Buddakan (325 Chestnut St., buddakan.com)The Chef’s Tasting menu at this Stephen Starr restaurant includes edamame ravioli, wasabi-crusted filet mignon, and pan-seared sea bass.
Dim Sum House (3939 Chestnut St., dimsum.house) Seasonally inspired small plates keep the menu fresh at this authentic Cantonese and Shanghai dim sum house.
Double Knot (120 S. 13th St., doubleknotphilly.com) Hip coffee shop-meets-cocktail bar upstairs with exceptional sushi and robatayaki served downstairs from restaurateur Michael Schulson.
Royal Izakaya (780 S. Second St., royalizakaya.com) Sample innovative rolls in an intimate setting at Jesse Ito’s Queen Village dining room.
SuGa (1720 Sansom St., sugabyfoo.com)Chef Susanna Foo continues to lend a fresh approach to Chinese cuisine.
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Aqimero (10 Avenue of the Arts, aqimero.com) Enjoy Latin-inspired brunch bites in the dramatic dining room.
The Bercy (7 Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, Pa., thebercy.com)This Main Line spot serves up a brunch menu with something for everyone—think oysters, waffles and prime rib.
High Street on Market (308 Market St., highstreetonmarket.com) Start your day with one of High Street’s celebrated breakfast sandwiches, like the HickoryTown.
Parc (227 S. 18th St., parc-restaurant.com)Classic French fare is served in a cool brasserie setting straight from Paris.
Sandler’s on 9th (834 Chestnut St., sandlersrestaurants.com) Enjoy classic comfort foods at this family-owned restaurant inside the Ben Franklin House.
Talula’s Garden (210 W.Washington Square, talulasgarden.com) This Aimee Olexy and Stephen Starr collaboration stays seasonal with Earth-conscious spirits and fresh farm-to-table fare.
The Love (130 S. 18th St., theloverestaurant.com) Visit the rustic-chic dining room for miniature cinnamon bun scones, lox boards, and lemon poppy pancakes.
White Dog Cafe (Multiple locations, whitedog.com) With locally sourced farm-to-table style dining, the three restaurants
Del Frisco’s Grille (225 S. Broad St., delfriscosgrille.com) Stop into the new Avenue of the Arts addition for cheesesteak egg rolls and wild mushroom flatbread drizzled with truffle oil.
Saffron Indian Kitchen (Multiple locations, saffronindiankitchen.com) Dine in or take out traditional Indian cuisine with a contemporary twist.
South Philly Barbacoa (1140 S. Ninth St., southphillybarbacoa.com) Chef Cristina Martinez makes some of the meatiest tacos in Philadelphia, earning herself a 2019 James Beard nomination for the best chef in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Tradesman’s (1322 Chestnut St., tradesmansphl.com) Enjoy craft beers and whiskeys along with regional American barbecue in this bi-level eatery.
Wm. Mulherin’s Sons (1355 N. Front St., wmmulherinssons.com) Housed in an abandoned whiskey blending and bottling factory from 1890, the tiny four-room boutique hotel serves Italian plates like figs with mascarpone and hazelnut, and half brick chickens.
Barclay Prime (237 S. 18th St., barclayprime.com) The Square’s signature steakhouse plates the city’s choicest cuts.
Lacroix (210 W. Rittenhouse Square, lacroixrestaurant.com) Celebrate the Rittenhouse Hotel’s 30th anniversary with executive chef Jonathan Cichon’s tasting menu.
Laurel (1617 E. Passyunk Ave., restaurantlaurel.com) Owner and chef Nicholas Elmi focuses on French-influenced fare with an eye toward sustainability.
Palizzi Social Club (1408 S. 12th St., palizzisocial.com) Joey Baldino’s members-only Italian gem is a nationally acclaimed favorite.
Zahav (237 St. James Place, zahavrestaurant.com) Indulge in modern Israeli cuisine at Michael Solomonov’s 2019 James Beard outstanding restaurant winner.
Girasole (3108 Pacific Ave., Atlantic City, N.J., mygirasole.com) The Atlantic City eatery pumps out seasonal menus filled with delicious Italian favorites.
Hotel Du Pont (42 W. 11th St. Wilmington, Del., hoteldupont.com) The Green Room radiates with the glamour of early American decor while delivering world-class cuisine.
Olde Homestead Golf Club (7081 Bell Gate Road, Coopersburg, Pa., bellgatefarm.com) Located at Bell Gate Farm in Lehigh Valley, the plated dinner menu is designed around local ingredients.
Cuba Libre (10 S. Second St., cubalibrerestaurant.com) Order classic mojitos by the pitcher in the open-air, tropical dining room.
Ocean Prime (124 S. 15th St., ocean- prime.com) Cocktails come with theatrics thanks to dry ice smoke in the famous Berries & Bubbles concoction.
The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia (10 Avenue of the Arts, ritzcarlton.com) Relax in the impossibly chic marble lobby for creative libations any night of the week.
