203 Best Restaurants in Pennsylvania, USA

A lively pub up front and a dining room and enclosed patio in back, McCleary's serves up satisfying dishes such as crab cakes and pub steaks. There's a long list of Irish and American brews, and live music Wednesday through Saturday.

People come to McNally's more for the food than the beer (families are welcome) and generally order one of the six featured sandwiches. The Schmitter, a cheesesteak on a kaiser roll with fried salami, fried onions, and a special sauce, is insanely delicious. Rivaling the Schmitter is the vegetarian sandwich option, the G.B.S. (George Bernard Shaw), which has mushrooms, peppers, tomato, and lettuce draped in cheese and special sauce. For an even more heavenly taste, ask for fried veggies on the G.B.S. 

This BYOB in a former corner market is noisy and cramped, but they have started taking reservations and keep packing them in. You may ask why, and it's because of 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.

This Philadelphia institution was founded on the principle of artisanal baking, which explains why its loaves have such an intense flavor and crackly crust. Stop here for a round of cracked wheat or multigrain or for a small treat such as a chocolatey cookie or lemon bar. The bakery also lends its dough-making techniques to a menu of fresh pizzas topped with fresh veggies, meats, and herbs, available at its adjacent Metropolitan Pizza and Cafe.

"Love-Pizza-Joy" reads the logo of this 20-seat BYOB pizzeria owned by Kennett Square natives Ben and Samantha Tobin that has gained attention thanks to recognition the pizzaioli have earned at the International Pizza Challenge in Las Vegas, notably Ben placing third in the nontraditional division in 2025. The handcrafted wood-fired pies (no slices are sold) range from classics to the popular Unique New York, loaded with cheeses, sausage, and hot honey, and a Five Cheese white pizza. Beyond pizza, the menu lists a couple of salads and a cannoli flight for dessert. Takeout is an option to avoid waiting on line.  

Part café, part restaurant, part bar, Middle Child Clubhouse opened and immediately became part of the essential fabric of Fishtown. Come by midday to sample one of the sandwiches that made the brand Philly-famous, make a reservation for dinner to sample modern American comfort food like a Caesar salad topped with Old Bay fried shrimp, okonomiyaki-style latkes, and a juicy burger, and stay for the restaurant's bar program, which leans heavily on lower-ABV ingredients like vermouth and sherry, as well as savory ingredients like kombu.

This all-you-can-eat smorgasbord has been a local institution since 1929, offering enough food to satisfy any appetite. The spread here is lavish, with a good selection of Pennsylvania Dutch specialties such as house-made pickles, baked cabbage in cream sauce, and shoofly pie (made with molasses). Unlike at most buffets you can make reservations, which are recommended. 

If the rumors are true, and Philadelphians do drink more Belgian beer than Belgians do, then it's because of the owners of Monk's, the seminal café with a pipeline of sours, dubbels, and saisons straight from the motherland. Whether steamed in classic style with white wine and shallots or with cream, mussels are a high point at Monk's, and the fries that accompany them draw raves from the regulars who crowd the place.

On top of Mt. Washington, this restaurant offers an impressive selection of fresh fish and an unrivaled view of the downtown skyline.

This waterfront open-air beer garden has made a splash every year since its 2012 debut, offering exciting new eats with each new season—the “chef-in-residence” program, which sees a new chef shaping the culinary approach at the start of each spring season, keeps things fresh. Expect a high-low approach, mixing beer-friendly snacks with more creative fare. A wide range of craft beer, cocktails, and specialty beverages, along with DJs and other live music, make this an appealing stop in the warmer months.

The altogether unexpected restaurant set aboard the Moshulu, the oldest and biggest still-floating rigged-sail vessel in the world, offers one of the city's more unique atmospheres. The 359-foot ship, built in 1904, once transported coal and other natural resources all over the world, but today it focuses on serving high-end (and often pricey) new American cuisine, with attention paid to seafood and local, seasonal produce. Their beautiful bar is also a great place to stop for a drink while on the waterfront. Its name, a Seneca Indian term meaning “one who fears nothing,” was applied by First Lady Edith Wilson, the influential wife of 28th president Woodrow Wilson.

Named for the chef-owner's Ecuadoran hometown, Moya offers a changing menu of contemporary takes on American classics, and offers a surprisingly large selection of seafood dishes for an inland location. It also serves Mediterranean-inspired salads and handmade pastas. The wine list has an impressive variety of offerings from around the world. The restaurant is housed in a 19th-century brownstone building on Jim Thorpe’s historic Race Street, and its interiors are decorated with colorful creations by the owner’s artist wife.

Competition is fierce in South Philly’s “Little Saigon,” but Nam Phuong has managed to keep fans of Vietnamese cuisine happy for years with its wide-spanning menu. Far more spacious than some of the spartan pho parlors around the neighborhood, the dining room is equipped with round tables that can fit the whole crew—and all your food, too. Customizable vermicelli bowls and broken rice platters are a good starting point to warm you up for house specialties like salt-and-pepper squid, clay pot fish, or crispy roasted quail; for an especially large group, prix-fixe “family dinners” feed an army for a flat price.

