The top restaurants in Philadelphia may be found in all price ranges and offer a wide variety of cuisines, from fine dining to street food.
While the cheesesteak is unquestionably renowned, it isn’t the only thing that draws people to Philadelphia. Because of this, it’s no longer considered one of the country’s worst places to go for a hand-held meal, but rather a top-tier dining destination. As a result, Philadelphia’s top restaurants are also among the best in the country.
To a great extent, this is due to an influx of young, creative chefs who have chosen to stay in Philadelphia rather than move to more cosmopolitan locales like New York and Chicago, instead choosing to create a network of inventive restaurants that are recognised across the world.
Known throughout the country, these eateries allow Philadelphians to indulge in some of their favourite dishes in a new and exciting way. However, you may incorporate foods from all over the world, such as Israeli, Japanese, and even an elegant vegan dinner.
A collection of the most beloved spots in each city, as determined by the opinions of the people who live there. It contains a wide variety of fantastic eating and drinking establishments in a few of the city’s best districts, with prices to suit all tastes and budgets, from upscale restaurants for special occasions to more modest choices for a random Saturday night out.
1. Zahav
From hummus and wood-fired laffa bread to classic Israeli dishes, modern Israeli restaurant Zahav has already been serving its customers since 2008. Laffa bread is made in the taboon and served with hummus and salatim at every meal. For a drink, opt for a bottle of Israeli wine from a boutique producer. You can still get your fill of the famed Israeli hummus at Dizengoff, a more down-to-earth offshoot of Zahav, which was inspired by the country’s ubiquitous hummus stands.
2. Vernick Food & Drink
Chef Greg Vernick’s charming, two-story restaurant near Rittenhouse Square delivers imaginative dishes such as Atlantic halibut over basil-pine nut pesto, & citrus & fennel salad with such a warming duck confit vinaigrette crafted by Vernick himself, charcoal grilled branzino, . Try one of the bar’s signature cocktails, such as the Better Luck Tomorrow, at a warm oak table or at the welcoming back-lit bar.
3. Vetri Cucina
At James Beard Award-winning chef Marc Vetri’s Midtown Village restaurant, diners can only order a four-course tasting menu. Vetri Cucina’s $150 gourmet menu features Italian meals such spinach gnocci wit shaved ricotta salata, and brown butter, pig coppa roast, and chocolate polenta soufflé in the lovely old premises of Georges Perrier’s famed, Le Bec-Fin. Cocktails and wine by the glass are available for guests to enjoy with their fine dining experience. Read also How Hotels Remove Their Garbage Using Dumpster Rentals.
4. Townsend
With a seasonal, à la carte menu that invites multi-course marathons, Chef Townsend Wentz’s namesake restaurant, that recently relocated on Walnut Street in Rittenhouse and have been on East Passyunk Avenue until 2014, attracts crowds. Start with butternut squash soup, then go on to the escargot, which can be made with chicken fricassee, chorizo, and caramelised cipollini onion, depending on the time of year. In the third dish, you can choose from roasted duck breast or seared halibut. For those who want to sample all that the restaurant has to offer, the six-course tasting menu includes wine and beer pairing suggestions throughout.
5. Laurel
After winning the eleventh season of Top Chef in 2014, Nicholas Elmi set up his own restaurant along East Passyunk Avenue. Elmi, who worked with Georges Perrier there at legendary Le Bec Fin, has created a sophisticated, French-inspired American menu for the 22-seat café. A seasonal six-course tasting menu or a chef’s nine-course tasting menu are both available to guests. While the menu changes seasonally, the emphasis is always on using fresh, in-season foods. A slow-roasted cod dish, a dry-aged Pennsylvania duck dish, and a dish with wild Burgundy snails were among the most recent options.
