What to order at Friday Saturday Sunday

Must order
The mushroom soup, with foie gras toast on the side. The dish that anchored their James Beard year.
Signature dishes
Mushroom soup, Foie gras toast
Editor tip
The upstairs bar takes walk-ups. The wine list runs natural and the pours arrive faster than reservations.
CuisineNew American
Price$$$
Neighborhoodcenter-city
HoursWed-Sat 17:00-22:00
Last verified

Signature dishes: Mushroom soup, Foie gras toast

Must order: The mushroom soup, with foie gras toast on the side. The dish that anchored their James Beard year.

Tip: The upstairs bar takes walk-ups. The wine list runs natural and the pours arrive faster than reservations.

Location

Address: 261 S 21st St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Also in center-city

Vernick Food & Drink ★ 4.7

New American$$$$center-city

Vernick Food & Drink in Philadelphia is Greg Vernick's James Beard Best Chef Mid-Atlantic 2017 Rittenhouse bi-level brownstone, with the avocado toast.

Signature: Avocado toast, Wood-fire fish

Order: The avocado toast with chilli flake; whatever 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.

Full center-city food guide →

More restaurants in Philadelphia

Kalaya ★ 4.8

Southern Thai$$$fishtown

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 move.

Signature: Khua kling pork, Massaman curry

Order: The khua kling dry-fried pork with rice; the massaman curry; Nok's mother's coconut soup.

Tip: Book a week out on Resy. The 5pm seating clears quickest if you want a table without a wait.

Vernick Food & Drink ★ 4.7

New American$$$$center-city

Vernick Food & Drink in Philadelphia is Greg Vernick's James Beard Best Chef Mid-Atlantic 2017 Rittenhouse bi-level brownstone, with the avocado toast.

Signature: Avocado toast, Wood-fire fish

Order: The avocado toast with chilli flake; whatever 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 & Izakaya ★ 4.8

Japanese sushi$$$$queen-village

Royal Sushi & Izakaya in Philadelphia is the eight-seat Queen Village omakase counter behind the front-room izakaya, ranked among North America's 50 Best.

Signature: Sushi omakase, Pork gyoza

Order: The omakase counter at the back; the crispy pork gyoza if you sit at the izakaya bar in front.

Tip: The omakase books out 30 days at midnight on Resy. The izakaya front room takes walk-ups most weeknights.

Laser Wolf ★ 4.7

Israeli$$$kensington

Laser Wolf in Philadelphia is Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook's Israeli skewer-grill at Howard and Master in Olde Kensington, the casual sibling to Zahav.

Signature: Beef shipudim, Lamb merguez

Order: The mixed grill plate with beef shipudim and lamb merguez; the salatim spread to start.

Tip: Walk in at the bar before 18:00 on a weeknight. Reservations stretch out 2 weeks on the Resy calendar.

Suraya ★ 4.6

Lebanese$$$fishtown

Suraya in Philadelphia is the Fishtown Lebanese market, garden and restaurant on Frankford Avenue from Greg Root, Nicholas Kennedy and chef Roland Kassis.

Signature: Whole roasted fish, Lamb shawarma

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 the fastest.

Fork ★ 4.5

Modern American$$$old-cityMon 17:00-21:00, Thu 11:30-21:00, Fri 11:30-22:00, Sat 11:00-22:00, Sun 11:00-21:00

Fork in Philadelphia is Ellen Yin's 1997 Old City flagship on Market Street, a James Beard Outstanding Restaurateur 2022 anchor of the Philadelphia dining.

Signature: Hand-cut pasta, Roast duck

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.

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