The excellent small-plate and other food options at this wine bar and restaurant pair superbly with the wide range of U.S. and international wines, beers, and whiskeys served in a modern-industrial but intimate space with a long bar, wooden tables, and tall windows facing a creek. Dishes like tuna tacos and a mushroom and goat cheese flatbread are perfect for sharing, and seasonal salads and sandwiches make it fun to build a meal for your drink or flight, though the costs can add up. The friendly, knowledgeable servers welcome questions about the drinks and food. All in all, the atmosphere at night can be both romantic and sophisticated, since the setting is slightly apart from New Hope's bustle; Nektar seems to be perched in the trees. There's some outdoor seating in summer.        

North Third was one of the first restaurants to settle in Northern Liberties at the infancy of the neighborhood's transformation. The menu hasn't changed much, mostly because locals love hits like the thick burger, crisp fried chicken, and house-made pierogies. Weekend brunch here—breakfast burrito, berry-topped French toast—is one of the best in the area.

It's largely locals eating at this smallish banquet space on the edge of Chinatown, and things can get a bit hectic, with big-screen TVs hanging from every corner, gaudy chandeliers overhead, and dim sum carts racing through the aisles. Snag a seat next to the kitchen to flag down the carts as they emerge—the dim sum is excellent and well priced.

What looks rather ramshackle from the nondescript street outside is the only place in Ephrata for oysters and prime rib, but along with the dinner plates it also serves burgers, sandwiches, and salads. The tablecloth-dressed dining room is spacious, and the tin-ceilinged tavern has an 1800s bar. 

Under the careful direction of acclaimed chef-owner Jeff Michaud, Osteria has flourished, with a seasonally changing menu that offers everything from amazing brick-oven pizzas to delicate house-made pastas to a strip steak. With its rustic wooden tables, soaring ceilings, and decor that blends loft and countryside, industry and art, this place helped establish the restaurant scene in 2007 in the redeveloping North Broad neighborhood.

Just steps from the heart of the historic Italian Market, Paffuto is a new-school Italian-American bakery and sandwich shop. Go for their maritozzo, a whipped cream-filled bun that's perfect for dipping in coffee. They also serve dinner Thursday, Friday, and Saturday—reservations are a must.

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.

A step up from an ordinary diner, this spot along the main antiques drag serves breakfast all day as well as a wide array of sandwiches, salads, and burgers. Dinner plates are especially well-priced.

It's rare for Philadelphians to take to outsiders, but Paulie Gee's, an import from New York, has been happily embraced. That's partly because it's one of the very few great pizza shops that offer slices, and partly because it stays open until 2 am on the weekends. There's a full bar, a pool table, and a playlist of '60s and '70s rock, which contributes to the nostalgic, social vibe. 

The raw bar is the star of the show at Pearl & Mary, where platters of oysters, clusters of crab claws, and bright lobster tails are tough to resist. Build your perfect seafood order, paired with a sparkling wine cocktail, and then round out the meal with a crudo (raw fish or seafood with citrus juice), a platter of fish-and-chips, or a whole grilled snapper. Happy hour is popular here, as are the late-night hours when the dining room starts to feel more like a bar.

Chef-owner Lou Boquila brings his modern interpretations of Philippine cuisine to South Philly with this romantic BYOB. Wednesday to Sunday, Boquila creates the popular kamayan dinner (a Filipino style of communal eating without plates or utensils), which features loads of delicious food presented to the table on banana-leaf placemats. You’re not only allowed, but encouraged, to eat with your hands.

Charming and light-filled, the menu at PJ Clarke's—yes, of the New York PJ Clarke's—showcases American cuisine, from salads and sandwiches to an assortment of hearty entrées. The sprawling space inside the historic Curtis building features a large bar overlooking Independence Mall; be sure to have a glimpse of the famous Tiffany glass mosaic The Dream Garden before or after you dine. 

The warm and cheery first floor of this renovated bank feels like a genuine Irish pub. The eatery's long bar features over a dozen taps—invariably spouting several imported and a few local brews—and the menu includes good Irish smoked salmon on grainy bread as well as a panoply of worldly appetizers, salads, and main courses. In winter, patrons crowd around a blazing fireplace on stools set around small tables.

For a pan-Asian fix, grab a stool at the sushi bar at the futuristic Pod, where you can select your favorite raw fish from a conveyor belt.

This friendly Belgian-style bistro is tucked in cozy Point Breeze. The menu features mussels with white wine or curry, steak frites, seafood waterzooi (a Belgian bouillabaisse), and carbonnade flamande (a beef stew made with Belgian brown ale). Grab a cheese plate and some Belgian beer at the bar while you're waiting for your table. Point Brugge doesn't accept reservations and diners there know to expect a wait, especially on the weekends.

This second-floor, Amalfi coast–inspired restaurant is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows that offer guests a great view of Old City; the decor is inspired by the owner's seaside home in Italy. The menu includes something for everyone—there's an array of zesty homemade Italian specialties, including pastas; grilled octopus and shrimp scampi appetizers; a selection of fresh salads; and entrée favorites like zucchini crab cakes and a pan-seared pork chop. It's a fun, lively spot that transforms into an alfresco experience during the warmer months. Happy hour specials during the week are ideal for sipping some vino at the bar while nibbling on light bites. Weekend brunch features live DJ music.

What started out in 1933 as a working-class bar is now a Pittsburgh favorite with eight locations. The cheese steak comes with fries, coleslaw, and tomato—all in the sandwich.