The Resy Hit List: Where In Philadelphia You’ll Want to Eat in Aug. 2024
There’s no question we hear more often: Where should I go eat? And while we at Resy know it’s an honor to be the friend who everyone asks for restaurant advice, we also know it’s a complicated task. That’s where the Resy Hit List comes in.
We’ve designed it to be your essential resource for dining in Philadelphia: a monthly-updated (and now expanded!) guide to the restaurants you won’t want to miss — tonight or any night.
Four Things In Philadelphia Not to Miss This Month
- Fall in Love with Amourette: Resy is your booking doorway to Amourette, an indoor/outdoor garden pop-up at the Art Alliance from star chefs Amanda Shulman (of Her Place Supper Club) and Alex Kemp (of My Loup). You’ll be eating Frenchified seasonal dishes like tomato salad toast, shrimp frites, and blueberry ice cream. It’s open Wednesday through Friday. Pro tip: Reservations are released at noon 30 days in advance for each day.
- Happiest Hour: Running through the end of August, East Passyunk’s weekly Passeggiata event brings a neighborhood-wide happy hour and sidewalk market to the foodiest avenue in town. Among the 40 participating restaurants are Ember & Ash, River Twice, Laurel, and Townsend. You can expect $5 beers, $6 wines, $7 cocktails, and/or $7 small bites each Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m.
- Now Open: While Philly has a sizable Polish-American population and good pierogi shops, we haven’t had a restaurant and bar quite like Little Walter’s, which just opened in East Kensington. They’ve got savory and sweet pierogi, kielbasa, rotisserie pork shoulder, cabbage rolls with chicken liver, and plenty more. Book here. And Paffuto, an instant breakfast classic after its opening last fall, is now doing lunch Wednesday through Sunday and (BYOB) dinner on Wednesday and Thursday, with a seasonal menu that features dishes like poached mussels with tomatoes and monkfish cacciatore. Reservations here.
- Go Vegan: Primary Plant Based’s vegan Sunday dinner series continues with a Pietramala collaboration on Aug. 25 that will highlight tomatoes, a Sept. 22 meal with Sprig and Vine that stars peppers, and more special events throughout the fall. Book on Resy.
New to the Hit List (August 2024)
Dizengoff, Doro Bet, Oloroso, Picnic.
1. Friday Saturday Sunday Rittenhouse Square
The whole country has been talking about Chad and Hanna Williams’ restaurant. FSS beat every competitor in the country in 2023 to win the James Beard award for Outstanding Restaurant, and we agree it pretty well defines dining in Philadelphia right now. Which is why we celebrate how perfect their fresh take on fine dining is: The bar, the service, the soundtrack, the lighting, and most of all, the fun and refined eight-course tasting menu that’s never been better. It’s also never been a tougher table to reserve: The books open on Resy on the first of every month at 10 a.m.
2. Dizengoff Center City
It’s summer and we’re feeling a bit more casual. That’s why Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook’s Dizengoff is replacing Zahav on this list for a bit. Philly’s standard-bearer of Israeli and Middle Eastern cuisine will return to the Hit List, but for now, soak in the chill vibes at Diz, where it’s all about the hummus, fluffy pita, and a magically light tehina date ice cream sandwich for dessert. Get a cocktail, share everything, and lose yourself in the moment.
3. Angelo’s Italian Market
The best cheesesteaks in the city. Convince us we’re wrong. Danny DiGiampietro makes the rolls fresh every morning. Is there any other cheesesteak joint in town doing that? Angelo’s is also the first place that we can remember employing Philly’s own melty, creamy Cooper Sharp cheese. DiGiampietro is obsessed with making perfect sandwiches and pizza, and this small Italian Market shop always has a line down the block, but it’s a line of happy people. Happy cheesesteak people. Happy pizza people. The kind of people who will offer your toddler a slice as you walk to the playground; which is a random, totally made-up example, we assure you.
Find more info here.
4. Tabachoy Bella Vista
We’re big fans of Chance Anies’ friendly Filipino BYOB. Tabachoy, which began as a food truck, is a perfect place for sharing. With a tight menu, you might consider ordering it all (even better if that means you have leftovers). You’ll sample pork spring rolls, jumbo fried chicken wings, pork adobo with garlic rice, and pork sisig, along with dishes that reflect the season, like herbaceous littleneck clams in the summertime or a sweet potato and carrot fritter with shrimp in the cooler weather. Pro tip: Do not miss Anies’ unique take on a Caesar salad, with cured duck-egg yolk and fried shallots.
