16. Moshulu
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (215) 923-2500
Address: 401 S. Columbus Blvd.
Insider Pick:
Description: The food is good; the restaurant itself even better on the oldest 4-masted sailing ship still in the water. During World War I, the Moshulu (pronounced Mo-shoeloo) sailed the seas on the American side; during World War II, it was captured by the Germans. Now the century-old tall ship reigns over the Delaware River in elegant 19th-century splendor. Sit outside on one of the multilevel outdoor decks with views of the city-scape. The 3-course weekend brunch ($35) is an extra-special treat.
17. Pumpkin Restaurant, Cafe, and Market
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (215) 545-4448
Address: 1713 South St. between 16th and 18th Str
Description: This tiny treasure serves up farmers’ market finds in truly innovative ways. It’s a real find. The cafe serves breakfast all day ($)—mmm, Nutella and banana panini. BYOB. Cash only.
18. Vetri
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (215) 732-3478
Address: 1312 Spruce St.
Description: Called “possibly the best Italian restaurant on the East Coast” by Mario Batali and “probably the best Italian restaurant in America” by esteemed food writer Alan Rich, you might expect this dining spot, the brainchild of James Beard Award–winning, Food & Wine magazine–acclaimed chef Marc Vetri would be bigger than life. Just the opposite. While certainly city-sophisticated, this homemade-pasta-centric dining spot has a rustic, laid-back ambience. Don’t miss the heirloom tomato and burrata lasagna or guinea hen breast stuffed with prosciutto.
19. McNally’s Tavern
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (215) 247-9736
Address: 8634 Germantown Ave.
Description: Don’t look for a sign; there’s just a small plaque on the front of the green door so look for the bench and single coach light instead. Go for the signature “Schmitter,” a monster meal of sliced steak, grilled salami, tomatoes, fried onions, and special sauce jammed between two halves of a Kaiser roll.
20. Lee How Fook
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (215) 925-7266
Address: 219 N. 11th St.
Description: This family-owned BYOB serves Cantonese classics such as pan-fried noodles with beef and black bean sauce; salt-baked shrimp, scallop, and squid; and a host of hot pots. If you’re looking for some heat, the Szechuan selections won’t disappoint.
21. Rangoon Burmese Restaurant
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (215) 829-8939
Address: 112 N. 9th St.
Description: Start with thousand layer bread with potato or chicken curry dip, then on to fiery chili chicken or a fierce-sounding but really mild-mannered “pagan” beef with coconut peanut sauce.
22. Ray’s CafE & Tea House
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (215) 922-5122
Address: 141 N. 9th St.
Insider Pick:
Description: If you think that Chinese food has to be full of MSG and salt, you’ll change your mind after eating at Ray’s. On this menu, the flavor comes from fresh ingredients, lightly tweaked to give them their Asian accent. Carnivores will find plenty of dishes to make them happy, but try some of the ingenious tofu and Chinese mushroom creations and I’ll bet you won’t miss the meat.
23. Viet Thai
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (215) 627-8883
Address: 907 Race St.
Description: The exotic menu here has subtitles so you won’t accidentally order the crispy fried frog (unless, of course, you want to). A big bracing bowl of pho is only $5.50. Or order a hot pot for 2.
24. Jake’s and Cooper’s Wine Bar
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (215) 483-0444
Description: White tablecloth fancy? Pizza cafe casual? You don’t have to decide until you walk in the front door of this dual-personality dining spot. For more than 20 years, white tablecloth Jake’s, with owner/chef Bruce Cooper at the helm, has been a Main Street mainstay serving contemporary American cuisine. Now Cooper has added a big brick oven to his open kitchen and designed a cool cafe that features a collection of creative, crisp-crusted pizzas—ever have one topped with pulled pork and gouda or short rib and horseradish cream? (Gayout and MSN listed Cooper’s pizzas as among the 10 best in the country.) And don’t miss Jake’s seasonal mac and cheese (a recent summer combination was corn and crab) and its grilled steak and chop selections.
25. Tommy Gunn’s American Barbeque
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (215) 508-1030
Address: 4901 Ridge Ave. (Main Street)
Description: Sure you can get Memphis- or Texas-style Q here, but when in Philly . . . the main attraction is “Philly-style” barbecue, which is more a designation of cut (more meat on each bone) and finish (grilled after smoking). Meats are coated with “secret” rub, smoked for 3 to 4 hours, grilled, and finished with house recipe sauce. Pair with spicy collard greens, Carolina slaw, or, if you dare, deep-fried mac and cheese.
26. Bar Ferdinand
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (215) 923-1313
Address: 1030 N. 2nd St.
Description: Hot and cold tapas and small plates are the mainstays of this Spanish-inspired eatery. I crave the calamari rellenos (squid stuffed with shrimp, leeks, and sage brown butter). For a real taste of this restaurant’s specialties, try the $35 fixed price Chef Tasting Menu and come and get some extra Spanish flavor on First Friday live flamenco dancing nights.
27. Honey’s Sit ’N Eat
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (215) 925-1150
Address: 800 N. 4th St.
Insider Pick:
Description: Clearly, Honey’s is a Jewish deli with its latkes, bubby’s brisket, bagels and lox, and corned beef on rye. So what are burritos, fish tacos, chicken-fried steak, and grits doing on the menu? Somehow they just belong. Cash only.
28. Crêperie Beau Monde
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: 251-592-0656
Insider Pick:
Description: My favorite brunch is the smoked salmon Breton-style buckwheat crepe at this charming little South Philly spot. Or maybe my favorite is the one with andouille sausage or coquilles St. Jacques. For dessert, a sweet crepe with chestnut crème—c’est manifique!
29. Dante & Luigi’s Corona di Ferro
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (215) 922-9501
Address: 762 S. 10th St.
Description: One of the oldest existing Italian restaurants in the US, this 1899-founded pasta-centric dining spot situated in 2 converted town houses makes a gravy (aka red sauce) that’s worthy of Momma. Parking in this neighborhood is tough, so take advantage of the valet option. Also pay cash and save yourself a 3.5 percent service charge.
30. Marigold Kitchen
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (215) 222-3699
Address: 501 S. 45th St.
Description: Chef Robert Halpern, an alumnus of Ithaca, New York’s iconic Moosewood Restaurant, and company demonstrate a true respect for their ingredients while creating whimsical interpretations of such homestyle classics as chicken and waffles and pork and beans. For brunch ($$), go for the “Elvis-style” créme brûlée french toast.