Best Places in Philadelphia for the Food Connoisseur
Philadelphia is a city that is blessed with great food. If you are looking for some of the best restaurants and locations for eating, then here are some of the best Philadelphia restaurants for your dessert, brunch, breakfast, lunch, dinner and more. See some of the best things to do in Philadelphia for Food lovers!
Contents
Fork
Zahav
Vedge
Vetri Cucina
Laurel
Di Bruno Bros
John's Roast Pork
Barbuzzo
Lacroix
Butcher Bar
Dutch Eating Place
Serpico
Del Frisco’s
Miss Winnie's
The must stops to satisfy your tastebuds
-
1
Fork
Where a fork just isn't a utensil
Call Them Book on OpenTable TripAdvisor
Source Philadelphia Magazine
American cuisine with a delicious twist
Fork, Ellen Yin’s new, laid-back bistro, paved the way for the revival of the Old City in the mid-90s. Since then, Forks’ consistent production of inventive and refined cuisine has made it a neighborhood classic. With Chef Eli Kulp in the kitchen, Fork has continued to reinvent himself time and time again. The Fork offers a variety of options, including a fixed price menu that offers diners the opportunity to choose from Chef Kulp’s rich creative dishes and personalize their own multi-course dinner.
Fork’s menu frequently changes throughout the year to showcase the region’s best produce, as well as seafood and meat. The fork is trendy, elegant and sophisticated, and its interior completes the contemporary menu, making it a great place for a business lunch, a dinner with friends or a romantic dessert with cocktails. Dinner is served daily and brunch is available on Sundays. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Get Tickets :Dining options start at $31
Hours of Operation :Open daily, 5:30-10 PM, Sundays for brunch, 11 AM-3 PM
-
2
Zahav
Take your tastebuds on a trip to the Middle East
Call Them Book on OpenTable TripAdvisor
Source Philadelphia Magazine
Israeli classics meet Philly
A modern Israeli restaurant, Zahav – which means gold in Hebrew – offers authentic Middle Eastern cuisine in a family setting typical of the region. Added to its conventional Israeli cuisine, Zahav’s recipe and the menu is motivated and inspired by so many cultural backgrounds that have influenced Jerusalem over the years including Egypt, Yemen, Lebanon, Turkey, and Morocco. Boasting a prime location in the Old Town, close to 2nd and Walnut Streets, the Zahav is an ideal choice for a dinner before a night out in town.
In Zahav, the open kitchen is characterized by traditional cooking methods: the flatbreads are cooked in an authentic Arabic taboo (a wood oven), while the meat and fish kebabs are cooked in the embers. Long, rustic tables can cater for groups in the 70-seat casual dining room, while a 10-seat bar offers space for those stopping for a bite, beer or Israeli wine. The focal point of the room is the open kitchen, which reveals the charcoal fires, the wood oven and the chefs practicing the art of cooking. An eight-seater chef’s counter gives interested diners a taste of culinary action.
Set back from the main dining room, stone archways lead to an intimate 24-seat space called, “The Quarter,” where guests can enjoy a fixed-price menu that changes weekly. The neighborhood menu reveals an interpretation of the French-influenced flavors of the Middle East. Mahleb and lobster or tahini with sweetbreads are top on the ever-changing menu.
Get Tickets :Dining options start at $31
Hours of Operation :Open daily, 5 PM-10 PM, Friday & Saturday, till 11 PM
-
3
Vedge
The premier vegan & vegetarian spot
Call Them Book on OpenTable TripAdvisor
Source Vedge
Enjoy delicious dishes in a old mansion
Located in the former cradle of Two Chimneys, Vedge has preserved the historical details of its predecessor, such as leaded glass windows and wood paneling, while illuminating the rooms with marble bars and an open kitchen. The rule here is to expect the unexpected – and consider sharing several plates to sample the menu as much as possible.
Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby, both nominees for the James Beard Award, avoid all stereotypes of humane food, offering upscale and thrilling dishes, as well as excellent cocktails. Vedge only offers dinner. Bar time and snacks menu (Monday to Friday from 5pm to 7pm) are worth a special visit. The herbal spread begins with the Vedge Bar or small bites like pastrami beetroot on rye bread and a soft pretzel with a rutabaga ‘fondue’ that convincingly mimics the processed cheese that could transform new promises in veganism on the spot. The Grill component includes more consistent dishes, such as smoked eggplant rolls finely sliced with salsa verde and dried olives, or pan-fried maitake mushrooms with celery root fritters.
The dessert should never be repeated, never repeated, lest the genius of Kate Jacoby’s dairy-free bypass solutions is overlooked. Homemade ice creams chill in the creamery, while skillful flavors create smooth alchemy, as in its “trail mix”, a pecan mud pie with cranberries, butternut squash, and marshmallow sage. Meanwhile, the bar mixes chamomile cocktails with bourbon and sparkling wine cocktails with red pepper juice. Non-alcoholic cocktails, craft beer and a list of natural wines from most of the Old World complete the offer. The Vedge Bar serves small bites and snacks.
Before opening Vedge, Landau and Jacoby owned a meatless restaurant called Horizons in Willow Grove, later opening a branch in Bella Vista. Their dedicated clientele, initially limited to the counterculture veg– eaters and their once reluctant foodservice partners, has grown, drawing national attention to how the couple could process mushrooms, carrots, and meats. tofu in extremely satisfactory indulgences. In 2011, they opened their Vedge gourmet restaurant, shifting the “protein at the center of the plate” model to soy-based meat substitutes, to create a totally different dining experience in which vegetables first, last and in between. In the last decade, Philadelphia has been a leader in meatless catering – and Jacoby and Landau have led the charge.
Their influence – and in many cases their direct tutelage – can be tasted in nearly a dozen other vegan restaurants in and around the city. Now, owners of a growing family of restaurants including V Street and Wiz Kid, the couple continues to innovate in its flagship restaurant, their elegant dinners turning skepticism into a surprising delight.
Get Tickets :Dining options start at just $14
Hours of Operation :Open daily, 5 PM-10 PM, Fridays & Saturdays, till 11 PM
-
4
Vetri Cucina
Intimate Italian dining
Call Them Book on OpenTable TripAdvisor
Source Philly Voice
Authentic Italian at its finest
Since its opening in 1998, Vetri has built a reputation for its Italian cuisine always delicious and authentic served in a small and intimate setting. It is not only considered one of Philadelphia’s best restaurants, but it is also considered one of the best Italian restaurants in America. Vetri’s menu changes according to the season and offers classic and contemporary Italian dishes. Chef Vetri, who is co-owner of Vetri, selects local ingredients by hand to amplify the dishes on offer.
Famous for its fresh and supple pasta, Vetri also serves outstanding appetizers, main courses, and desserts, including venison fillet with quince and bitter chocolate. The award-winning wine cellar of Vetri contains more than 5,000 bottles. Its 500 labels feature selections from 17 growing Italian regions, as well as several distinguished wines from Austria, France, New Zealand, Australia, and California. To help you browse the long list of wines, a sommelier is at your disposal to serve as a personal guide.
The restaurant’s dining room is reminiscent of an intimate Italian trattoria: a mahogany cheese basket, a 1958 Faema Urania espresso machine and a beautifully restored 1948 Berkel meat slicer, on which chef Vetri slices homemade prosciutto. On Saturday evenings, the chef and the sommelier make every effort to create personalized tasting menus that include several dishes for each table. During these special evenings, customers are offered a homogeneous succession of dishes and wines customized to the tastes of each.
Get Tickets :Dining options start at $50
Hours of Operation :Hours vary by day, be sure to check!