5. Kalaya Fishtown
Much has already been said about Kalaya. But if Nok Suntaranon’s southern Thai restaurant has been delighting diners since its humble start in the Italian Market, it has found a proper spot in its much larger Fishtown digs, with a liquor license that helped create a vital bar scene. Book early and often; you’ll be rewarded with deeply flavored curries, adorably shaped dumplings, and a signature grilled freshwater river prawn that’s mixed tableside with its tomalley and jasmine rice.
6. Oloroso Washington West
Townsend Wentz’s ode to Spanish food and sherry has been a destination from the jump and his team, led by chef Jason Peabody, is still innovating. A new chef’s counter experience takes guests on a journey through 18-22 tapas, from light bites like an incredible oyster conserva to a mini lobster paella with a perfectly crunchy bottom and Basque cheesecake at the end. The restaurant’s new Fever Dream party on the third Sunday of every month means an afternoon of dancing, DJs, build-your-own gin & tonics, plus discounted and free tapas. On August 12, Peabody is teaming up with El Chingon’s Juan Carlos Aparicio for “A Taste of Yucatán,” which you can book on Resy.
7. Jansen Mount Airy
Chef-owner David Jansen led the kitchen at the Four Seasons’ celebrated Fountain Restaurant before hanging out his own shingle on a 1700s building in the Mt. Airy neighborhood of Northwest Philadelphia. With its fine dining flair, Jansen is a good place for a celebration, but the restaurant has another trick up its sleeve. A spacious, covered patio offers a cool break from city living, particularly in the summertime though it’s open all year. Consider the classics here: oysters Rockefeller, grilled branzino, and heirloom tomato panzanella salad.
8. Vernick Food & Drink Rittenhouse Square
Ask a chef where they like to go on their day off and chances are they’ll mention Vernick Food & Drink. Greg Vernick’s first restaurant has been one of Philadelphia’s best since its 2012 opening. It’s a good idea to share dishes from each section of the large, modern American menu here. The mahogany roast chicken is always great, as are fluke ceviche in coconut broth, a whole roasted artichoke, anything on toast, and delicate pastas. Locals like to sit at Vernick’s bar for dinner, where the drinks run from boozy to zero proof, along with a smart wine list.
9. Enswell Rittenhouse
Hello, gorgeous. Rittenhouse’s new cafe and cocktail bar combo may just be the prettiest restaurant in Philly, if not the whole Eastern Seaboard. Designer Lance Saunders of Stokes Architecture + Design created this art deco space with green trim, antique brass, mosaic tile, tall columns, an over-the-bar mural, and custom chandeliers. Rival Bros., New Liberty Distillery, and chef Andrew Farley (formerly High Street on Market) work together at Enswell to delight diners all day long, from coffee in the morning to spicy crab hashbrowns, ice cream sundaes, and espresso-infused whiskey drinks at night.
Find more info here.
10. Forsythia Old City
Chef Chris Kearse makes elegant French food, but keeps his restaurant fun-filled. At the bar’s happy hour, you can get a junior royale with cheese (burger) and a chicharrónes-corn nut trail mix. Forsythia’s #FrenchAF series centers on a theme, like Foie Gras or the French Laundry, and turns it into a five-course tasting menu. On regular nights in the dining room, this is the place to get escargot, ham and cheese beignets, and tuna Niçoise.
11. South Philly Barbacoa Italian Market
What more can we say about the James Beard Award-winning restaurant known for its appearance on Netflix’s “Chef’s Table”? Mexican chef Cristina Martinez is a wizard with lamb. Her barbacoa tacos and soul-warming consommé draw visitors from all over the country, but equally as revolutionary is her work as an activist for fellow immigrants and those facing food insecurity. Line up at her sunny, casual Italian Market eatery and be patient. This meal is worth the wait.
Find more info here.
12. The Good King Tavern Bella Vista
Philly’s Frenchest spot brings it on all fronts: Food, bar, vibes. This father-daughter operation is known for its chalkboard menu, thoughtful wines by the glass, and elevated tavern fare. Go here for steak frites, escargots, nice cheese boards, and any of the daily specials. Owner Chloe Grigri goes all out for events and there’s nowhere more charming to be than the Good King’s Bastille Day annual block party.
13. Fiore Fishtown
This Pennsport favorite has reopened in Fishtown with a new format. No longer a sprawling, sit-down Italian restaurant, Ed Crochet and Justine MacNeil have honed in on pastries, gelato, indulgent sandwiches, and coffee for their 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. cafe. Fiore has always been known for its stellar pastry program. Whether a raspberry cornetti or cream-filled maritozzi, you can’t go wrong here. At breakfast, The Saltie explodes with soft scrambled eggs and ricotta on focaccia, and for lunch, grab some gnudi in brown butter.
