R2L | CREATIVE AMERICAN CUISINE
Chef and restaurateur Daniel Stern has been busy over the past year. Last October he debuted his ode to Pennsylvania Dutch fare with MidAtlantic; in January it was the hotly anticipated opening of R2L, on the 37th floor of Two Liberty Place—a lofty project both literally and figuratively. Luckily R2L’s dreamy vistas were no distraction to Stern, who has given Philadelphia a true dining destination. Standout entrées include a silky piece of skate with a seared foie gras center and a decadent beef short rib with pancetta dressing. But some of our favorite dishes are Stern’s haute riffs on bar food. Surf-andturf cocktail franks with flaky puff pastry hats are served on toothpicks, and standard nachos receive a gourmet upgrade courtesy of shredded rabbit confit and jalapeño mousse. The grilled casino flatbread, with its gooey Parmesan and fontina cheeses and mounds of littleneck clams, bacon and roasted peppers, would make any South Philly spaghetti house jealous. And if the miles of views that stretch out before you don’t make you pause midsentence, then R2L’s warm vanilla cake surely will. Two Liberty Place, 50 S. 16th St., 37th Fl., 215-564-5337; r2lrestaurant.com
—KRISTIN DETTERLINE-MUNRO