The April Hit List: Cantina Feliz, Abe Fisher, Nunzio, and More

Brightness and vibrancy reverberate in everything from the décor to the menu at Cantina Feliz in Fairmount. They’ve got the Mexican cantina classics like nachos, ceviche, and tacos, but have dialed each dish up a notch. You can have traditional guacamole or add yellowfin tuna with a chipotle aioli and grilled pineapples to the mix. On the taco menu, the al pastor is made with achiote-marinated salmon and the steak tacos are made with a Korean barbecue-marinated steak and a bit of kimchi for a tangy crunch.

Nostalgia meets fine dining at Abe Fisher. The Jewish restaurant pulls inspiration from a wide range of Jewish culinary traditions, from Eastern European borscht tartare to Montreal smoked short ribs. To celebrate Passover this month, Abe Fisher is offering holiday favorites including latkes, matzo ball soup, and a succulent coffee-braised brisket inspired by a recipe by Mike Solomonov’s mother.

Whether you’re dining for brunch or dinner, Renata’s in West Philly is Middle Eastern comfort food at its best. The fried haloumi with pomegranate molasses is the best way to have your first haloumi experience. But the same goes for the eggplant haloumi sandwich that’s grilled to perfection and topped with roasted peppers, tomato, and pesto aioli, all served on sourdough bread.

Haddon Avenue in Collingswood is lined with Italian restaurants and yet they’re all outstanding, which goes to show you the diversity of Italian cuisine. Nunzio Ristorante Rustico serves up heaping helpings of housemade pastas, roasted meats, and bountiful seafood entrées. Try the briny squid ink bucatini with huge chunks of crab meat and rock shrimp swimming in garlic butter. Definitely don’t skip the octopus with a spicy hint from the pepper, garlic aioli, and chile oil. It’s a customer favorite. And don’t forget to bring a bottle of your favorite beer or wine! Collingswood is a dry town and Nunzio Ristorante is BYOB.

We all love Sidecar Bar & Grille for their generous happy hour menu and Detroit-style pizzas, but if this spot isn’t in your brunch rotation, then you’re missing out! If eggs are how you like to start your day, then you’ll love the selection of Benedicts Sidecar offers. Get a refreshing, veggie-forward Hippy Benny with avocado, arugula, and pickled onion with breakfast potatoes and a mixed green salad or go bold with the Mexican Benny served with a spicy chicken tinga, cheddar, and pickled jalapeños. For brunch-time sweets, try the Nutella and fluff pancakes or the apple pie French toast — and make it a la mode for an extra $3.

There’s a lot to love about Greek food. Access to both the Mediterranean Sea and miles of fertile landscapes lend to the cuisine’s bounty of seafood, meats, and an exciting array of vegetables and fruits. Plus, the region was a crossroads for many trade routes, which has given Greek food a world of flavor. Kanella brings traditional Greek cuisine to the Washington Square neighborhood. The Taste of Kanella gives you a chance to try a few different bites. Start off with the za’atar-spiced crispy brussels sprouts and balance it with the savory and tahini-nutty kibbeh. For an entree, you can’t go wrong with the wide selection of kebabs they offer, but the homey spanokopita, a feta and spinach pie flavored with the pungency of spring onions, is a comfort food you’ll be thinking about when you leave.

You’re going to need a bib for these burgers. As part of their MilkBoy TakeOut counter, the music venue and bar just dropped a menu that includes some of the most elaborate burger creations in the city. You can order from a mixtape of their original burgers, like the “Hit Single,” a classic beef patty topped with Tommy Sauce and red onion on a MilkBun, or choose from their “Other Tracks,” including the Double Platinum with two beef patties, or the South Street Boogaloo, a sloppy-style burger with fried onions, beer whiz, and a long hot aioli. Or you can go rogue and create your own burger masterpiece with toppings like baked brie, maple bacon, crab cake, and more. MilkBoy TakeOut operates from Sunday through Tuesday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

No reservations.

If you’re craving old-school Italian dishes and live jazz, check out Heritage in Northern Liberties. The sweet potato gnocchi made with roasted mushrooms, sage brown butter, truffle, pine nuts, and Parmesan is quite possibly the most umami dish in the city. There’s also a rich and gamey venison Bolognese topped with whipped ricotta, but if you’re in the mood for something classic, go for the good old-fashioned mac ‘n’ cheese tossed with fontina and cheddar cheeses and a cream and onion sauce.

The Volstead by Unity is proof that when you create a safe space it becomes welcoming to all. Since 2017, husband-and-wife owners Robert and Arielle Ashford have been offering services to people with mental health and substance abuse issues through Unity Recovery. Now the couple has opened The Volstead by Unity, a vegan and alcohol-free bar and restaurant. In addition to creating a sober space, they’re hiring staff who are in recovery from substance abuse, have mental health issues, or are previously incarcerated. Enjoy craft cocktails made with zero-proof alcohol, nosh on some of Penny’s fennel saus’ge meatballs with a coconut béchamel, and enjoy some cumin-spiced Impossible Southwest Sliders, all while supporting a community cause.

You may have seen El Merkury’s churros on Instagram, arranged in an aesthetically pleasing arc over a cup of soft serve ice cream. But don’t just stop by for dessert! Their Salvadorian papusas, rich with the flavor of earthy cornmeal, are filled chicharron pork or a flavorful mix of black beans and jalapenos. If you’re more in the mood for flour tortillas, the Honduran Baleadas stuffed with refried beans, crema, melted cheese, and your choice of meat or jackfruit, is beyond satiating. And to spice things up, get the Guatemalan Elote Loco, traditional Latin American street corn that brings the heat.

Located at 2104 Chestnut Street and in Reading Terminal Market. No reservations.