Valanni (1229 Spruce St., valanni.com) Just in time for the summer peach season, Valanni serves a grilled peach margarita complete with Altos Silver, Combier Orange, lime juice and caramelized peaches.
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Andiario (106 W. Gay St. West Chester, Pa., andiario.com) All things local go into the expertly served dishes at this West Chester hot spot, showcasing an ever-changing menu for diners to feast on.
Fork (306 Market St., forkrestaurant.com)Talented restaurateurs EllenYin and Eli Kulp bring contemporary American fare inspired by the Mid-Atlantic region to Old City for both brunch and dinner.
Vedge (1221 Locust St., vedgerestaurant.com) Visit the vegan hot spot for seasonal menus with innovative dishes crafted by Richard Landau.
Vernick Food & Drink (2031 Walnut St., vernickphilly.com) Enjoy roasted eggplant timbale as you look out over WalnutStreet from the open-air second-floor dining area.
Classic Cake (Multiple locations, classiccake.com) Every sweet tooth is bound to be pleased with a selection of fresh pastries, breads, and cakes.
Gran Caffé L’Aquila (1716 Chestnut St., grancaffelaquila.com)The authentic Italian eatery is sure to have the best gelato you have ever tasted outside of Italy.
Velvet Sky Bakery (307 Leedom St, Jenkintown, Pa., velvetskybakery.com) Pop into the Jenkintown boutique bakery and watch the dessert magic unfold as cakes, cupcake towers, and sugar flowers are made from scratch right in front of you.
Helm Rittenhouse (1901 Chestnut St., 2nd Floor, helmrittenhouse.com)Locally sourced beers and wines at the new full bar make this the perfect Philly spot for a night out.
Parxgrill (2999 Street Road, Bensalem, Pa., parxcasino.com) After hitting the slot machines, stop by Parxgrill for an upscale private dining experience with menu items like sirloin au Poivre, veal Osso Bucco and more.
Zee Bar (100 Spring Garden St., zee-bar.com) Sit back with bottle service or soak up Zee Bar’s extended hours on the dance floor at this membership-only social club.
Di Bruno Bros. (Multiple locations, dibruno.com) Di Bruno Bros. brings the finest mélange of European flavors and local fare to a grocery store.
Rastelli (710 Rt. 73 S., Marlton, N.J., rastellimarket.com) Shop quality meats, cheeses, and prepared foods at the family-owned market in South Jersey.
Talluto’s Authentic Italian Food Inc. (Multiple locations, tallutos.com) What started with just a ravioli machine in 1967 is now Philly’s go-to pasta purveyor.
Barbuzzo (110 S. 13th St., barbuzzo.com) Try the Mediterranian- inspired pizza Fiore di Zucca—a combination of local squash blossoms, buffalo mozzarella, pine nuts, garlic, prosciutto di parma and mint.
Pizzeria Beddia (1313 N. Lee St., pizzeriabeddia.com) Pizzas dotted with whole milk mozzarella, fresh cream, and dandelion greens are accompanied by the perfect glass (or bottle) of wine.
Pizzeria Vetri (Multiple locations, pizzeriavetri.com) Opt for the infamous Rotolo: a pinwheel of pizza dough stuffed with mortadella and ricotta and topped with pistachio pesto.
Zavino (Multiple locations, zavino.com) Order the Stache—a whole-wheat crust pizza topped with mozzarella, Parmesan, lemon vinaigrette and baby arugula.
Alpen Rose (116 S. 13th St., alpenrosephl.com) The recently opened steakhouse is the perfect setting for an intimate dinner with just 40 seats and the spectacular dry-aged, butchered in-house steaks.
Butcher Bar (2034 Chestnut St., butcherbarphilly.com) The meat lovers and comfort food hot spot also offers a collection of 16 drafts on tap and a handful of whiskey-based cocktails.
City Tavern Restaurant (138 S. Second St., citytavern.com) Be transported back in time to the Colonial era with authentic American cuisine prepared by celebrated chef Walter Staib.
Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse (Multiple locations, davios.com) The Rittenhouse Square favorite offers a wide selection of gluten-free pastas and juicy cuts of meat in its lofty formal dining room.
Hugo’s Frog Bar & Chop House (1001 N. Delaware Ave., hugosfrogbar.com) Stop by this riverfront steakhouse, located in SugarHouse Casino, for 48-ounce porterhouse steaks and king crab-stuffed flounder.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse (1800 Market St., ruthschris.com) Pencil in a romantic evening full of sizzling steaks and handcrafted cocktails.
Seasons 52 (160 N. Gulph Road., King of Prussia, Pa., seasons52.com) Seasonal ingredients keep menu items on rotation and taste buds surprised.
The Palm (200 S. Broad St., thepalm.com) Caricatures of famous guests and Philadelphia VIPs scatter the walls of the Avenue of the Arts restaurant.