-
5
Laurel
American cuisine, with a French twist
Call Them Book on OpenTable TripAdvisor
Source Open Table
Enjoy the talents of Chef Nicholas Elmi
Restaurant Laurel is a contemporary French-inspired American restaurant which is situated in South Philadelphia on East Passyunk Avenue. This restaurant gives you intimate dining experience in a contented and relaxed 22 seat dining room where the sole proprietor Chef, Nicholas Elmi, prepares seasonal, refined and local recipes with the sole aim of giving you the maximum fulfillment and satisfaction you deserve. It can be difficult to accept a reservation at Nicholas Elmi’s small East Passyunk restaurant, with its plush seating, candlelight glow, and charming service, but make it a mission. Elmi’s French-influenced cuisine is complex, refined and inventive. Each dish offers a graceful balance of flavors sure to bring you back again.
Get Tickets :Dining options begin at $65
Hours of Operation :Open Tuesday-Saturday, 5:30 PM-11 PM
-
6
Di Bruno Bros
Italian gourmet made easy
Call Them TripAdvisor
Source Pinterest
It's called specialty for a reason!
They are the pioneer in retail and importer of specialty foods. They began by opening a modest store in the now iconic Italian market of South Philadelphia in 1939. Today, they employ more than 350 proud team members and have evolved to become a community-driven company with their five retail sites, their catering, import, and e-commerce divisions. Enter their stores and you will notice that there is just something in the air here (and it’s not just a smell of cheese), it’s magic.
Meet a merchant and hear a story of cheese makers from near and far, explore a world of culinary delights, hit the counter with prepared foods for a deliciously easy-to-eat meal. Go near any counter and you’ll hear a lot of “you have to try this” and “mmm … what is it”, accompanied by that wide-eyed look that any food lover knows well. They share a taste for something incredible with everyone who walks through our doors. They make sure every visit to the Di Bruno Bros, offers a mouthful of something delicious and maybe even life-changing. Tip: ask our merchants to enjoy their favorite cheese selection of the moment.
Nothing like sharing a wonderful meal around the table with the people you love – and of course, the power of food! With the traditions of the table, the legends of grandmother’s meatballs, and the vertigo of great food, we eat them. This one is the most important and sometimes hard to describe, so here’s the honest truth. Di Bruno Bros. is a family and we have strong family values. We care about the people who are next to us, our team, our customers, our neighborhoods and our communities.
Get Tickets :Options begin at $6
Hours of Operation :Open Monday-Thursday, 9 AM-6 PM, Friday-Sunday, 8 AM-6 PM
-
7
John's Roast Pork
Philadelphias hidden gem of sandwiches
Call Them TripAdvisor
Source Bon Appétit
Try the to-die-for secret recipe
When you enter the shoebox-sized sandwich hut located in a corner of Snyder Avenue, in South Philadelphia, in Johns Roast Pork, you definitely have the feeling that you are entering a place unlike no other. There are framed pictures on the wall, an incredibly appealing smell coming from the grill behind the counter and a line of hungry customers stretching out the door. Their secret recipe for the roasted pork has made them stand the taste of time and last long in the industry. The pork is rubbed, roasted and sliced at home, then cooked in its own sauce before turning into a long crispy roll. Order it with Provolone and sautéed spinach and you’ll understand why this roast pork sandwich is one of the best in Philadelphia.
The roast pork sandwich is so good, it’s hard to order another dish. However, John’s also makes one of the best cheesesteaks in Philadelphia. The beef is expertly seasoned and grilled. The cheese and onions are actually incorporated into the meat while remaining on the grill, so the final result is much tastier and more cheesy than most of its rivals. And the quality of the deliciously crunchy bun delivered every morning from the Carangi Bakery in South Philadelphia could be enough to qualify this best cheese in Philadelphia.
Get Tickets :Dining options start at $6.50
Hours of Operation :Open Tuesday-Saturday, 9 AM-7 PM
-
8
Barbuzzo
Mediterranean-inspired delectable dining
Call Them Book on OpenTable TripAdvisor
Source Twitter
This a must stop on 13th street
Marcy Turney and Valerie Safran, food and retail entrepreneurs, have helped turn downtown’s 13th street into a gourmet destination since it opened in 2010. The small Barbuzzo area offers an intimate dining experience, with outdoor seating available during the warmer months. Barbuzzo is open for lunch Monday to Saturday from noon to 3pm. Dinner is served daily, advance bookings are highly recommended.
