New on Resy: Suraya, HIROKI, Bloomsday Cafe

A bona fide Levantine oasis, Suraya transports you from Fishtown to Beirut as soon as you step through the door. The all-day affair combines café, marketplace, restaurant, and garden in one concept, extolling the flavors of Lebanese cuisine with the full arsenal of a Mediterranean pantry for good measure. Dazzle your taste buds with the dinnertime mezze, freshly baked man’oushe (flatbread), and sticky-sweet kanafeh, doused in rose blossom syrup, and order a round of arak for the table.

Continuing Philadelphia’s ongoing love affair with fish, HIROKI brings omakase-style dining to Fishtown. An immersive and soulful experience, the 20-course tasting is deeply rooted in tradition and technique, courtesy of Morimoto vet and sushi master Hiroki Fujiyama. So, slip into this solemn yet sophisticated enclave that’s all dim lighting, minimalist concrete, and warm woods—HIROKI’s seasonal omakase is one for the books.

Behind its seafoam green doors, Bloomsday Cafe brims with slowly-brewed coffee in the morning and natural wine at night. This Headhouse Square spot aces the all-day format, serving seasonal breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a touch of whimsy. Think rosé-poached rhubarb toast in the morning, smoked mushroom French dip in the afternoon, and peach tea wings coated in Parmesan peppercorn at night.

A love letter to its community, Stina is a South Philly pizzeria on a mission to create a social and cultural hub with the help of fresh, delicious, and affordable fare. Anchored by an imposing Morello Forni oven, the kooky, retro locale doles out wood-fired pizza alongside fire-roasted mezze, saucy pasta, chicken shawarma, and Turkish pide (baked bread with toppings). Pro-tip: drinks are BYOB.

When the pizzas are certified by the American chapter of Italy’s Associazione Pizzaiuoli Napoletani, you know they’re bound to be good. At Porta, Frederica “Freddi” Vilardi slings a supremely airy and pillowy crust topped with house-made mozzarella and imported San Marzano tomatoes. Beyond the pies, tuck into other Italian essentials (pasta, meatballs, branzino) against graffiti murals, and stay for the late-night scene.

There’s a Southern twang to the plates at this Rittenhouse establishment, where native Philly chef Justin Swain revamps lowcountry classics with charcuterie, bbq, and French technique in mind. Indeed, the menu at Rex 1516 is as delectable as it is playful, offering elotes hushpuppies, escargot tartine, and crawfish pot pie. Pro-tip: the biscuits and burgers shouldn’t be missed.

Combining the fire of Sichuan with the warmth of Taiwanese cuisine, DanDan’s got your noodle fix covered. Named after the Taiwanese-Sichuan specialty, the Rittenhouse eatery (with a second location in Wayne) goes heavy on the heat, producing deliciously mouth-numbing dishes like spicy Chengdu chicken, wontons in chili oil, cumin lamb hand-ripped noodles, and vegetarian mapo tofu, against an industrial-chic space with ballooning lanterns.

From the outside, you’d be surprised to discover that Brickwall hides over 10,000 square feet of pure entertainment. The Samson Street locale boasts multiple bars, shuffleboard tables, cornhole, live music, and enough TVs to satiate the legion of sports fans that waltz in on big game nights. Shuffle into one of the roomy red vinyl banquettes, and gorge yourself on the staples of American bar fare (read: crinkle cut fries, burgers, pulled pork) with a rotating selection of 24 craft beers on offer.

We envy the locals of Rittenhouse Square for their proximity to Southgate. An Asian-inspired gastropub with a heavy dose of Korean spice, the cool and sleek haunt is guaranteed to evoke dining satisfaction. Find your bliss in the juicy bulgogi burger, kimchi pork belly pajeon (scallion pancake), and pork-laced mandoo (dumplings), with house-infused sojus—we like the Sichuan and strawberry rose best.

With its ornate mirrored walls, tufted red banquettes, and tin-pressed ceiling, this Chestnut Hill locale goes deep into French café territory, making Paris Bistro just the place for a plate of escargots and a chilled glass of white Bordeaux. No haute cuisine here, just the humble brasserie roster (read: mussels, steak frites), and if you’re looking for a livelier scene, head to the downstairs jazz cafe, where Philly’s best jazz musicians put on a show Thursday through Sunday.

Tucked along the Manayunk Canal, Bourbon Blue gives diners a taste of New Orleans. The New American haunt satisfies with its reimagined bayou plates—think alligator sausage quesadilla—alongside the paragons of Southern comfort: gumbo ya ya, spicy shrimp & grits, jambalaya, and a well-stocked bourbon cabinet are enough to whisk you away to Louisiana, if only for a meal.

There’s a greenhouse of a spot tucked inside the Cira Centre, where lush greenery and blond wood set the stage for chef Jose Garces’ menu. Inspired by what the seasons have in store, JG Domestic deals in farm-inspired small plates that are refreshingly good. Eggplant hummus, red lentil falafel, and steak frites cooked to order are some of the hits, and are even better when paired with something from the domestic wine list.

For spruced-up pub fare in Manayunk, there’s only one place to head to, and that’s Sona Pub & Kitchen. A mashup of Ireland’s old-school taverns and today’s gastropubs, the bustling locale cooks up a crowd-pleasing menu of beer-drinking foods—the hops list is extensive—like bangers and mash, short rib mac & cheese, Guinness bbq chicken, and cheesesteak eggrolls.