Philadelphia’s Newest Restaurant Openings, Now on Resy

A restaurant that lives up to its name, Amalfi is an escape to the Italian coast, with a generous menu of antipasti and classic pasta dishes for both lunch and dinner. The bright space is ideal for a quick stop in for a snack and espresso, or a leisurely meal. Bonus: It’s BYOB.

Dara means “star” in Thai, which explains the stargazing décor and the out-of-this-world menu of homestyle Thai dishes, done with a lot of love and care. Expect classics like drunken noodles, tom yum soup, and seafood pineapple fried rice elaborately served in a hollowed-out pineapple. Bonus: It’s BYOB, so plan accordingly.

Whether it’s for date night or a quick bite with friends, you can’t go wrong with Italian classics like calamari fritti, Caesar salads, and rigatoni Bolognese. The friendly service and cozy room makes everyone feel like famiglia.

Elevated bar bites (think chile-spiked queso, beer-battered onion rings with romesco, and honey and habanero wings) and excellent cocktails await at this gem in historic Dilworthtown. The End of the Line (Overholt rye, Cognac, housemade tobacco bitters, and a smoked glass) by the fireplace more than fits the cozy tavern atmosphere.

You don’t need a dazzling dining room to enjoy an array of mezze and pita, sizzling kebabs, smoked lamb sausage, and an impressive Tunisian lamb shank. But it does make everything that much better when the restaurant’s designed around communal dining and you’re sharing plates with everyone at the table.

Head to this Main Line staple for the always-changing seasonal menu and understated countryside elegance. Cassoulet and grilled pork chops are just as compelling as the more unique dishes, like frog legs and lemongrass agnolotti.  

Chef Dionicio Jiménez takes cues from Peking duck for his crispy-skinned carnitas de pato, and pulls from Italy for dishes like risotto with hibiscus, Mexican chocolate-braised short ribs, and burrata served in a pool of dark mole at his delightful restaurant. And that’s just the beginning. PS: If you forget wine, Stone & Key Cellars delivers right to your table.

Aiming for Japanese dive bar status, Kevin Yanaga far supersedes that moniker with this happening spot. Dig into classic and creative sushi rolls, but also bites like hibachi fried rice gilded with a sous vide egg, Japanese spaghetti with wagyu sausage, and duck confit onigiri. BYOB until the license comes in. 

Life should have more pierogies in it and this East Kensington spot knows it, offering a fresh modern take on Polish staples. Think shrimp kielbasa with smoked skate, and even chocolate pierogi for dessert, plus OG versions (like super crushable potato and cheese pierogies). It’s comfort food, whether you grew up with it or not, especially alongside a pickle-juice martini. 

Because this might just be one of the coolest places in town. Think an 1832-vintage Old City hotel (revived by the owners of the United by Blue clothing brand as a 15-room boutique inn) with a high-class whiskey bar and a restaurant serving modern American fare with a Philly accent, including seriously good pizza. 

It’s not a picnic on the grass — it’s a 140-year-old former brewery building that had gone to seed until the group behind Pizzeria Beddia, Kalaya, and other Philly hits transformed it into an airy, come-as-you-are chill outdoor picnic restaurant. The menu is full of charcuterie and cheese boards, oysters, rotisserie chicken with all the sauces, and ultra-seasonal salads.

Don’t expect a ton of homemade pasta you usually find at Germantown sibling Moma Kitchen. Instead, this Moma has a seafood-heavy menu that makes you feel like you’ve just hopped off a boat in the Mediterranean and into a small, convivial neighborhood joint for mezze to share, shrimp with saganaki cheese, and whole grilled branzino with saffron pilaf.  

Joe and Angela Cicala planned just right: Just across the Divine Lorraine lobby from their elegant Cicala, Sorellina stands bright, doling out Italian-flavored cocktails, cicchetti-style snacks, and best of all, modern Neapolitan-style pizzas. Come hungry and in the mood for fun.

More of a good thing is always welcome, and this Center City hummusiya has grown, with a larger dining room and a more extensive menu (with cocktails added) — but with the same spirited industrial-chic atmosphere and more-please menu of hummus variations, plus that famous za’atar-roasted chicken dinner. 

This offshoot of the original Rosy’s features all the tacos (carnitas, crispy cod, or mushroom — in that order) and favorites, like the mountain of nachos stacked high with your choice of grilled meats. And if your weekend brunch needs mole omelets and “hangover” beef caldo, there’s plenty of that, too.

Earth tones, wood-beam ceilings, and sprays of flowers help give this radiant Greek restaurant from the group behind Estia and Pietro’s Pizza a breezy Mediterranean feeling, and the seafood-focused menu, enjoyable Greek wines, and vibrant cocktails will make you think you’re on vacation. 

Dress to impress at this lavish Northern Liberties destination, with its cool, angular design in silver, gray, and black; its special-night-out vibe; and its high-end, steak-centered Italian menu — “SIN” stands for Steak Italian Nightlife, and that may be all you really need to know.

This massive space under the El in Kensington is full of surprises. With three bars, several dining areas, one cool little dart board alleyway, and a great outdoor area, it’s the kind of place where you can order to match your mood (and room). Think croquettes and cocktails, to tomahawk steaks and vegetable tagine with a nice bottle of red.

You know you’re in the right place when a menu veers from French onion soup dumplings to caviar bumps that come with a very nice vodka martini. The corner spot in Point Breeze is just as good for an everyday dinner as for a celebratory meal with friends.