Since opening in 2010, crowds have been preparing their plates at Barbuzzo for affordable plates and creative pizzas with toppings such as fennel and garlic sausage and truffled farm eggs. Make sure to save room for dessert, as enjoying the Barbuzzo Salted Caramel Budino can be described as a life-changing experience. The creamy dessert, covered with a crust of dark chocolate, vanilla toffee, and sea salt, was so popular that it was often sold separately during the holidays.
Get Tickets :Dining options start at $14
Hours of Operation :Open daily for lunch, 12 PM-3 PM, for dinner, 5 PM-12 AM
-
9
Lacroix
Stylish dining, with a view
Call Them Book on OpenTable TripAdvisor
Source Yelp
Seasonal menu, seasonal excellence
Located on the second floor of The Rittenhouse, the award-winning Lacroix features stylish décor and grand views of Rittenhouse Square. Its progressive international menu changes with the season. In recent years, the restaurant has offered favorites such as pumpkin soup with fried shallots and tuna steak with salmis sauce. Situated in an intimate oasis in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square, the Rittenhouse welcomes guests with a Belgian stone courtyard, fountain, and manicured gardens. A marble lobby leads to the hotel lobby, with traditional furnishings and a homely atmosphere. Its elegant rooms are spacious and comfortable. They feature modern and sophisticated decor and luxury amenities.
Get Tickets :Dining options begin at $61
Hours of Operation :Open daily 7–10 AM, 11AM–2 PM, 5:30–9 PM
-
10
Butcher Bar
Fine spirits and delicious food, the perfect combo
Call Them Book on OpenTable TripAdvisor
Source Butcher Bar
Treat yourself to a fantastic evening
the last restaurant of the crew that brought you Varga Bar, Mercato, and Valanni. We invite you to the newest restaurant showcasing options of, “meat lovers and comfort food”, featuring a bar offering 16 draft beers, 6 draft wines, and a whiskey-based cocktail program. Here, the highest quality meat is cut up and smoked on the spot. An enticing selection of barbecue dishes is offered, including burnt smoked beef ends, smoked pulled pork, ribs, breasts, and even whole roasted pig. Special Dishes: Smoked Beef Fired Endings, Philly Cheese Brisket Sandwich are sure to impress the most complex of taste buds.
Get Tickets :Dining options start at $14
Hours of Operation :Lunch, Monday - Saturday, 11:30am-3pm, Dinner, Sunday - Wednesday, 4pm-10pm, Dinner, Thursday - Saturday, 4pm-11pm
-
11
Dutch Eating Place
Dutch food meets the Terminal Market
Call Them TripAdvisor
Source Visit Philly
Take a trip to enjoy a unique dining experience
One of the most iconic restaurants in Reading Terminal Market, this restaurant offers Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine to be tasted or enjoyed at the counter, side by side with locals and visitors alike. Breakfast is popular and mornings start early with glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice, eggs as you like them and piles of blueberry pancakes and apple and cinnamon French toast, each generously buttered and accompanied by crispy bacon.
Lunch includes hamburgers and sandwiches and freshly cut fries, or a selection of rotating special dishes such as chicken and waffles, pork and sauerkraut, or chicken pie in Pennsylvania Dutch, a silky soup in which the quenelles are cooked. Already had lunch? Stop for a fly pie made from molasses, or try a warm apple pie, a whole apple stuffed into a dough and baked until it falls into a sweet treat with cinnamon scent, served with a touch of freshly whipped cream.
