Now on Resy: Paffuto, Ralph’s Italian Restaurant, Jezabel’s, and More Local Favorites
From a family-run South Philly institution to a riveting Mexican restaurant, these are just a few of the beloved Philadelphia spots that are now bookable on Resy. Right this way.
Note: This list will be updated regularly with new additions each month, so be sure to check back often. For Philadelphia’s newest restaurant openings, head here.
Paffuto Bella Vista
Newly added!
It’s hard not to be drawn in by Paffuto’s cheery exterior. Ditto for the panzerotti, those fried, calzone-like pockets the original pop-up became known for. And the maritozzi. And dinner, which is equally on fire: fried smelts with aioli, poached mussels with tomato purée, and chitarra with clams all feel right in a Nonna-approved room.
Cantina La Martina Kensington
Newly added!
There’s lots to love about this riveting Mexican restaurant from chef Dionicio Jiménez (a veteran of Xochitl and El Rey): a build-your-own aguachile option, a birria burger, a choice of machetes (two-foot-long quesadillas to share), and a menu full of familiar and unfamiliar fare that will keep you coming back for more.
Ralph’s Italian Restaurant Bella Vista
Newly added!
Because it’s iconic for a reason. The South Philly institution is still family-run, has lifetime staffers who don’t skip a beat, and has hosted myriad famous faces in its over 100-year existence. You’ll go back for anything smothered in that house red sauce (veal parm, manicotti, lasagna), mussels, sausage and peppers, and cannoli.
SofiCorner Center City
Newly added!
This sliver of a spot is a charmer. The bright and sunny colors, mosaic tables, and artful touches bring the French-Moroccan theme together. It’s exactly where you want to be for a cozy brunch over Moroccan eggs, quiche Lorraine, and flaky pastries, or weekend lamb tagine at night.
Taqueria Cresta East Falls
Newly added!
Some days, all it takes is a plate of tacos, an icy margarita, and a plate of churros to make everything better. The airy space with vibrant pops of color has all of that and more. Beef birria tacos (with the requisite side of consommé) and a bowl of pineapple guacamole have locals on repeat.
Zama Rittenhouse
Self-taught sushi master Hiroyuki “Zama” Tanaka is a genuine star on the Philadelphia restaurant scene, and his talents shine brightly here, with fresh seafood sourced from around the world, inventive cross-cultural rolls you won’t find anywhere else, a wealth of savory kitchen bites, and a list of hard-to-find sakes to seal the deal.
Azie on Main Villanova
The team responsible for Teikoku in Newtown Square and Mikado Thai Pepper in Ardmore is amping up the dining scene in Villanova with this dramatically designed tribute to Japanese and Southeast Asian cooking, featuring a range of sushi rolls, poke bowls, and specialties like tom yum koong soup and ribeye Panang curry.
9 Prime West Chester
Unstoppable Chicago-based chef-restaurateur Fabio Viviani, who’s launched more than 50 restaurants in a dozen-plus states, collaborated with developer John O’Connell to install a big-city elegant steakhouse with a world-class wine list in a onetime bank building from the 19th-century, and you will definitely want to claim a table here.
Jezabel’s University City, Philadelphia
Every neighborhood would be lucky to have Jezabel Careaga’s charming bakery and café filled to the brim with Argentinian specialties like gorgeous golden empanadas, medialunas, alfajores, and other treats. It’s ideal for a bite, a pot of tea, or a quick lunch.
Morea Midtown Village
The attractions here? Cocktails on draught, plush seating, glowing neon accents, and a menu of modern American fare that’s half seafood (would you believe a shrimp and crabmeat Caesar salad?) and half everything else you want to eat, from wild mushroom flatbread to grilled lamb lollipops.
Koto Sushi Center City
Come with friends or a date (though you’ll be welcome even if you’re alone) to this casually comfortable Jewelers’ Row sushi and hibachi spot, where the endless menu offers almost any Japanese specialty you might crave and the intricately garnished multi-ingredient signature rolls are almost (almost) too pretty to eat.
NaBrasa Brazilian Steakhouse of Philadelphia Logan Square
All-you-can-eat can be complicated, especially when it comes to a Brazilian steakhouse. The “salad bar” alone has so many choices, some of which have nothing to do with salad (looking at you, meatballs and paella). When the giant skewers of meat start arriving, you’ll want to try it all: marinated chicken, roast lamb, beef, pork, and even pineapple. It’s fun, it’s filling, it’s something every city needs.
Wilder Rittenhouse
A beautiful three-level Rittenhouse establishment, Wilder is the place for wood-fired pizzas and crudo constructed right before your eyes, plus a perfect array of raw bar offerings, pastas, and one excellent cheeseburger.
EMei 峨嵋 Chinatown
Launched in Chinatown in 2011, EMei has long since made its mark on the local dining scene thanks to chef Yongcheng Zhao’s intensely flavorful Sichuan cuisine (favorites include the crispy Chongqing chicken and mapo tofu). Pro tip: If you’re with a group, no meal is complete without a whole fish — any from that delightful section will do.
Rice n Sambal East Passyunk Crossing
You might’ve heard of chef Diana Widjojo from Hardena, her Indonesian gem of a restaurant in South Philly, or when she properly wowed the city with her “mini-rijsttafel” pop-up at Dankbaar. Well, the pop-up is now an ongoing Thursday-through-Saturday residency, it still features brilliantly flavored Indonesian fare (with both regular and vegan prix-fixes), and it’s truly something else.
