The Resy Hit List: Where In Philadelphia You’ll Want to Eat Right Now
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.
Consider it your essential resource for dining in Philadelphia: a monthly-updated guide to the restaurants that you won’t want to miss — tonight or any night.
Four Things In Philadelphia Not to Miss This Month
- Head of the Class: January is the perfect time to learn a new skill and give yourself an excuse to venture out of the house. Consider a pasta-making class with chef-owner Joe Cicala of Cicala at the Divine Lorraine (January 5) or a pizza-making class with Osteria’s chef-owner Jeff Michaud (January 9).
- Plan Ahead: Looking ahead, now is the time to book seats at Le Virtú’s annual La Panarda event on Feb. 16. Only 50 people will get into this $500 day-long dinner (aka parade) of 40-plus courses and 10 Abruzzese wines, so don’t delay. And as always, check our Resy Events page for much more to do.
- Draft Pick: Feb. 9 is the Super Bowl and while it’s too soon to know if the Birds will be playing, you’ll want to pick a good spot to watch the big game. Yards Brewing Co is a hometown favorite and usually has specials on game day. And we always have plenty more recs for great spots to grab a drink.
- On the Menu: Passyunk’s Pizzata Pizzeria & Birreria recently launched a new menu item that’s turning heads. The “Taste of Philly” is a square tomato pie with each of the four sides of its crust stuffed — calzone-style — with the fillings of a different Philly-famous sandwich: a cheesesteak, a roast pork, sausage and peppers, and an Italian hoagie. It’s only $25 and your Instagram photos will be priceless.
New to the Hit List (Jan. 2025)
1906 Restaurant at Longwood Gardens, Amy’s Pastelillos, Char Pizza, Del Rossi’s Cheesteaks, Essen North, Sorellina, Vedge, Mulherin’s Pizzeria.
1. 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. Between Nok’s book release and “Chef’s Table” appearance last fall, Kalaya is back on top of our must-visit restaurants. 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.
2. Alice South Philadelphia
One of the newest restaurants in town has quickly earned a spot among the best. It makes sense. Alice’s owner Dave Conn spent his career with the likes of Jose Garces and Stephen Starr. His debut restaurant on a prominent Italian Market corner offers a tour of international dishes from naan to latkes to pasta to rib eye. The best way to experience it is through the $110 chef’s tasting which delivers a generous amount of food — the greatest hits, with some flexibility to swap a dish or two for something you’re jazzed about. With a fairly large menu, you’ll want to go back to try more. Trust us.
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 Cooper Sharp cheese. DiGiampietro is obsessed with making perfect sandwiches and pizza (which, see below), and this small Italian Market shop always has a line down the block, but it’s a line of happy people — the kind 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. Bloomsday Headhouse Square
Bloomsday, which recently welcomed a sister cafe down the block called Loretta’s, has settled into a great rhythm. It’s a neighborhood staple for lunch and dinner, plus brunch on the weekend and a lovely bar to sit around. You can come in for a platter of fancy tinned fishes or a full meal of steak frites. The team is always up to something fun. High tea events spotlight a local bakery and frequent wine events. Around the holidays, you can sign up to decorate gingerbread houses. An on-site wine shop specializes in natural wine with a huge bottle list that seamlessly hops from the Lehigh Valley to the Canary Islands to Slovakia.
5. Little Walter’s East Kensington
Polish food is having a moment, in large part thanks to Little Walter’s. Michael Brenfleck, who previously ran things at , takes traditional, comfort food-esque specialties like pierogies and kielbasa, and gives them the chef treatment. He made Philly proud by snagging a spot on The New York Times’ best restaurants list in 2024. The advice for eating here is to mix bright and pickled things with rich, carb-heavy dishes, but realistically, when there are cheesy pierogi, vegan pierogi, and even chocolate pierogi, just wear comfortable pants. Don’t forget to try cocktails made with Polish spirits or one of the drinks on the generous zero-proof menu.
