The January Hit List: Fitz and Starts, The Mulberry, Loco Pez, and More

Part bakery, part restaurant, Fitz and Starts has you covered for every meal of the day. Focusing on fresh, locally sourced ingredients, they make everything from scratch. Start off your day with a freshly brewed Ultimo coffee paired with a sweet apple walnut scone or a savory ham and cheese pithivier. For lunch, nothing beats the mushroom French dip made with local Mycopolitan mushrooms served in a seeded hoagie roll with sautéed onions and cheddar. For a wholesome dinner, dig into the comforting Country Time pork cutlet with a shaved fennel salad drizzled in a delightfully pungent lemon pepper vinaigrette.

The Mulberry is a triple threat. They’ve got a great selection of beer and drinks, their menu features upscale takes on all the pub classics, and it’s all served up in a relaxing and welcoming, yet stylish restaurant. Everything from the fried cheese curds seasoned with Italian seasoning served with a Sriracha buttermilk ranch, to the Angus beef Mulberry burger with bacon jam and garlic aioli is expertly executed. Their culinary skills really shine with the large plates like the grilled lamb rack crusted with fresh herbs and truffle.

It may be winter, but at Loco Pez, it’s always summer. The L.A.-style taqueria serves up iconic California Mexican dishes, like al pastor tacos and pollo tinga burritos, as well as other comforts like a bacon-wrapped hot dog and their fried chicken sandwich with a spicy, tangy habañero mayo. It’s a great spot for a chill round of margaritas with friends after work or sharing a plate of nachos for a date – nachos which, by the way, are perfectly constructed into evenly distributed, flavorful layers of tortilla chips, refried beans, cheese, jalapeños, and pico de gallo.

After five years in Haddonfield, Two Fish BYOB has moved to a charming cabin on the edge of the Pinelands National Reserve in Medford Lakes. The serene natural setting complements the inventive seafood menu, which shows off the natural flavors of quality, sustainably sourced ingredients. The Spanish octopus is a crowd-pleasing starter. Soft and meaty with a slightly crispy skin, it’s a dish that plays well with the smoked potato and pickled poblano. It’s tough picking between all of the exciting entrees on Two Fish’s menu, but the tuna with the white bean mapo and a sweet-and-sour radish drizzled with a bit of Szechuan oil will rank among the top seafood dishes you’ll ever experience.

Call 856-428-3474 for reservations.

Dim sum is all about variety. The variation of flavors and textures is what makes a dim sum meal so exciting. At Bing Bing Dim Sum you get to sample from a menu of familiar Chinese-style dishes, but with a Philly and American-Jewish twist. Cheesesteak bao puts the Philly famous sandwich in a pillowy bao with spicy long hots and cheese, while the matzo turnip cake brings a bit of Jewish culinary tradition to a savory Chinese dish. Whether you’re coming for a dim sum meal or getting a large bowl of their legendary noodles, the pork soup dumplings filled with a miso broth are a must!

After a major makeover and finding its footing throughout the pandemic, The Goat Rittenhouse has really found its stride as a classy yet comforting neighborhood bar. It’s the kind of spot where you can go for a casual meet-up or for celebratory drinks. You’ll want a cocktail in hand when you sample the rich pork country pâté and the sardine rillettes. If you’re looking for a hefty meal, the burger really hits the spot. Piled on a brioche bun, it comes with classic burger toppings like burger sauce, pickled red onion, lettuce, and Cooper Sharp cheese, but you can also add bacon, avocado, or top it with an egg. Leave room for dessert because you’re not going to want to miss out on the soda floats made with Hanks Soda (a local favorite) and a scoop of gelato.

For beer lovers, Monk’s is an institution. Specializing in unique craft beers from around the world, Monk’s always has a premium selection of beers you can’t find anywhere else in the city (particularly Belgian beers, but not exclusively). On top of having a renowned tap list, this old-school tavern has an outstanding menu. The duck salad is a customer favorite, but what has really put Monk’s menu on the map (aside from the beer) is their lineup of mussels, a nod to Belgium. The Ghent mussels are swimming in a broth flavored with Ommegang Hennepin, while the red light mussels are floating in a spicy pool of toasted chile de arbol and Russian River Damnation. You’ll come for the beer but stay for the food.

Call 215-545-7005 for reservations.

Cozy and intimate, Townsend takes fine dining on East Passyunk to a new level. The menu is a six-course journey that takes seasonal and regional ingredients and expresses them in the French culinary tradition. Dishes like the intensely umami sea scallop with matsutake mushrooms, sunchokes, and rosemary are rustic but elegantly plated. The crescendo of the meal is certainly the fifth course, which this winter is a woodsy venison loin with seasonal fruits and vegetables served with a red wine sauce.

The food at General Tsao’s House will get your taste buds tingling. Sichuan dishes like the dan dan noodles in spicy chile oil, and the cumin spice and vegetables, bring on the heat, but for diners who don’t want to tame the flame of spicy foods, there are plenty other savory bites to try. Get a taste of a Beijing tradition with the Peking duck bao, or try the soup dumplings loaded with savory pork and briny crab roe.

Call 215-981-0800 for reservations.

Whiskey is a drink you want to go slow with, not just because of its potency, but because it took time to develop those complex flavors. Distilling is a craft and like any body of work you want to spend some time with it. Four Humours Distilling invites whiskey lovers to sample from their line of uniquely crafted spirits in their tasting room, also known as the rickhouse. It’s the perfect relaxing setting to swap tasting notes about their rye whiskey or savor the oaky, maple-sweet three-year bourbon in a classic old fashioned cocktail. They have a few snacks available on the menu (don’t miss out on the candied brown sugar bacon), but if you’re hungry for more, Four Humours allows you to bring your own food. The staff is on deck to recommend meal pairings from nearby restaurants.