Fellini Cafe Newtown Square Marple Newtown
Following its success in West Chester, Fellini has expanded to the other side of Philadelphia with this Delaware County BYOB, serving just the kind of Italian fare you love, from fried calamari and homemade lasagna to veal piccata. Pro tip: Come with a group and choose from the family-style dinner options for a proper feast.
Vernick Food & Drink Rittenhouse Square
Be like everyone else who comes to this neighborhood staple, sit upstairs or down, and get the blueberry pie. Ok, before that, get everything else — the steak tartare or blue crab toast, scallops with charred cabbage, halibut with brown butter mushrooms, and the roast chicken. Nothing disappoints.
Restaurant Aleksandar Rittenhouse Square
This Rittenhouse favorite feels at once old-world and contemporary, homey and cosmopolitan, seasonal yet a spot to find your favorite dish time and again. Crab bisque, cheesy potato pierogies, and roast duck for two are just a few ways to go. Cocktails at the bar are worth a stop alone.
Royal Boucherie Old City
It’s hard not to love a place that has classics like icy raw bar platters and escargots, crab cakes and cassoulet, and Miller High Life and fancy cocktails (including a few fun zero-proof ones). That’s what makes this Old City brasserie a hit. Also: Outdoor tables on the second-floor deck, weather permitting.
On Point Bistro Point Breeze
When you need a daytime-only menu that covers all the bases, from avocado toast to fried chicken and sweet potato waffles, with things like breakfast burgers, cheesesteak omelets, and kale salads to please everyone, On Point has you covered. Family-friendly and BYO makes this a buzzy Point Breeze spot.
Meetinghouse Bar and Beer Company Olde Richmond
The place every neighborhood wishes they had, where no-frills doesn’t mean basic. Case in point: The beefiest roast beef sandwich with a side of horseradish, plate-size fried turkey cutlet, and thick-cut fries. You can’t go wrong with a straightforward Negroni, either.
Le Virtú East Passyunk
It might be inspired by Abruzzo, but Le Virtú feels firmly Philadelphia in vibe. That’s especially true when it’s warm and you can dine on the lovely patio. Locally sourced ingredients grace just about every dish, from simple salads to soul-affirming dishes like chestnut tortelloni or braised rabbit with polenta.
Veda – Modern Indian Bistro Center City
It’s easy to go beyond the traditional at this sleek Center City spot — the crispy spinach chaat, spiced pork ribs with mango-chile glaze, and wild mushroom korma come to mind — but it also does the classics to the nines when you just need some saag paneer, chicken tikka, and a few pieces of pillowy naan.
Caribou Cafe Center City
Because here’s an institution for all the French classics — duck confit cassoulet, escargot in puff pastry, and gorgeously rich onion soup. All hit just right in the high-ceilinged space with its long bar, antique mirrors, and big doors that swing open during the warmer months.
Flannel East Passyunk Crossing
Nashville hot chicken sandwiches with more bird than bun, pimento-smothered brisket fries, sliced mac and cheese covered in brown butter bits and crunchy sea salt — no, this is no ordinary comfort food joint. If your breakfast burger needs a knife to keep everything in place, you know it has to be good.
Lacroix Rittenhouse Square
Remember this longtime Rittenhouse Square classic — named for its founder, legendary local chef Jean-Marie Lacroix — for a special occasion: The dining room is quietly luxurious, the service is impeccable, and chef Eric Leveillée’s menu offers memorable but unpretentious fare (raclette tartine, traditional pot-au-feu) that will warm your soul.
Bar Jawn Manayunk
It’s the kind of place you hope to stumble upon when you need a limoncello spritz or guava margarita stat, followed by cacio e pepper wings, Buffalo chicken arancini, and a South Philly chopped cheese. That’s to say: A neighborhood joint (owned by the Pizza Jawn crew) with a killer bar menu and friendly vibes to match.
Vintage Wine Bar Midtown Village
Happy hour with friends, date night, or a solo search for wine-friendly snacks and a flight of whites, this lively Midtown Village spot ticks all the boxes. Go French with steak tartare, excellent shoestring fries, and mussels in classic garlic wine broth, but there’s a little bit of everything else (i.e. meatballs!) to keep things interesting.
Yards Brewing Co Northern Liberties
You’ll want to spend plenty of time in the taproom at this 70,000-square-foot, 100% wind-powered brewery to enjoy as many of their roughly two dozen beers as you can — including ales brewed in the styles favored by Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin — and beer-friendly food like Philly wings and cheesesteak egg rolls.
Bar1010 Northern Liberties
You’ll most likely head to this Northern Liberties joint for the cheesy bread; fresh salads; and thin, crispy pizzas. But then you’ll stick around for the drinks — lovely concoctions that are expertly crafted, including a sort of choose-your-own-adventure version that keeps bartenders on their toes. Order the espresso martini topped with Parmesan cheese shavings, ask questions later.
Discover More
How to Get Into Vita in Philadelphia
How Oloroso Celebrates Modern-Day Tapas, in Six Dishes
The Philly Restaurants We Loved in September
How to Get Into Amourette
The Resy Guide to Italian Pasta in Philadelphia
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