Urban Farmer (1850 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, urbanfarmerphiladelphia.com) The Logan hotel’s rural-chic steakhouse features a New York steak tasting with 6-ounce cuts of Joyce Farms grass-fed, Brandt prime, and 1855 beef 21-day dry-aged.
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Autograph Brasserie (503 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne, Pa., autographbrasserie.com) Celebrating icons of America, this modern brasserie is decorated with celebrity signatures, authentic photographs, and albums. It also offers an extensive drink list.
Blume (1500 Locust St., blumephilly.com) Stop by Teddy Sourias’new brightly colored, flower-filled
bar and restaurant for a refreshing cocktail and shareable plates.
Cadence (161 W. Girard Ave., cadencerestaurant.com) The Kensington BYOB was voted best new restaurant by Food & Wine for its delicious new- American cuisine dreamed up by chefs Michael Fry, Samantha Kincaid, and Jon Nodler.
Louie Louie (3611 Walnut St., louielouie.restaurant) The European- like atmosphere brings Francophiles and foodies alike to the gorgeous University City dining room and bar.
Positano Coast (212 Walnut St., positanocoast.net) Travel to Italy without a passport inside the breezy Mediterranean-themed restaurant and lounge.
Rouge (205 S. 18th St., rouge98.com)With sidewalk seating and shareable plates, Rob Wasserman’s Rittenhouse kitchen is a Square staple.
Stir (2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, philamuseum.org) Dine inside the iconic Philadelphia Museum of Art at the Frank Gehry-designed eatery.
Suraya (1528 Frankford Ave., surayaphilly.com) Enjoy Middle Eastern staples like kebabs and labneh in the dining room or on the stark-white outdoor patio.
Walnut Street Café (2929 Walnut St., walnutstreetcafe.com) American-style food for anyone looking to grab a quick to-go meal or to soak up every bite while enjoying the sunlit-dining room decked out in brass accents.
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a.kitchen + a.bar (135 S. 18th St., akitchenandbar.com) Executive chef Eli Collins offers an eclectic menu of small plates, all perfectly suiting the interesting wine offerings.
Amada (217-219 Chestnut St., philadelphia.amadarestaurant.com)Stop by during the weekly happy hour to enjoy tapas like aged manchego montadito with truffle lavender honey.
Panorama (14 N. Front St., pennsviewhotel.com/panorama) Located at Penn’s View Hotel in Old City, this authentic Italian restaurant and wine
bar holds a spot in the Guinness World Records for the largest wine preservation and dispensing system in the world.
Savona (100 Old Gulph Road, Gulph Mills, Pa., savonarestaurant.com) Once the headquarters for RevolutionaryWar figure Aaron Burr, Savona is now an elegant farm-to-table Italian destination with the largest wine cellar in the state of Pennsylvania.Italian Favorites
ITALIAN FAVORITES
Caffe Aldo Lamberti (2011 Marlton Pike W., Cherry Hill, N.J., caffelamberti.com) Order the paccheri all’amatriciana—a rigatoni dish with caramelized onions and pancetta.
D’Angelo’s Ristorante (256 S. 20th St., dangeloristorante.com) Fine Italian dining right off Rittenhouse Square with accommodations for private parties and special events.
Enoteca Tredici (915 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, Pa., tredicibm.com) Delight yourtaste buds with sweet pea and truffleravioli, crab pasta and squid ink tonnarelli.
Giuseppe & Sons (1523 Sansom St. giuseppesons.com) With dishes like gnocchi basil pomodoro, Sunday gravy and Termini Bros. cannolis, this Center City spot is the closest you’ll taste to South Philly without crossing South Street.
LaScala’s Fire (The Promenade at Sagemore, Marlton, N.J., lascalasfire.com)There are plenty of great eateries this side of the bridge, and LaScala’s Fire isone of them thanks to wood-fired pizzaand ricotta tasting boards.
Le Virtu (1927 Passyunk Ave., levirtu.com) Celebrate the Italian spirit with the traditional menu and extensive wine list found at this Abruzzo-inspired cookery.
Scarpetta (210 W. Rittenhouse Square, scarpettarestaurants.com) Indulge in handmade pastas like duck and foie gras ravioli, or the famous tomato and basil spaghetti.
Attico (219 S. Broad St., atticorooftop.com)Take in views of Center City at this airy rooftop bar over small plates like jerk chicken bao buns and house-baked soft pretzels with mustard miso.
Keating’s Rope & Anchor Bar + Kitchen (201 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd., cropeandanchorkitchen.com) Take in some of the best waterfront views of the Delaware River over American bites.
Moshulu (401 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd., moshulu.com) As the only restaurant venue in the world to be located aboard a Tall Ship, this Philly favorite has a lively nighttime scene on The Deck.
Photography by: Assembly Rooftop Lounge photo courtesy of Assembly Rooftop Lounge; Zahav photo courtesy of Garces; Photo by Steve Legato, Courtesy of Cashman and Associates; Courtesy of Schulson Collective; By Marissa Evans; Courtesy of The Door Online; By Nikki Kinner
