© Moshulu
Philadelphia’s eateries represent the ethnic diversity of the city. In addition to the Italian delights (hoagies and cheese steaks) it’s known for, there are French, Mexican, Vietnamese and many other cuisines to choose from. It’s also got its share of culinary stars (including The Iron Chef Morimoto) and Center City is a haven for fine dining, with 13 restaurants from prolific restaurateur Steven Starr. (You can also taste Oprah’s favorite macaroni and cheese at Delilah’s Southern Café in Reading Terminal.)
Familiarize yourself with local eateries by perusing the Philadelphia Inquirer Restaurant section; Philadelphia magazine’s Dining/Food/Wine section (which includes news, reviews and a restaurant finder) and Philadelphia Weekly’s Menu Guide, which includes quick links to restaurant menus. … Local dining blog Foobooz profiles Philadelphia eateries and bars. But it’s also a great source of current information on cheap eats and special dining deals as well as previews of new dining spots. If you want a look into what’s really happening locally, check it out.
Top Tables: Stephen Starr’s dramatic Buddakan is one of the hottest (and trendiest) tables in town. Fashionistas, celebs and wannabes flock to the upstairs bar and downstairs dining room for the people watching and the Modern Asian cuisine. The theatrical setting gets almost as high marks as the menu, which includes exceptional desserts such as the Chocolate Bento box (warm chocolate cake; dark chocolate panna cotta with cocoa-ginger biscotti; white chocolate-espresso pot de crème; chocolate-caramel napoleon; chocolate almonds and bittersweet chocolate sorbet); dip sum doughnuts and a Chocolate Pagoda. FYI: The portions are large and they’re meant to be shared, so bring along some hungry pals!
Fans of the upscale French dining experience still flock to the top-starred (and $$$$) Le Bec Fin. Georges Perrier’s Parisian-inspired formal decor, outstanding service and superb menu have helped it maintain its status among the city’s most praised restaurants. FYI: Men are required to wear jackets at dinner.
The elegant and intimate Striped Bass wins high marks for its seafood and overall fine dining experience. Located on the most chic dining block in the city, the reincarnated space (a former brokerage house) features original marble columns, a giant sculpture of a leaping fish, 28-foot ceilings, five-foot diameter crystal chandeliers and an open kitchen. There’s a raw oyster bar; an assortment of raw fish tartars, ceviches, and carpaccios; a caviar sampler, tasting menus and almost every type of fish you’d like.
In the mood to celebrate? Reserve a table at Lacroix at the Rittenhouse Hotel. The luxe restaurant, with exceptional views of Rittenhouse Square, features à la carte offerings and a flexible tasting menu (choose from three-, four- or five-course small-plate menus) with a French influence and an award-winning wine list. If dinner is too pricey, consider breakfast or lunch (There’s a Saturday buffet breakfast.) or the popular Sunday brunch. Reservations required for lunch and dinner.
Foodies rave about the lunch and dinner ceviche dishes at Alma de Cuba, restaurateur Stephen Starr and chef Douglas Rodriguez’ Nuevo Latino outpost in Center City. Cuban, Caribbean and Latin American cuisine star in a restaurant designed to evoke Old Havana.
Dine With a View: A former “tall ship,” Moshulu has been transformed into an upscale café/restaurant/bar with a French-Asian menu. In nice weather, you can dine on the deck for a full city view (The indoor dining rooms also offer views of the Delaware River and Society Hill.). …The Waterworks Restaurant dazzles with its architectural splendor and city views. Named one of the top 100 dining experiences by Saveur magazine, the venue set in a National Historic Landmark lives up to its billing. Dining options include an outdoor terrace and riverside veranda that overlooks the Schuylkill River and famed Boathouse Row; the vaulted-ceiling Engine House; the glass-enclosed Solarium and the Breezeway and Caretaker’s Lounge.
