Sample, sip and savor your way through the city’s top tasting menus—a symphony of flavors surely awaits in each carefully curated bite.
At The Table BYOB
If you’re interested in chefs who push boundaries, explore husband-wife duo Alex and Tara Hardy’s six-course tasting menu from their eatery, At The Table. Diners can bring along their favorite wines to complement New American and French dishes that have all been updated with modern twists. We recommend the foie gras served with brioche, pistachio, cherry, fish sauce caramel and lobster sabayon. 11 Louella Ct., 610.964.9700, atthetablebyob.com
Double Knot
Double Knot, the Schulson Collective’s award winning all-day multistory speakeasy, spends the evenings serving up alluring plates of sophisticated modern Japanese fare in the restaurant’s romantic, dimly-lit underground level. The chef’s tasting menu allows guests to choose 10 courses from each section of the menu—options include nori crust filet with cedar, miso butter and garlic confit, specialty sushi and sashimi and their signature robata style meats cooked over hot coals. 120 S. 13th St., 215.631.3868, doubleknotphilly.com
Friday Saturday Sunday
Spend an evening at chef Chad Williams’s Friday Saturday Sunday, where leather chairs, soft candlelight and exclusive plates await. Those lucky enough to score a seat at this tasting menu only restaurant should prepare to be dazzled by creative takes on age-old classics: enjoy sweetbreads served with mushroom, plantains and poached egg or revel in barbecue veal cheek with chermoula and yam. A night in this intimate chic setting is always one of exploration, inspiration and surprise. 261 S. 21st St., 215.546.4232, fridaysaturdaysunday.com
Laurel
At Laurel, Chef Nicholas Elmi is all about freshness, sustainability and creativity. With an ever-changing seasonal menu, he works with only the finest ingredients provided by local farmers and purveyors. Experimenting with French influences on American cuisine, Elmi creates phenomenally detailed results like machine shop boulangerie seeded rye bread with green ridge butter and bay leaf salt, and sweet delights like malted ice cream with chocolate cremeaux, coffee and meringue. 1617 E. Passyunk Ave., 215.271.8299, restaurantlaurel.com
Vernick
Have you ever dreamed of dining in a brownstone at an intimate chef’s counter? If so, look no further than Vernick, a six course tasting menu experience led by James Beard Award-winning chef Greg Vernick. As a truly global experience, the chef fuses ingredients from across the globe into dishes like scallops with ginger rice porridge and citrus ponzu, as well as a whole roasted eggplant with red chermoula, toasted cashew and whipped yogurt. Although the menu is frequently changing, customers can always expect cross cultural fusions. 2031 Walnut St., 267.639.6644, vernickphilly.com
Vetri Cucina
Indulge in the art of degustation with the quattro piatti menu offered by Chef Vetri at his eponymous Vetri Cucina, a space of rustic elegance. Once the courses begin, you won’t be able to stop: start with the Fantasia di Mare or antelope carpaccio before choosing one of the restaurant’s signature pastas like ricotta ravioli. Then graduate to a secondi of duck, branzino or goat. Finish off your night in Italy, under the grand chandelier, with a lemon meringue tart or chocolate polenta souffle—la dolce vita. 1312 Spruce St., 215.732.3478, vetricucina.com
Zahav
There’s nothing like the ancient practice of Israeli hospitality, and three time James Beard Award winning chef Michael Solomonov has been setting the gold-standard with Zahav (the name literally means “gold”). Begin every tasting with Laffa bread alongside hummus and an assortment of salatim. For the al ha’esh portion of the tasting menu, savor chicken shishlik, swordfish or eggplant while you gaze into the restaurant’s bustling open kitchen. Don’t leave without trying the signature pomegranate lamb shoulder entree and tangy blood orange sorbet for dessert. 237 St. James Place, 215.625.8800, zahavrestaurant.com
Photography by: Louis Hansel/Unsplash