No reservations. More info here.
14. Royal Sushi Omakase Queen Village
Philly’s only Beard Award finalist remains one of the hardest reservations in town to snag. It’s worth the effort to experience Jesse Ito’s high-skill omakase at Royal Sushi. The fish here is carefully sourced, intensively prepared, and delivered bite by perfect bite at an intimate counter in a back room of Royal Izakaya, a busy Japanese bar/restaurant. Royal Izakaya is walk-in only; Royal Sushi you can book below.
P.S. Here are a few tips on getting into Royal Sushi Omakase.
15. Doro Bet West Philly
Mebruka Kane is known for her three Ethiopian casual restaurants in West Philly and Germantown: Alif Brew, Salam Cafe, and Doro Bet. At Doro Bet, she and her sister Hayat Ali came up with the idea to fry the crunchiest chicken in town using a special ingredient. Teff flour, the grain that many people know from the sour, spongy injera bread used to gather up Ethiopian stews, subs for regular flour here. This not only makes the fried chicken gluten-free, but boosts the crunch factor. You can get it mild and lemony or nice and spicy.
No reservations. More info here.
16. My Loup Rittenhouse
We’ve been loving on My Loup since it opened a year ago. Amanda Shulman’s sophomore restaurant has been racking up national praise — another spot we think helps to define Philadelphia’s dining scene. With husband Alex Kemp, she serves a menu of interactive dishes that are equally fun and delicious. Think: Thin slices of rare roast beef wrapped around hot fries and pickled shrimp served in a mini mason jar with a side saltines. (We have some tips for snagging a table.)
17. Stina Pizzeria South Philly
Bobby and Christina Saritsoglou’s Stina seems like a come-as-you-are brick oven pizzeria, but it’s really much more. Chef Bobby’s Greek heritage shows up all over the menu, from spanakopita with barrel-aged feta and wood-fired pita to shawarma and baklava. Don’t miss the crispy, slow-cooked Spanish octopus or the leopard-spotted, boat-shaped pide filled with lamb sausage or mushrooms and cheese. Of course, you’ll want to get a perfectly charred pizza to share too. Fun fact: Christina is one of the founders of Philly AIDS Thrift, and Stina is known for supporting local non-profits.
18. Picnic Fishtown
What promises to be one of the year’s most talked-about openings, Picnic, is now in full swing. This new Defined Hospitality concept with seating for 200+ takes its cues from the chill backyard set-up and wine shop you’ll find at New Orleans’ Bacchanal. The menu is full of charcuterie and cheese boards, oysters, rotisserie chicken, and ultra-seasonal salads. Snag a table for date night or a big group outing.
19. Hooked Up Seafood Wildwood
Shore dining with the atmosphere and quality of Hooked Up Seafood is hard to come by. At this ultra-casual, dockside destination, the Bright family cooks what they catch in the waters off Wildwood. That means you’re in for the freshest seafood around, and all of it is cooked perfectly, from fried flounder to little necks in a buttery broth with plenty of bread for sopping up.
More info here.
20. Townsend EPX East Passyunk
Townsend Wentz is celebrating his eponymous restaurant’s 10 year anniversary this spring. His flagship restaurant is known for its seasonal and classic French dishes, best showcased in a five-course tasting menu. Lovely à la carte offerings, including snails and roasted bone marrow, are also available. Sommelier Gordana Kostovski expertly leads the drinks program at Townsend, which has one of Philly’s great bars. (Open until 2 a.m.!)
Discover More
The Philly Restaurants We Loved in September
How to Get Into Amourette
The Resy Guide to Italian Pasta in Philadelphia
Now on Resy: Paffuto, Ralph’s Italian Restaurant, Jezabel’s, and More Local Favorites
Philadelphia’s Newest Restaurant Openings, Now on Resy
How Bolo Brings the Diasporican Experience to the Table, in Six Dishes
Chefs Nok Suntaranon and Jesse Ito on Making Food Your Own
Portraits of Philly: Chef Michael Vincent Ferreri of Irwin’s
Portraits of Philly: Kalaya’s Nok Suntaranon
Portraits of Philly: Friday Saturday Sunday’s Chad & Hanna Williams
Portraits of Philly: Mish Mish’s Alex Tewfik
Portraits of Philly: Musi BYOB’s Ari Miller
Stephen Satterfield's Corner Table
