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.
Must 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.
Address: 705 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
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.
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.