Get Tickets :Dining options start at under $10
Hours of Operation :Open Tuesday-Friday, 8 AM-5 PM
-
12
Serpico
Great cocktails, and even greater food
Call Them Book on OpenTable TripAdvisor
Source Eater Philly
Sit back and enjoy the sleek decor
Serpico is elegant and charming praise to the cutting-edge American cuisine. This collaboration with Peter Serpico, winner of the James Beard Award, is a showcase of the chef’s signature style, a playful and familiar version of global cuisine that evolves slowly with the seasons. Dividing the difference between a reliable neighborhood restaurant and a distinctive dinner destination, Serpico is both elegant and comfortable.
The best part of this unique eat is it is centered around a large open kitchen. This 60-seat venue in iconic South Street is a showcase of the chef’s signature style, a playful and familiar version of the world’s slow-moving cuisine. A clever list of biodynamic natural wines and a selection of boutique spirits perfectly complements the kitchen, a daring journey through a world of unexpected flavors and techniques.
Get Tickets :Dining options start at $18
Hours of Operation :Tuesday-Thursday, 5 PM-10 PM, Friday & Saturday, 5 PM-11 PM
-
13
Del Frisco’s
Philadelphia's premier steak house
Call Them Book on OpenTable TripAdvisor
Source Merchant 360
Ever had dinner in a old bank?
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House is housed in a former bank, transformed into an impressive two-level dining room where you can order steaks and tasty side dishes. A two-story wine tower at the bar is the centerpiece of the restaurant, and the area that once served as a vault at the bank now hosts private parties. They are regarded as one of the finest steak houses in all of Philadelphia, so be sure to try the fruits of their labor.
Get Tickets :Dining options start at $35
Hours of Operation :Open daily 11:30 AM-11 PM, Saturdays, 4 PM-11 PM, Lunch, Monday - Friday, 11:30 am - 3:00 pm
-
14
Miss Winnie's
These flavors will have you in an island state of mind!
Call Them TripAdvisor
Source Miss Winnie's
Voted Best of the Mainline and Western Suburbs Best Jamaican Cuisine 2018
Not only does the Caribbean have some of the most beautiful beaches, but they also have absolutely delicious food. This tasty stop is nestled in the very vibrant town of West Chester. Miss Winnie’s specializes in classic Caribbean cuisine that is sure to satisfy any taste buds. The founder, Bert Johnston, alongside his son, Nick Johnston, are true experts at this cuisine. An important side note, Bert is from Jamaica, so with his cuisine, you are getting an authentic dining experience, straight from the islands. Moreover, this stop was recently named the best of the Mainline and Western Suburbs Jamaican Cuisine 2018!
This place has it all to satisfy your Caribbean desires, without having to catch a flight. Highlighting their menu is delicious jerk dishes, from a mouth-watering jerk chicken or pork platter, to even jerk beef burgers (the Big Nick comes highly recommended!) and curry chicken. Don’t forget to stop by during the weekend for some of their more popular dishes. Friday and Saturday, showcasing their talents, are several to-die-for dishes including oxtail stew, curry goat, and finally, the Chloe special (BBQ chicken leg).
Hopefully, afterward, you saved room for dessert. Try some more inviting classics, such as a guava swirl cake, a yummy Caribbean cake with guava swirl, or royal rum cake, which will surely leave you never settling for any other cake again. In addition, f you aren’t in a rush, the plantain tarts, which are freshly prepared and require a 30 minute bake time, are a real fan favorite.
Make sure you add this destination to your bucket list, as it’s an excellent dining option. Come hungry!
Get Tickets :Dining options start at $3
Hours of Operation :Open Tuesday-Saturday, 11 AM-7 PM
- 1. Fork
- 2. Zahav
- 3. Vedge
- 4. Vetri Cucina
- 5. Laurel
- 6. Di Bruno Bros
- 7. John's Roast Pork
- 8. Barbuzzo
- 9. Lacroix
- 10. Butcher Bar
- 11. Dutch Eating Place
- 12. Serpico
- 13. Del Frisco’s
- 14. Miss Winnie's