6. Del Rossi’s Cheesesteaks Northern Liberties
Cheesesteaks. We can’t get enough of ‘em. Especially the rare breed that’s served on fresh-baked seeded rolls. That’s what Del Rossi’s recently started doing, with advice from Angelo’s owner Danny DiGiampietro (see above) and an out-of-state bread consultant. Now, they’re pumping out Philly’s favorite sandwich — with pasture-raised, hand-cut rib eye — on scored and sturdy sourdough rolls. While you’re there, try one of the classic, bubbly pizzas that also start out with top-notch dough, which happens to be owner Nish Patel’s obsession.
Find more info here.
7. 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.
8. 1906 Restaurant at Longwood Gardens Kennett Square
For decades, the restaurant at Longwood Gardens has been a go-to for devotees of the region’s top garden. It was always a nice place, but as part of a $250 million reimagining project, 1906 enters a new era. In a new location that overlooks the site’s historic fountains, greenery ensconces the dining room’s warm wood. Under executive chef George Murkowicz, known for his time with travelling farm-to-table operation Outstanding in the Field, the restaurant is going all-in on seasonal produce, much of it coming from an on-site garden — and fungi lovers take note that Kennett Square has been dubbed the mushroom capital of the world. Even so, while the menu here leans luxury with truffles and seafood towers, don’t miss the playful desserts.
Find more info here.
9. Jaffa Bar Philly Olde Kensington
Amid a busy year for the restaurant group behind Zahav, this opening took the Middle Eastern cooking that Michael Solomonov’s team has earned acclaim for in a seaside direction. Named for the coastal city of Jaffa in Israel, it comes with a raw bar that serves seafood towers, oyster shooters, and creative takes like yellowtail done pastrami-style. Hot dishes offer a mix of seafood — Yemenite style bone-in monkfish or Moroccan salmon — and other options, like a burger with green chiles and a vegetable-based sandwich with special sauce. Look for the orange wedge logo on the restored 19th century firehouse building.
10. Vedge Center City
As Vedge nears its 15th anniversary, the plant-based restaurant that launched 1,000 plant-based restaurants remains a must-visit. Whether you’ve had these dishes dozens of times or are a first timer, Rich Landau’s rutabaga fondue with a soft pretzel dipper, main course-style smokey carrot, and stuffed avocado will still surprise and delight. Far from the crunchy vegan restaurants of yore, this destination has long been known for its excellent bar, where fruits and vegetables star in elegant cocktails. In fact, Vedge just released “The Vedge Bar Book,” so that the rest of us can attempt to mix up some of their classic drinks at home.
11. Mulherin’s Pizzeria East Market
Wm. Mulherin’s Sons’ sister restaurant goes big on charred pizza made with house-milled farro and a two-day fermentation, plus pasta and vegetable-centric small plates. Chef Sean McPaul, a Starr alum with Michelin experience, runs the kitchen. This Center City operation comes with a pretty bar and an outdoor seating area that feels separate from the hubbub outside, but also part of it. Read all about it in the Resy Rundown and book it for lunch or dinner on Resy.
12. Irwin’s South Philadelphia
Chef Michael Vincent Fererri has been cooking top-notch Silician food for most of his career in Philly. He’s known for family recipes and fresh spins on classic Italian dishes — and for his spectacular hand with pasta, whether it’s hand-rolled gnocchi sardi with eggplant, or spaghetti with clams. The view from here on top of Bok Building, a former public high school, is a stunner — and adds to what’s always a special time. And if you want to plus-up that specialness even more, you can book Salvatore’s Counter, named after Fererri’s late father; it’s an intimate four-seat experience with a never-repeated 10-course menu, every other Sunday.
