The Resy Hit List: Where In Philadelphia You’ll Want to Eat in August 2025

When you hear about this Scandinavian-inspired bar in Rittenhouse, chances are you’re not picturing the place as it is. Far from the traditionally sparse aesthetic of northern Europe, this cocktail lounge is saturated in color and patterns throughout two floors. With moody vibes and fashionable clientele, you’ll feel like you’re in a James Bond movie scene. Get in the mood with one of two dozen well-made cocktails with fun names, like Red Hatorade, which is like a negroni with aquavit. A tight food menu follows the Scandinavian theme with dishes like smoked salmon on sourdough and snacks like seasonal pickles, but we’re pretty into the potato chips and sturgeon caviar if you don’t mind dropping $35.

The best cheesesteaks in the city — enough that it’s more or less outgrown its space, and sprouted a Bradley Cooper-driven offshoot in NYC. Convince us we’re wrong. Danny DiGiampietro makes the rolls fresh every morning. And 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 that line down the block, although it’s a line of the eager and devoted — 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.

West Philly is coming in hot this summer with the arrival of Corio, a new Italian spot by three Vernick Food & Drink alums. Chef David Feola — who also has experience cooking at Ember & Ash, Hearthside, and Southgate — is making fresh pizza and pasta dreams come true for University City’s busy population. Try Corio’s Chicken Riggies, a classic from Feola’s childhood in Central New York, or go a little fancier with gemelli with Parmesan, black pepper, sesame seeds, and pecorino. This place is family-friendly (think: margherita pizzas and highchairs) and flexible with takeout. You’ll also see a mini wine shop and a full bar, led by sommelier and former Vernick bar director James Smith.

Following the success of her adorable Vietnamese buncherie, TBD The Breakfast Den, Huyen Thai Dinh has opened a second spot. You’re in for indulgent, comforting breakfast food like crispy fried rice with tofu and a sunny side up egg, lemongrass shrimp and grits with Gouda, and build-your-own summer rolls with meat, vegetarian, and vegan options as the base. We’re especially excited about the shaken beef and eggs banh mi. On weekdays, bring your laptop and settle in for a few hours. You’ll also find plenty of tea and coffee here.

Find more info here.

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.

After running kitchens for Stephen Starr’s LMNO and Parc, chef Frankie Ramirez was ready to take the leap into ownership in a big way. He recently opened Amá, to the delight of Mexican food lovers everywhere. Even with 120 seats, Ramirez’s new restaurant has quickly become one of the toughest tables in town to snag. They’re coming for wood-fired octopus with black fried rice, shareable, seasonal tlayudas, make-your-own lamb neck birria tacos with consommé on the side, and giant curly churros with chocolate sauce and caramel-esque cajeta. Book it early and often; this place is just getting started.

Meetinghouse feels like it’s been there forever. Well, technically the space, most recently Memphis Taproom, has been a neighborhood bar since 1935. The new owners have kept things simple, but delicious. Chef and co-owner Drew DiTomo’s experience cooking in some of Philly’s top kitchens means you’re in for casual food made really, really well. His roast beef sandwich with a side of horseradish has quickly become a signature dish. We also recommend the turkey cutlet, giant green salad, and baked pineapple. The narrow bar-restaurant also makes three of its own beers, in collaboration with Tonewood Brewing, in easy-to-follow styles: hoppy, pale, and dark.

From the team behind the three über-hip Forîn cafes around town comes this new neighborhood restaurant with midcentury vibes. Percy is a one-stop shop for coffee, brunch, lunch, dinner, and fancy drinks. Chef Jack Smith’s menu is familiar, but dotted with local and seasonal ingredients. Think ricotta pancakes with cinnamon sugar whipped compound butter at breakfast and crispy barramundi in a cilantro and charred onion curry for dinner. Everything at the bar — wine, beer, liquor — comes from our fair state. We’re into a cocktail called Surfin that combines rum, amaro, caramelized banana syrup, honey wine, and lime. We’re even more into Percy’s swanky, music-oriented lounge, with swivel chairs and a fireplace.

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.

Sometimes popular spots fly a bit under the radar; that’s the case for Washington Avenue’s Plaza Garibaldi Mezcaleria, which has been around for more than 20 years. Those in the know go here to cure taco and burrito cravings, while sipping margaritas from the full bar. Regulars like the beef cheek (cabeza), slow cooked brisket, and al pastor tacos on corn tortillas, plus tomahawk steaks, and homemade horchata. Pro tip: Stop here for lunch during a day of Italian Market shopping when your energy starts to wane. Fuel up on Mexican food and get back out there.

Find more info here.

Philly’s eight-time Beard Award nominee 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.

Chad Durkin has been making some of Philly’s best pork sandwiches since he opened Small Oven Pastry Shop and Porco’s Porchetteria on Washington Avenue in 2019. The signature porchetta combines juicy porky deliciousness with crunchy cracklings into a stellar sandwich. Only now, Durkin is changing up the bread it’s served on. Say farewell to ciabatta and hello to a new seeded long roll that took him six months to perfect, in collaboration with neighbor Baker Street Bread. It’s all mahogany -toned outside and jus-soaked inside, just like we like it. 

Find more info here.

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 their flagship restaurant Her Place). 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).

We’re glad to welcome River Twice to the Resy neighborhood. Consistently recognized as one of Philly’s most exciting restaurants, Randy Rucker’s East Passyunk flagship serves a four-course menu that changes daily. Rucker specializes in pristine seafood with Asian and Southern infusions. One day, that could mean Jimmy Red corn grits with torched scallop, basil, and sour corn and another, mussels marinated in a black lime xo sauce with lemon cucumber, kohlrabi, sorrel, and tomato vinegar. You’ll want to get some add-ons too, like the summertime classic heirloom tomato sandwich covered in caviar, the Mother Rucker burger, sweet amalia oysters, and sourdough to sop up any juicy bits lingering on your plate.

This cafe punches well above its weight, as evidenced by a recent James Beard Award nomination. Thu Pham sources coffee from small arabica producers in the central highlands of Vietnam, known for its volcanic mountain soil, and roasts it in Philly. The Olney-native’s sunny Kensington cafe is open for breakfast and lunch six days a week. Get there early to catch specials like strawberry shortcake soft serve on a strawberry cone or a Korean sweet potato and espresso einspänner (a Viennese coffee drink similar to a latte). On the regular menu, find an array of banh mi and other sandwiches, plus sweet and sour tamarind fries.

Find more info here.

French technique meets Pennsylvania grain and fruit at this boulangerie and patisserie located on the ground floor of Bok Building. Head here for flakey layered delights — from double chocolate croissants, to kouign-amann, to a pastry with jammy eggs, hot pepper, and feta. There is a decent amount of seating in the bakery, and a coffee bar just outside. We like to take home a fresh-baked roasted potato cheddar loaf or a crusty baguette. And we’re not alone in our stanning: Machine Shop was on the boards again with a second James Beard nomination in 2025.

Find more info here.