The January Hit List: El Poquito, Abe Fisher, the Breakfast Den, and More

The Sidecar Bar & Grille is the corner bar everyone wishes was in their neighborhood, which is probably why for the past decade Philadelphians have made this chill gastropub on the corner of 22^nd and Christian a destination. Though its extensive burger menu was from a past generation, it has been replaced by an impressive lineup of sandwiches (and a burger) ranging from a Nashville hot chicken topped with cheddar, pickles, and ranch dressing to even out the spice, to a tangy smoked barbecue tempeh sandwich with pimento cheese spread. The draft list features local beers, as well as excellent brews from small breweries from around North America, and the cocktails are equally as exciting.

Dining status: Outdoor dining via reservation only. Takeout is also available.

Samson Street may be bustling, but Harp & Crown’s covered and heated outdoor dining cove remains a cozy spot. Whether you’re grabbing a couple of cocktails and bites at happy hour, or enjoying a full dinner, Harp & Crown’s outdoor seating makes you feel like you’re miles away from Center City. So sit back, sip your craft cocktail, grab a slice of that spicy soppressata pizza with shishito peppers and a touch of sweet honey, dig into a savory chicken pot pie, and relax.

Dining status: Outdoor dining via reservation only. Takeout and delivery are also available.

Rittenhouse Square is one of the best spots for outdoor dining, and with Bar Bombón’s hot drinks, heat lamps, hot-seat cushions, and fleece blankets, the season for this pastime for city-dwellers has been extended. The food has always been about making Latin American classics vegan, and though we may think of vegan food as light, the menu at Bar Bombón is packed with filling comfort foods. The loaded yuca with red peppers and onions is a brunch option that’s sure to carry you through to dinner time. And regardless of the time of day, Buffalo cauliflower tacos topped with a cilantro dressing, avocado, and black beans are always a fan favorite.

Dining status: Outdoor dining via reservation only. Call 267-606-6612. Takeout and delivery are also available.

Here’s a contemporary take on fine dining in a charming courtyard outside of the historic Cresheim Cottage. Located in the heart of Mt. Airy, Jansen’s toned-up American dishes remain welcoming, with no judgments. Start your meal with a coast-to-coast trip — a daily selection of West Coast and East Coast oysters. Lemon-garlic dressing with sherry jus brings out the wild-game flavor of the roasted Cornish game hen, and if you’re mood for a fresh catch, the flavors of the sea come to life with the sautéed halibut paired with bacon black garlic risotto.

Dining status: Outdoor dining via reservation only. Takeout is available.

There are two ways to enjoy dining outside at El Poquito: on their heated patio, or in an individual igloo. And what better way to enjoy a private pop-up igloo than with tacos and margaritas. Order a round of grilled shrimp tacos spiced with the sweet heat of guajillo peppers and balanced with pineapple salsa, or grab a plate of smoked chicken wings. (Pro tip: Get them with the mole.) If margaritas are a little too summery, enjoy their thick and creamy peppermint hot cocoa — which you can enjoy as is or with a shot of bourbon or tequila.

Dining status: Outdoor dining via reservation only. For an individual igloo, call 267-766-5372. Takeout and delivery are available.

Philly knows how to take an empty lot and turn it into a magical garden, filled with booze and bar snacks. And when it comes to beer gardens, some have games like cornhole and Jumbo Jenga, others are intricately designed gardenscapes. But the biggest draw here is the selection of food and drinks: over 20 cans of craft beer, cider, and seltzer to choose from, and when it comes to their tacos and wings, the possibilities are almost endless. There are usually 10 flavors of wings, from a sweet and salty soy ginger to a hot ghost scorpion dry-rubbed wing, combining two of the world’s hottest peppers. When it comes to tacos, sink your teeth into a classic Baja fish taco with lime crema, or get a taste of Middle Eastern flavors with roasted lamb tacos, with a cool and aromatic cumin tzatziki sauce.

Dining status: Outdoor dining via reservation only.

Brunch, but make it American-Vietnamese comfort foods with vegetarian choices. There’s so much about Vietnamese food that works so well with brunch — the many ways to prepare eggs, Vietnamese coffee, crispy pork belly, fresh herbs. Whether you’re in the mood for a warm bowl of chao ga, rice porridge with the complimenting flavors and textures of a soft-boiled egg and crispy chicken skin, or French toast sticks, or classic buttermilk pancakes from the griddle, this South Street spot brings together the best of American, Vietnamese, and brunch traditions.

Dining status: Outdoor dining available, first come, first served. Takeout and delivery available.

We all know your Bubbeh’s homecooked meals are best. Coming in a close second is Abe Fisher, which takes classic Jewish deli staples, and refreshes them. There are two menus available at their heated outdoor Streetery — a prix fixe four-course tasting menu, and their Montreal-style smoked short ribs tasting menu. You can’t go wrong with either menu but be sure to kick off your meal with a comforting appetizer, something fatty like the chicken liver mouse with schmaltz rye toast and house pickles, or a bowl of warm matzoh ball soup.

Dining status: Outdoor dining via reservation only. Takeout is available.

Fresh oysters delivered daily is what Oyster House is known for, but they’ve got a lot of other seafood dishes that deserve a spotlight. The fisherman’s stew is packed with shrimp, mussels, calamari and whitefish, swimming in a spicy tomato broth and aromatic saffron rouille — their own Philly take on bouillabaisse. Get a taste of Chesapeake Bay with their Maryland crab cakes, or take your taste buds to the Pacific with a tuna poke bowl. Come for the oysters, stay for the rest!

Dining status: Outdoor dining via reservations only. Takeout and delivery are also available.

There are a lot of Italian restaurants in Philadelphia; each stands out in its own way. Osteria, on the other hand, stands out for a lot of reasons — handmade pastas, Neapolitan and Roman-style pizzas, wood-grilled meats, craft cocktails, and a vast spectrum of wines from Italy’s various regions, all served on their beautiful patio. This is the place for octopus grilled to perfection, ravioli bursting with umami flavors of mushroom and thyme and sweet notes of robiola cheese, and reality bending thin-crust pizza that’s chewy and lightly crunchy in all the right places.

Dining status: Outdoor dining via reservation only. Takeout and delivery are available.