13. Amy’s Pastelillos Fishtown
So, you’re into empanadas, but like to try something new? Meet pastelillos, Puerto Rico’s own deep-fried and crimped pastry stuffed with savory fillings. Amaryllis Rivera Nassar launched Amy’s Pastelillos as a pop-up and it has grown so popular that she opened a brick and mortar in summer 2024. The crowds come for her unique offerings, like guava barbecue pork, margherita pizza, and vegan yuca and gandules pastelillos, plus hearty bowls, stewed beans, and plantains. Bring a tray of these to your next party and get ready to make some new friends.
Find 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 and 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. Essen North Fishtown
South African Jewish baker Tova du Plessis’ Essen has become a staple in South Philly since its opening nearly a decade ago. Now, she’s expanded into a second location with a Fishtown cafe that offers more space for you to sit down and enjoy your bagel or za’atar croissant sandwich with a hard-boiled egg and labneh. And if there’s one thing we need more of around here, it’s black and white cookies. Those palm-sized, dichromatic, lemon-infused cookies are just one of the sweet treats you’ll find at Essen North. This is also a perfect place to pick up fresh challah, babka, and rugelach.
Find more info here.
16. My Loup Rittenhouse
My Loup chef-owners Amanda Shulman and Alex Kemp continue to stack up the awards, and continue to hold a place of Hit List pride. She was named one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs and he was on the cover of Bon Appetit’s 2024 new restaurants issue. This dynamic duo’s cooking is confident, balanced, and fun — just like the vibe in their restaurants (including Her Place and the pop-up Amourette). Here, Shulman and Kemp pay tribute to the modern French cuisine they enjoyed while working and dating in Montreal. The menu changes daily, but if you can get the cold roast beef au poivre with fries, don’t miss it (and don’t be afraid to eat it with your hands).
17. La Baja Ambler
Dionicio Jiménez, known for Cantina La Martina in Kensington, has a new opening in the charming small town of Ambler. Unlike his inaugural restaurant, which leans casual with absolutely delicious tacos and a full bar, this venture is taking on the form of a classic BYOB with white tablecloths and upscale dishes inspired by Mexico’s borders. Don’t miss: Burrata over a rich black mole made with 15 ingredients, elote-style corn with walnut cream, and a whole duck with plantains and bao buns. Jiménez’s unique sauces star throughout this menu.
18. Hi-Lo Taco Center City
Jeff Newman ran Hi-Lo as a pop-up for a few years before opening a brick and mortar right in Center City. His Tex-Mex tacos on freshly made flour tortillas come in satisfying combos like pineapple pulled pork and chicken bacon ranch. They are topped with housemade salsas and sauces. Even the chips are fancy here: Fresh fried heirloom corn tortilla chips coming in hot and fresh all day. The menu is also very vegan-friendly with options for cauliflower and mushrooms to sub in for several tacos. Hi-Lo is open for breakfast, happy hour, and late night until 11 p.m. on weekends. There’s a full bar. Fun fact: Newman, who has worked on both coasts, was part of the opening team for the first Eataly in the states.
Find more info here.
19. Char Pizza Kensington
Char Pizza is another outfit that started as a pop-up and just had to become a full-time operation because people loved it so much. Fun fact: Owner Viraj Thomas started making pizza in high school, which was only a few years ago. The young pizzaiolo offers a tight menu at his new BYOB — seven leopard-spotted pies that stick closely to the classics: marinara, margherita, tomato pie, and mushroom, with subtle twists, like hot honey drizzled on pepperoni, and specials like a short rib pizza. Start with a kale Caesar and finish with Oreo soft serve.
Find more info here.
20. Sorellina Fairmount
Cicala, one of our most treasured Italian restaurants, just got a little sister. (Literally, that’s what Sorellina means in Italian.) This cutie has a 1,000 degree oven pizza bookending a circular bar in a sunny corner of the historic, and gorgeous, Divine Lorraine building. The pies here are Neapolitan-style, traditional and unexpected. We’re partial to the pizza topped with a giant ball of burrata and a bunch of toasted pistachios, but a classic margherita will also serve you well. The offerings here are personal pan sized, but sharing will expand your horizons.
