Nestled between New York and D.C. lies a town not necessarily known for its food nor its politics. Philadelphia is, surprisingly, home to some of the best and most interesting restaurants in the country, but, for whatever reason, doesn’t get a lot of culinary love. We’re here to change that. Check out the best restaurants you’ve never heard of, only in Philly.
Middle Eastern and Mediterranean
No “Best Restaurants in Philly” list is complete without a mention of Suraya, a Lebanese market, cafe, and restaurant that you won’t want to leave. The lunch menu offers classic pastries with with a Middle Eastern twist (a kouign amann with green cardamom? Yes, please.), as well as their famous man’oushe Lebanese flatbreads, hummus, and sandwiches.
The dinner menu is vast, and we can almost guarantee you’ll be getting some roasted meat once you smell them as you walk in. Its interior and patio are impeccably decorated, and it’s located just steps away from two of Philly’s best neighborhoods, the hip Northern Liberties and Fishtown.
Continuing on the Mediterranean path, Israeli chef Michael Solomonov has made Philadelphia his home. His flagship restaurant, Zahav, is nearly impossible to get into these days, but if there’s a will, there’s a way. The menu is mostly made up of small plates, so load up and don’t look back.
If Zahav just isn’t happening, you could pop by Dizengoff, his hummus shop, or, better yet, head to Goldie Falafel. The falafel sandwich, the fries…and, the famous Tehina Milkshake. It’s all some of Philly’s best. Solomonov also owns Federal Donuts, which just makes dang good donuts and some amazing fried chicken. Another restaurant from the group is Yehuda Sichel’s modern take on a Jewish deli, Abe Fisher.
Italian
Speaking of prolific chefs, Philly is home to Marc Vetri’s flagship restaurant, Vetri Cucina (going into its 20th year!). If you’re a true foodie/you’re looking to impress/this is on the company’s dime, you need a reservation here pronto. Chef Vetri’s $165 tasting menu menu is well worth the price, offering modern Italian perfection. Can you get down with almond tortellini and a white truffle sauce? We can.
Stephen Starr’s Spots
Philadelphia is the also the base for Stephen Starr, one of the most prolific restaurateurs of our generation. At the time of writing, he has 20 restaurants in Philly alone, ranging from Cuban soul food to French pastry to sushi. The guy knows what he’s doing.
If we had to pick one to eat right now, it would have to be Serpico. James Beard winner Peter Serpico trained in Japan and has returned with an incredibly unique Japanese-Italian fusion menu. We’re dying to try his crispy porchetta with fennel pollen, daikon sauerkraut, and dijon sauce.
Keep It Casual
We don’t want to start any fights talking about sandwiches, so if a place you love isn’t mentioned here, we’re sure it deserves to be. One of our favorites is John’s Roast Pork, a joint that specializes in Philly’s lesser known celebrity sandwich: the roast pork with broccoli rabe and sharp provolone. They also make a mean cheesesteak.
Other local favs are Paesano’s for Italian sandwiches, High Street on Market for a killer pastrami on rye, Ba Le Bakery for banh mi, and DiNic’s for another roast pork sandwich. Or, you can always play the “Pat’s or Geno’s?” game; we’ll just say both perfect the Philly Cheesesteak in their own way.
If all this high end mumbo jumbo is turning you off, we get it. Philadelphia is full of great casual spots, too. This is the city that gave us the Philly cheesesteak, after all.
Double Knot is an all-day spot. Stop in the morning for tea and coffee, or pop in for lunch, where you can grab a build-your-own noodle bowl or classic banh mi. In the evening, the first floor becomes a sushi bar and robatayaki restaurant, essentially becoming a Japanese izakaya.
When you wake up hungover, head to Philly Bread for a Philly Muffin. Their flagship baked good has “the nooks and crannies of its English counterpart, the seeded and sweet options of a bagel, and the sandwich making capabilities of a burger bun”. Take it right back home, toast it, and slather some butter, jam, or (Philadelphia) cream cheese on it; trust us, you’ll be back to normal in no time.
Drinks, Anyone?
Speaking of drinks, the city has its fair share of great bars, distilleries, and breweries to keep you out and about. Forest and Main keeps drinkers on their toes with their constantly changing, never repeated beer offerings. Philadelphia Distilling is one of the coolest places to drink in town. Grab a drink here and you’ll be sipping while enjoying a view of their massive distilling room. It’s not often you get a cocktail created by the spirit’s distillers.
For actual bars, Village Whiskey is fun (plus it’s owned by Iron Chef Jose Garces and it has a killer burger), but you’re probably better off heading to a place like Martha where cocktails are taken a little more seriously—and there aren’t a million people inside.
Don’t miss out on any of Philly’s best spots. If you’re not a local yet, find your Philadelphia apartment so you can hit up all these places whenever you want.
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