You can make a charcuterie plate at home, but it’ll never taste quite the same as the one from the Italian restaurant next door.
As the winter brings chilly evenings, and Philadelphia continues to restrict indoor dining due to COVID-19, eateries around the city have invested in heat lamps, so you can stay awhile and truly savor your gourmet meal. You don't have to convince yourself. You really are splurging on delicious desserts and warm drinks to support local businesses.
Switch up your winter routine with these seven downtown restaurants and dig into a tasty dinner in good company and warm comfort.
See also: 6 Cheat Day-Worthy Pasta Dishes
Buddakan
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325 Chestnut St. / Website
A member of the Starr restaurant group, this charming eatery in Constitution Place serves modern Asian cuisine with a chich twist. Locals love their edamame dumplings, char siu pork buns and Kobe beef satay, and the Asian-inspired cocktails will bring a little spice and warmth to your bones. We recommend the Chatuchak made from Jim Beam Bourbon, mango, spiced syrup and orange bitters. Best of all, Buddakan set up an enclosed sidewalk dining space filled with heat lamps and plenty of breathing room for your comfort and safety.
The Wayward
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1170 Ludlow St. / Website
Who doesn’t miss traveling to France to enjoy the beautiful countryside and its world-renowned cuisine? The Wayward gives you a chance to experience scrumptious French delights without hopping on a plane. Enjoy fresh seafood—from shrimp cocktail to tuna tartare and oysters—on the outdoor patio of this Center City favorite where French bistro meets American brasserie. Classic American dishes benefit from French techniques. Be sure to try the duck Lyonnaise with duck scrapple and a poached egg. Did we forget to mention that no shivers are involved with a dinner at the Wayward? The restaurant features heaters and multiple fire pits, and you can get cozy with warm cocktails and hot water bottles.
Bar Hygge
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1720 Fairmount Ave. / Website
When heatlamps aren’t enough to protect you from freezing temperatures, find comfort in Bar Hygge’s individual huts. The three-wall cabins come with heaters and blankets so you can get cozy while you sip on one of the bar’s hot cocktails. Do try the mulled Nebbiolo with maple syrup, or indulge in comfort food options such as smoked brisket poutine.
See also: 5 Hot Chocolates to Keep You Toasty Warm in Philadelphia
Suraya
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1535 N. Front St. / Website
To escape from the routine and make your partner feel celebrated, head to the ever-romantic, Levantine-inspired Suraya. Located in Fishtown, the restaurant features a 5,000-square-foot outdoor lounge and garden lined with Persian ironwood trees, Arabic art, fountains and a fire pit. Be transported by the halabi kebab with muhammara and hummous as you admire the garden’s architecture.
Talula’s Garden
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210 W. Washington Square / Website
Aimee Olexy's beautiful farm-to-table oasis on Washington Square Park offers individual outdoor chalets separated by glass windows for a perfect, cozy date night. Start dinner with a six-artisan cheese plate with jam and honey before digging into house-made goat cheese ravioli and savoring a delicious pecan pie.
See also: Find Out Why These Philadelphia Black-Owned Restaurants Are Beloved and Culturally-Significant
Wm. Mulherin’s Sons
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1355 N. Front St. / Website
The winter cold has nothing on Wm. Mulherin’s Sons. The restaurant’s garden set up is kept warm by seven chimineas and five heat lamps. In the rustic space lined with lush plants and twinkling lights, you can sip on garden-only cocktails and enjoy an abbreviated selection of the restaurant’s Italian-influenced wood-fired cooking. Dig in pizza, pasta, and meats a plenty. On snowy days, the roofed outdoor deck offers comfort away from unwanted weather with an enclosure option (one side of the dining area remains open to allow for airflow) and six heat lamps.
Parc
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227 S. 18th St. / Website
For another chance at European style, head to Philly’s most popular French spot, right on Rittenhouse Square. Parc will take you right back to the Belle Epoque as you take a peak at the stunning interior made up of glowy lights, cloudy mirrors and brass fixtures. Dessert aficionados will be seduced by the traditional Crème Brûlée, tarte tatin with caramelized apples and tahitian vanilla bean ice cream, or the profiteroles with bittersweet chocolate sauce.
Little Nonna’s
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1234 Locust St. / Website
You’ll come to Little Nonna for authentic Italian antipasti and stay for the sweet apple crostata. The restuarant feaures outdoor seating in an enchanting courtyard, protected from the city’s hustle and bustle by brick walls and a wooden canopy. Find some peace and relaxation as you savor radiatore pasta with whipped ricotta, or burrata with figs and prosciutto.
Photography by: Education Images
