Tasting menus, Michelin stars and the chefs redefining Philadelphia.
Tasting menus, Michelin stars, and the kitchens redefining what fine dining means in Philadelphia.
Vetri Cucina in Philadelphia is Marc Vetri's 1998 Spruce Street Italian townhouse tasting menu, the city's defining hand-cut-pasta fine-dining room since 1998.
Order: Spinach gnocchi in brown butter; whole roasted baby goat for the table.
Tip: Eight-seat counter at the back is the room's quiet best. Specify when booking on the venue site.
Zahav in Philadelphia is Michael Solomonov's modern Israeli room, James Beard's Outstanding Restaurant in America 2019 and the city's most-booked tasting menu since 2008.
Order: The Mesibah lamb shoulder feast for the table, with hummus tehina to start.
Tip: Resy opens 30 days out at 10am. The Mesibah books fastest. The salatim spread is what to order if you want a la carte.
Friday Saturday Sunday in Philadelphia is Chad and Hanna Williams's narrow Rittenhouse townhouse, James Beard Best New Restaurant 2019, with the mushroom soup that anchored the year.
Order: The mushroom soup, with foie gras toast on the side.
Tip: The upstairs bar takes walk-ups. The natural-wine list runs deeper than the cellar list.
Vernick Food & Drink in Philadelphia is Greg Vernick's James Beard Best Chef Mid-Atlantic Rittenhouse bi-level brownstone, with the avocado toast that defined the room.
Order: Avocado toast with chilli; whichever whole fish is on the wood fire that night.
Tip: The chef's counter on the second floor watches the open kitchen. Book it specifically when reserving.
Royal Sushi omakase in Philadelphia is Jesse Ito's eight-seat Queen Village sushi counter behind the front izakaya, on North America's 50 Best 2025.
Order: The full 18-course omakase; trust the counter on the order, do not request swaps.
Tip: Resy opens at midnight 30 days out. Saturday seatings book in the first 60 seconds.
Ambra in Philadelphia is Chris D'Ambro and Marina de Oliveira's 16-seat Italian tasting menu on South 4th in Queen Village, the city's most personal multi-course Italian room.
Order: The full nine-course tasting; sit at the four-seat kitchen counter if it is available at booking.
Tip: Book at exactly 30 days out, 10am on the venue site. Wednesday and Thursday clear faster than Saturday.
Fork in Philadelphia is Ellen Yin's 1997 Old City flagship on Market Street, James Beard Outstanding Restaurateur 2022, a cornerstone of the city's modern dining renaissance.
Order: Whichever hand-cut pasta is on the seasonal menu; the roast duck if it appears.
Tip: The bar runs a separate menu and a half-price oyster happy hour weekday afternoons. Walk in for it.
Kalaya in Philadelphia is Chutatip 'Nok' Suntaranon's James Beard Best Chef Mid-Atlantic 2022 Southern Thai room in Fishtown, on Palmer Street since the South Philly move.
Order: Khua kling dry-fried pork; massaman curry; the coconut soup that runs from her mother's recipe.
Tip: Book a week out on Resy. The 5pm seating clears quickest if you want a table without a wait.
Laser Wolf in Philadelphia is Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook's Israeli skewer-grill in Olde Kensington at Howard and Master, the casual sibling to Zahav.
Order: The mixed grill plate with beef shipudim and lamb merguez; salatim spread to start.
Tip: Walk in at the bar before 18:00 on a weeknight. Reservations stretch 2 weeks on Resy.
Forsythia in Philadelphia is Christopher Kearse's modern French bistro on Chestnut in Old City, a 2025 Michelin Guide pick with rabbit porchetta and bouillabaisse.
Order: Escargot in parsley butter; duck a l'orange if it appears on the menu.
Tip: Happy hour from 16:30 weekdays runs half-price oysters and a French 75. Walk in for it.
Suraya in Philadelphia is the Fishtown Lebanese market, garden and restaurant on Frankford Avenue, the modern Levantine showroom Michael Solomonov's team doesn't run.
Order: Whole roasted fish for the table, lamb shawarma platter, the labneh with shrak bread.
Tip: Brunch on the back garden patio in summer is the room's best seat. Saturday 10am books out fastest.
Peak food season in Philadelphia is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Philadelphia rewards trust.