Local Faves: Head to the Bonté Wafflerie and Café for its authentic Belgian sugar waffles. …Kick off a day of sightseeing by taking breakfast with the locals at Sam’s Morning Glory Diner. (There’s a weekend brunch but it comes with crowds and long lines.) … Music is the main draw at World Café Live, a two-level, University City performance venue that showcases live acts. But you can chow down on an eclectic international menu (It complements the global music.) that includes Tommy Gunn’s American barbecue and Creole-style gumbo. …The family-style Moroccan Tangerine features North African-influenced dishes. …Foodies, food critics and bloggers, as well as regular diners, rave about the traditional-with-a-twist Italian dishes at Marc Vetri & Jeff Benjamin’s Osteria. No time for a three-course meal? Pick an antipasti or try a Lombarda or Margherita pizza. …The eclectic menu at the family-friendly White Dog Café (housed in three side-by-side Victorian brownstones in University City) uses fresh local and organic ingredients (think wild caught local striped bass) in contemporary American dishes with diverse influences, including Native American and Southeast Asian. There are lunch, dinner, brunch and children’s menus and vegetarian dishes.
Eat for (Much) Less in Rittenhouse Square: Pietro’s, a casual restaurant that offers homemade Italian favorites, is a solid choice for affordable dining in one of the city’s priciest areas. Try one of its coal-oven pizzas with your choice of toppings.
Check the BYOB Guide: Dining in a BYOB restaurant? Check the GoPhila.com Philadelphia BYOB Map to locate BYOB restaurants and nearby liquor stores by neighborhood.
Go Bar Hopping: Philadelphia Weekly makes it easy to locate venues with late-day “celebrations” with its Happy Hour Guide. It not only counts down the time till Happy Hour (as if you needed a reminder), but also lets you search for watering holes by neighborhood, day of week and time of day.
The retro Sugar Mom’s bar is a pleasant discovery in an easy to miss location in Old city. The dark, basement venue includes a pool table, pinball, foosball, board games and videogames to entertain and amuse the diverse crowd it attracts. A respite from the city’s expensive watering holes, it’s a bit like a friend’s basement complete with a large assortment of beers and bar food. It’s a dive with spirit and an easygoing vibe.
Sample the foods the city is known for: Soft pretzels: You’ll find them all over the city, but most agree that the best are found at the Amish-run Fisher’s Pretzels in the Reading Terminal Market. Don’t forget to slap on some mustard. …Hoagies: These cold-cut, condiment and cheese-laden sandwiches are almost as popular as the city’s cheesesteaks. Try Primo Hoagies in South Philly; Larry’s Steaks & Hoagies (N. 54th Street); Campo’s Deli (on Market Street);Tony Luke’s (S. 18th Street) and Chickie’s Italian Deli (Federal Street). … There are cannolis and then there are South Philly’s yum-o, Sicilian-style cannolis of the type found at Cosmi’s Pastries and other Italian bakeries.
Cheesesteaks: Nothing screams “Philly” like a good cheesesteak. So cut back on a few meals and let yourself do some taste-testing at one (or more) of the many popular purveyors including Jim’s Steaks; John’s Roast Pork; Geno’s Steaks; Pat’s King of Steak’s and Tony Luke’s Old Philly Style Sandwiches.
Ice cream: Philadelphia’s been a leader in developing ice ream in the U.S. for over 200 years and once held the title of the nation’s ice cream capital. It spawned “Philadelphia-style” ice cream as well as the hand-cranked ice cream freezer. It continues to churn out delectable treats at venues such as The Franklin Fountain. This classic ice cream parlor is owned and manned by the Berley brothers, who dress up and act like old-time confectioners who don’t seem a bit out of time or place in this 19th-century set piece. From 12 noon to 12 midnight, they scoop out what many consider to be the city’s best ice cream.
Other hot-weather treats: Is there anything more cooling than an authentic water ice on a hot summer’s day? Locals recommend Rita’s Water Ice for tempting tastes of the pre-flavored crushed ice treats. … If you’re a connoisseur of gelato and sorbettos, head for Capogiro Gelato Artisans on S. 13th Street. The creation of locals who fell in love with gelato while in Italy, it offers an eclectic mix of traditional and unusual flavors (Black Mission Fig, Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla and Saigon Cinnamon) with several hundred options. Flavors change daily (preview online) and everything’s made fresh using local ingredients and produce.
© Cheapflights Ltd Marlene R. Fedin
Related article: Do and See in Philadelphia…and Beyond
