Upscale Philly restaurant recommendations?
October 19, 2021 11:29 AM Subscribe
Can anyone recommend some upscale dining spots in Philly? My sister is coming to visit this weekend and I'd love to make a reservation at a nice spot. We'll be based in South Philly but happy to travel. Thanks!
Amada and the Garces restaurants too
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 11:52 AM on October 19, 2021
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 11:52 AM on October 19, 2021
I really like Vitri but with a party of two you'd be on the wait-list throughout the weekend. If you can get up to four people, they have some slots on Sunday night.
posted by Candleman at 11:54 AM on October 19, 2021
posted by Candleman at 11:54 AM on October 19, 2021
Ive heard good things about Suraya as well, looks like it's a fixed price menu on the weekends.
Otherwise I'd take misantropicpainforest's advice.
I haven't done it, but I have heard there is unreserved bar seating at Zahav, but other people know this too and start lining up before they open.
posted by TheAdamist at 12:03 PM on October 19, 2021
Otherwise I'd take misantropicpainforest's advice.
I haven't done it, but I have heard there is unreserved bar seating at Zahav, but other people know this too and start lining up before they open.
posted by TheAdamist at 12:03 PM on October 19, 2021
Talula's Garden is hands down my favorite upscale dining experience in Philly. They book out relatively far in advance but if you keep refreshing OpenTable in the next few days you can often "snipe" an opening when other people cancel, particularly if you're open to dining early or late.
posted by telegraph at 12:46 PM on October 19, 2021
posted by telegraph at 12:46 PM on October 19, 2021
Vedge! It's my favorite restaurant in Philly.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 12:56 PM on October 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 12:56 PM on October 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
While it's definitely going to be tough to get a reservation at this point, I would set up alerts on Resy for the restaurants and time periods you would like - cancellations will pop up real-time, and if you're quick you can snag a reservation.
There are great recommendations above, but I'll add:
-Double Knot
-Royal Sushi
-By Yanaga (the Royal Sushi chef opened a new restaurant in Fishtown)
-Alpen Rose
-Friday Saturday Sunday
-Noord
-Mulherin's
posted by DoubleLune at 1:07 PM on October 19, 2021
There are great recommendations above, but I'll add:
-Double Knot
-Royal Sushi
-By Yanaga (the Royal Sushi chef opened a new restaurant in Fishtown)
-Alpen Rose
-Friday Saturday Sunday
-Noord
-Mulherin's
posted by DoubleLune at 1:07 PM on October 19, 2021
Nthing the concerns of everyone above about the prospect of getting reservations right now, but I was just in Philly last weekend and ate at Abe Fisher (one of Zahav's sister restaurants) and Vedge, and thought both were fantastic.
Vedge has walk-in bar seating (Abe Fisher might too? I wasn't paying attention); if you're willing to show up at opening (5pm), you could probably get spots for two. I did that as a solo diner, but I saw a few pairs come in within that first hour who were able to get seats at the bar with no problem or wait.
posted by Kosh at 1:32 PM on October 19, 2021
Vedge has walk-in bar seating (Abe Fisher might too? I wasn't paying attention); if you're willing to show up at opening (5pm), you could probably get spots for two. I did that as a solo diner, but I saw a few pairs come in within that first hour who were able to get seats at the bar with no problem or wait.
posted by Kosh at 1:32 PM on October 19, 2021
+1 Vedge -- amazing.
Noord is great too -- sadly looks like they're closing at the end of the month!
posted by sriracha at 1:49 PM on October 19, 2021
Noord is great too -- sadly looks like they're closing at the end of the month!
posted by sriracha at 1:49 PM on October 19, 2021
Here to nth the recommendations for Vedge. Amazing food, delightful atmosphere, great beer list too!
posted by lasagnaboy at 4:18 PM on October 19, 2021
posted by lasagnaboy at 4:18 PM on October 19, 2021
Seconding Talula's Garden. I was there recently for a double birthday celebration. Lots of outdoor seating too if you need that.
I asked about Philly restaurants with outdoor seating here and got some good responses.
posted by pumpkinlatte at 6:50 PM on October 19, 2021
I asked about Philly restaurants with outdoor seating here and got some good responses.
posted by pumpkinlatte at 6:50 PM on October 19, 2021
STRONGLY seconding Double Knot. The tasting menu is shockingly affordable for a restaurant of this quality and is extremely good.
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 7:39 PM on October 20, 2021
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 7:39 PM on October 20, 2021
Unfortunately all my experiences are pre-pandemic, having moved away in March 2020.
In South Philly you want Nick Elmi’s Laurel (a res might be hard) or ITV (the attached more casual bar with quiet seats in the back, still with a stunning food menu). Noord is good if you like Scandinavian. Outside South Philly, Elmi’s brasserie Royal Boucherie is 😗👌 (seafood tower!), though I haven’t been since he handed over the reins to a new exec.
Former Elmi protege Eddie Konrad is at Messina Social Club in South Philly and looks like he’s doing great stuff. I have no idea how to get a table there.
The Cook and Solo restaurants are all great, loved Abe Fisher (get a family style menu!). All the Turney and Safran places are great too— Barbuzzo gets the wide praise but I have a real soft spot for Bud and Marilyn’s.
Vernick is really solid. Suraya I’m sad I didn’t make it to before leaving.
Garces places I found to be not as good as they were when he wasn’t a nationally known celeb chef but YMMV. I found Fri Sat Sun to be super overrated. Vedge is good but I always leave hungry, and Rich Landau is going increasingly into (public) asshole mode. Vetri too (and also kind of disappointing the one time I went).
posted by supercres at 10:04 PM on October 20, 2021
In South Philly you want Nick Elmi’s Laurel (a res might be hard) or ITV (the attached more casual bar with quiet seats in the back, still with a stunning food menu). Noord is good if you like Scandinavian. Outside South Philly, Elmi’s brasserie Royal Boucherie is 😗👌 (seafood tower!), though I haven’t been since he handed over the reins to a new exec.
Former Elmi protege Eddie Konrad is at Messina Social Club in South Philly and looks like he’s doing great stuff. I have no idea how to get a table there.
The Cook and Solo restaurants are all great, loved Abe Fisher (get a family style menu!). All the Turney and Safran places are great too— Barbuzzo gets the wide praise but I have a real soft spot for Bud and Marilyn’s.
Vernick is really solid. Suraya I’m sad I didn’t make it to before leaving.
Garces places I found to be not as good as they were when he wasn’t a nationally known celeb chef but YMMV. I found Fri Sat Sun to be super overrated. Vedge is good but I always leave hungry, and Rich Landau is going increasingly into (public) asshole mode. Vetri too (and also kind of disappointing the one time I went).
posted by supercres at 10:04 PM on October 20, 2021
Response by poster: Thanks so much all! We were able to get bar seating at Double Knot without a reservation and had a great night, and I have a lot of places on my list now!
posted by catcafe at 10:37 AM on October 24, 2021
posted by catcafe at 10:37 AM on October 24, 2021
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posted by MisantropicPainforest at 11:40 AM on October 19, 2021 [2 favorites]