corner food market is noisy, cramped, and cash-only. They have, however, started taking reservations and keep packing them in. Why? It's the Italian/New American bistro's attention to detail, visible in the exquisite artisanal cheese plate, the perfectly seared scallops, whole grilled artichoke, and the homemade triangle-shaped pasta.
1216 Spruce St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$ | Rittenhouse Square | French
Restaurateur Stephen Starr's fondness for themes has reached perfection in this vast but meticulous stage set placed on Philadelphia's most desirable corner. Brass rails, silvered mirrors, claret-hued banquettes, and oak wainscoting reclaimed from now-shuttered Parisian restaurants, imbue patina—while small touches like newspapers on wooden poles, create extra realism. Similarly, standard menu items (roasted chicken, trout amandine) hold their own, but the little things—desserts and salads, fresh-baked goods (including house-made macaroons), and excellent onion soup—stand out. Ask for an indoor-outdoor table overlooking the park: you'll get generous views and the pleasant din of the 150 diners behind you without the deafening buzz that is the restaurant's one true downside.
227 S. 18th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19103, USA
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$$$ | Old City | Irish
The cheery first floor of a renovated bank feels like a genuine Irish pub. A long bar with a dozen spigots is invariably spouting several imported and a few local brews. This is the place to get a Guinness poured the correct way. In winter, patrons crowd around a blazing fireplace on stools set around small tables. It's possible to munch on good Irish smoked salmon on grainy bread while imbibing; you can also head to the upstairs dining room for some respite from the crush and choose from a panoply of worldly appetizers, salads, and main courses.
123 Chestnut St., enter on 2nd St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19106, USA
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$$$ | Old City | Italian
The name refers to a lovely mural rather than a window view from this lively spot inside the Penn's View Hotel. The restaurant has the largest wine cruvinet (storage system) in the country. Besides more than 120 wines by the glass, there's a huge selection of well-chosen bottles. You can sip them in Il Bar or in the main dining room. The food is authentic Italian—simple and hearty. The ambience is either noisy or animated, depending on your tolerance level.
14 N. Front St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19106, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sun.
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$$$ | Rittenhouse Square | Modern American
Stylish young city dwellers visit the bar and lounge at the arty Hotel Palomar (the city's first Kimpton Hotel) because it's a great place for a cocktail and a trendy bar snack. For dinner, you ascend a floating staircase to an upstairs dining room and settle into a plush banquette to sample deviled duck eggs, kale Caesar, and pea-and-carrot gnocchi scented with vanilla.
Palomar Hotel, 121 S. 17th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19103, USA
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$$$ | Rittenhouse Square | Mexican
David and Annette Suro opened Tequila's way back in 1986, when the local culinary consciousness wasn't quite as familiar with mole poblano and chiles rellenos as it is now. Fortunately, the space was evocative enough (painted Day of the Dead figures, a long hardwood bar, Mexican glassware, colorful ceramics) to get the curious and unfamiliar in the door. The couple has been going strong since, with a deep menu of authentic Mexican plates and, of course, the city's best tequila list.
1602 Locust St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19103, USA
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$$$ | Old City | Seafood
This Jose Garces spot is located in the historic, ballyhooed bones of Old Original Bookbinders, a fish house that catered to politicians, bigwigs, and celebrities in the 1950s. The handsome bar anchors the space in waves of carved mahogany; with nautical caged lights and low pressed-tin ceilings, it creates the vibe of a saloon on a luxurious ocean liner. The menu isn’t chef-driven, but manages well with updates on seafood classics like snapper soup and lobster rolls, and the East and West Coast oysters are pristine. But the deep catalog of classic and original cocktails is the real reasons to come: black-peppered mules, elaborate swizzles, sours as foamy as the ocean surf, and an artisanal Grasshopper for a new generation of drinkers.
125 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19106, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays