In Riva: Wood-Fired Pizzas

In Riva specializes in wood-fired pizzas oven, sumptuous pasta dishes and savory grilled meats and seafood. Bar offerings include an eclectic array of wine choices, Italian craft beers and specialty cocktails named after Italy’s famed bicyclists. Lunch offerings feature Arugula & Mushroom Salad with crispy shallot and Parmigiano, Crispy Artichokes with lemon yogurt, Pea Soup with roasted garlic and Olive Oil Potatoes with lemon yogurt. Pizza choices include the Quattro Formaggi with ricotta, scamorza & marinated tomato, Polpette Diavolo with meatballs, pistachio & hot pepper and Broccoli Misti with broccoli rabe, ricotta and scamorza. Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner.

In Riva
4116 Ridge Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19129
(215) 438-4848
http://www.yelp.com/biz/in-riva-philadelphia

The Capital Grille: Sensational Steaks in Philadelphia

Located on Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts, the Capital Grille is an old-fashioned steakhouse with respect for tradition. The steakhouse experience is a quintessentially American one – big slabs of beef, carefully-selected sides, and an atmosphere of power and respect are all mandatory. The Capital Grille delivers on all three ably. This is a high-end restaurant that is perfect for a splurge, so come prepared to shell out serious coin in exchange for amazing food. Service is absolute perfection, with knowledgeable, attentive waiters at your beck and call. Start the meal with a cocktail from the fantastic bar and then peruse the menu. Obviously the big draw here is the steaks – dry-aged and cooked to order, they’re among the best steaks in Philadelphia. But there’s plenty of other good stuff on the menu as well. The Kobe beef carpaccio is incredible, as is the lobster bisque. Fans of surf & turf will find a lot to love here as well. If you still have room for dessert, don’t miss the flourless chocolate espresso cake.

The Capital Grille
1338 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 545-9588
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-capital-grille-philadelphia

Rotisseur: Seasonal & Delicious

Who says you can’t have a stellar meal artfully prepared from fresh, seasonal ingredients in a speedy, self-serve setting? Not the staff at Rotisseur, who regularly turn out tasty fare at this relaxed little eatery. Rotisserie-roasted Amish-raised chickens that are hormone and antibiotic free and raised outside of cages is what’s on the menu here. You can have yours whole, halved or in pieces, and team it up with flavorful sides like Mac & Cheese, Roasted Potatoes, Pickled Beets, Kale Chips, Green Salad and Corn Muffins. Thai-style sandwiches include a Chicken Banh Mi, Duck Confit Banh Mi, Barbeque Chicken, and Tofu Banh Mi. Salads are also on the menu as are some refreshing drinks. Open Monday through Saturday from 12p.m. until 9:30p.m.

Rotisseur
100 5 S 21st St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 496-9494
http://www.yelp.com/biz/rotisseur-philadelphia

 

Khyber Pass Pub: Chill Out in Philadelphia’s Old City

Khyber Pass Pub is a popular place in Philadelphia's Old City to chill out with a tasty craft brew and a bite to eat. Their expansive selection of beer includes Dark Horse Amber, Long Trail Imperial Porter, Central Waters Belgian Style Blonde and Sprecher Black Bavarian. The food menu elevates itself above the average pub fare with appetizers like Fried Green Tomatoes with spicy remoulade sauce, Khyber Gumbo with spicy andouille sausage, and Cornmeal Dusted Gulf Oysters with fresh horseradish sauce. Sandwiches feature taste pleasers like a Muffaletta with salami, ham, swiss & olive salad, BBQ Brisket with fresh horseradish, Fried Green Tomato BLT with Tabasco pepper remoulade and a Khyber Burger with creole mustard. Hickory Smoked Barbeque and Fried Chicken are also on the menu. The Kyber is open every day.

Khyber Pass Pub
56 S. 2nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 238-5888
http://www.yelp.com/biz/khyber-pass-pub-philadelphia

Chloe: Sweet & Cozy

Chloe little eatery features a cozy ambiance, friendly, knowledgeable servers and a great menu of fresh, tasty food. Fire up your appetite with a small plate like Pear Salad with honey lime vinaigrette, or a Grilled Caesar Salad with grilled romaine, roasted garlic dressing & parmesan crackles. Entrees feature a tasty assortment of dishes, including Ravioli with roasted pumpkin ricotta, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds & brown sage butter, Grilled Salmon Filet with crispy polenta, sweet & sour eggplant chutney & basil pesto, Pan Seared Sea Scallops with crispy potato pancake, watercress & red onion salad, and Grilled Ribeye rubbed with Kona coffee, baked potato planks, seared spinach, roast shallot butter & house made worcesteshire. Chloe is open for dinner Wednesdays through Saturdays.

Chloe
232 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 629-2337
http://www.yelp.com/biz/chloe-philadelphia

XIX Nineteen: An Elegant Restaurant

XIX Nineteen is a favorite for a splurge meal in a spectacular setting, with an expansive terrace and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer amazing views of the city. Settle in with a glass of wine from their expansive and diverse selection. The raw bar offers a Seafood Tasting for Two with oysters, littleneck clams, shrimp, jumbo lump crab and scallops, served with an assortment of sauces. Other starters include Crispy Calamari with house made sweet and sour sauce and Lobster Risotto with wild mushrooms, saffron, white truffle oil & tarragon. Entrees include Roasted Organic Chicken Breast with wild mushroom hash, shallots & thyme jus, Grilled New Zealand Lamb Rack with rosemary jus and Wild Pacific Halibut with tomato confit & dill butter. Open every day for dinner.

XIX Nineteen
200 S. Broad Street
19th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 790-1919
http://www.yelp.com/biz/xix-nineteen-philadelphia

Vedge: Flavorful Vegan Fare

Vedge is in a slick Center City townhouse. Don't be scared by the vegan menu — this food is delicious. You will be shocked how much flavor can be created without any of the typical kitchen staples. The menu is full of unique dishes like squash pierogis and celery root fritters. The dishes do not try to imitate meat flavors but rather embrace the flavors of the vegetables. If you like beets order the salt roasted gold beets with avocado, smoked tofu, rye, capers, creamy cucumber. The meals are served as small plates so ordering a couple of dishes is recommended. Cocktails, beer, and wine are available. The service is attentive and friendly. Vedge is slightly pricey but it's perfect for a special occasion. 


Vedge
1221 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 320-7500
http://www.yelp.com/biz/vedge-philadelphia

Jamonera: Flavorful & Romantic

A flavorful menu of food and drink served in a sexy, romantic setting has earned Jamonera a bevy of devoted fans. Settle in with a sumptuous artisanal cocktail like the Bizet with handmade vodka, passion fruit, clementine & fresh thyme, the Osborne Bull with scotch, fig, artisanal orange bitters & soda, or the Alhambra with gin, grapefruit puree, rosemary & ginger. Dig into something tasty from the tapas menu that features small plates like Tuna Conserva with Spanish tuna, cucumber, celery, roasted peppers, grated egg, hand torn olive oil croutons & sherry vinaigrette and Iberico Ham Croquetas with cheese filled croquetas, horseradish crema, pickled mustard seeds, & guindilla peppers. Be sure to save room for a tantalizing dessert like Mango Sangria Sorbet. Open every day.
 

Jamonera
105 S 13th St
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 922-6061
http://www.yelp.com/biz/jamonera-philadelphia

The Farm and Fisherman: Nature’s Bounty

The Farm and Fisherman’s chef, Joshua Lawler, is widely regarded as one of the nation’s hottest up-and-comers. His last assignment was in the kitchen at the prestigious Blue Hill at Stone Barns, where he developed daily tasting menus for the restaurant. Since establishing The Farm and Fisherman, he’s brought that incredible attention to detail and high-quality ingredients to hungry Philadelphians. The dining room here is quite small, but it’s well worth the effort to get in. From top to bottom, the menu is spectacular. Some favorites include the “bloody beet steak,” made with yogurt, shallots, pan drippings, and aged balsamic vinegar, as well as the incredible pork cheek braised in Hop Devil ale and served with a raisin agridulce. For main courses, the pastured chicken baked in hay is a stalwart that never fails to impress, as does the striped bass with endive. These are innovative, perfectly-composed plates that show the best that Philadelphia’s chefs have to offer.

The Farm and Fisherman
1120 Pine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(267) 687-1555
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-farm-and-fisherman-philadelphia

Watkins Drinkery: Not Your Typical Bar Food

Located off-the-beaten-track in South Philly, Watkins Drinkery differentiates itself from being just another neighborhood bar by offering a varied, unique menu. South Philly residents will certainly lean toward making Watkins a regular spot, with its Saturday Happy Hours, friendly bartenders, and amusements like game screenings and pool. But food enthusiasts from around the city, especially the carnivorous ones, will be drawn in by Watkins’ exotic offerings, such as the venison nachos, wild game chili, and smoked alligator sausage sandwich. Bring visiting friends and family to Watkins for an authentic ostrich cheesesteak! And don’t worry: less adventurous taste buds can still enjoy fish and chips or a farmhouse burger.

Watkins Drinkery
1712 S. 10th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19148
(215) 339-0175

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