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.
Must 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.
Address: 233 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
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.
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.
