Forsythia in Philadelphia is Christopher Kearse's modern French bistro on Chestnut Street in Old City, a 2025 Michelin Guide selection with rabbit porchetta and bouillabaisse.
Signature dishes: Escargot, Duck a l'orange
Must order: The escargot with parsley and shallots; the duck if it appears on that night's tasting 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
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 room.
Signature: Tasting menu pasta, Counter-side antipasti
Order: The full nine-course tasting; the four-seat kitchen counter rather than the main table when available.
Tip: Book at exactly 30 days out at 10am on the venue's site. Saturday seatings fill in the first 90 seconds.
Nam Phuong in Philadelphia is the 20-year Vietnamese banquet hall on Washington Avenue, with a 200-item menu running pho, clay pots, banh xeo and bun rieu.
Signature: Pho dac biet, Banh xeo
Order: Pho dac biet (the everything bowl); banh xeo crepe; sugarcane shrimp paste with rice paper rolls.
Tip: The clay-pot section at the back of the menu is the room's quiet best. Order the catfish or the chicken with ginger.
Stock in Philadelphia is Tyler Akin's 18-seat Fishtown BYOB on Girard, a Southeast Asian counter with a pho stock that simmers 14 hours and a rotating khao soi.
Signature: Beef pho, Khao soi
Order: Beef pho with the side plate of herbs; khao soi if it appears; a roast pork banh mi at lunch.
Tip: BYOB. Bring a crisp Riesling or a Vietnamese-style lager. Cash and cards both work.
Pizzeria Vetri in Philadelphia is Marc Vetri's Neapolitan pizza room on Chancellor near Rittenhouse, with a wood-fired oven from Naples and the rotolo that travelled the country.
Signature: Margherita, Rotolo
Order: Margherita with buffalo mozzarella; the rotolo (rolled mortadella, ricotta and pistachio).
Tip: Walk in at 17:30 on a weeknight. The main rush starts at 18:30.
K'Far in Philadelphia is Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook's all-day Israeli bakery and cafe at 19th near Rittenhouse, the morning room before the Zahav night.
Signature: Borekas, Shakshuka
Order: A bourekas filled with feta and za'atar; shakshuka at brunch; the babka to take home.
Tip: Walk in for the bakery counter at 08:00 before the work crowd lands at 09:30. The pastries sell out by 11.
Mike's BBQ in Philadelphia is the South Philly barbecue counter on 11th Street since 2018, founded by Mike Strauss and now run by Daniel Grobman, with whole-hog brisket and ribs.
Signature: Brisket, Pork ribs
Order: A sliced brisket plate; pork ribs; the burnt-end sliders if they are running.
Tip: Closed Mondays. Open Thursday to Sunday; the brisket sells out by 14:00 on a Sunday.
