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

With experience at Momofuku Ssam and Starr restaurants, owners Fred Beebe and Gabe Guerrero know what they’re doing in this revamped, former dive bar space. The laid-back neighborhood bar and restaurant prioritizes sustainability by utilizing ingredients from the Eastern United States (i.e. east of the Mississippi,) in innovative cocktails ranging from classic to experimental and non-alcoholic, and homey dishes like Parisian gnocchi with maitakes or celery root schnitzel with cabbage slaw. Keep an eye out for weeknight Classics Hour deals, monthly tasting menus, and brunch events.

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.

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Whenever Michael Schulson opens a new restaurant, you know it’s going to be stunning and delicious. His newest offering, Dear Daphni, is no exception. You’ll want to share everything at this Greek-leaning, Mediterranean newcomer which specializes in kebabs and small plates. Admire the earth tones, emerald green light fixtures, and plush booths as you consider what to order. We’re thinking swordfish kebab and the half dozen mezze — like smoked beets, cucumber salad, and hummus — that come with it, plus a Tunisian lamb shank with harissa, Turkish pilaf, and soft serve for dessert (also included with your order).

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

Did you know that Nick Elmi — known and celebrated for his intimate E. Passyunk restaurant Laurel — also runs a 140-seat suburban operation in Bala Cynwyd? Overlooking the Schuylkill River, it’s a gorgeous place to dine. Pulling from a coastal Mediterranean theme, Elmi stacks the menu with dishes like sumac-glazed octopus, sourdough-crusted halibut, roasted Spanish artichokes, and delicate housemade pastas like bucatini with clams and taleggio agnolotti. You can pop in for a drink and a bite on the rooftop terrace, or a luxurious meal in the generous dining room. At ground level, this building is also home to Elmi’s The Landing Kitchen, a cafe with fresh snacks and sandwiches and a great airy atmosphere, both inside and out.

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.

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.

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.

As soon as we heard that the team behind Bloomsday, the cozy Headhouse Square neighborhood staple, had plans to open a cafe down the street, we couldn’t wait. Now, Loretta’s is open. With a focus on fresh-baked goods, she’s serving breakfast and lunch, plus coffee, tea, juice, and pastries until 2 p.m. daily. We’re excited about the cinnamon rolls, mahogany laminated pie dough pop-tarts, poofy glazed doughnuts, bagels — and yes, sandwiches too. For a savory bite, try The Shirley with Lebanon bologna, mortadella, serrano ham, and burrata. For something sweet, The Barbara Special packs a croissant with peanut butter, banana, honey-roasted peanuts, and apple cider.

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 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).

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. Jiménez’s unique sauces star throughout this menu.

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.

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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.