The Philly Restaurants We Loved in March
If there’s one thing you must know about the people who work at Resy, it’s that we genuinely love restaurants …
This month, Team Resy feasted on Jewish Italian fare, swooned over rabbit nuggets, was pleasantly surprised by chicory gelato, and had a fantastic time sitting at one cozy bar.
There’s nothing like…
… sitting at the bar for some small plates and cocktails at Bar Lesieur. I had a very solid Paper Plane, courtesy of our bartender, Sarah, along with some croquettes, mac and cheese, and shrimp dumplings to share. I left wishing I had the opportunity to try some of their entrées. The inviting atmosphere lives up to the name, and I’ll be back for their happy hour (Tuesday through Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m.).
— Leonard Mazzone, Senior Software Engineer
If you ever find yourself on the outskirts of Philadelphia…
… Xolo Tacos in Bryn Mawr is a great spot to dine at. The margaritas are strong and flavorful, and you truly need to order their guacamole. And they’ve got great service, too.
— Dan Snitzer, Card Membership Marketing & Capabilities
To escape the shore crowds of Asbury Park…
… my husband and I decided to celebrate the debut of Judy’s inside the St. Laurent Social Club. We’re big fans of New Jersey restaurant couple Neilly Robinson and chef David Viana, and loved that they transformed the recent Heirloom restaurant into a romantic, coastal Jersey, Jewish Italian spot that pays homage to Robinson’s parents. And they’ve retained most of the staff we’ve come to know over the years (shoutout to Suzanna, Mike, Adam, Elio, and Stephen!).
We went ham on just about every dish on the menu, but our favorites included the arugula and chicory salad with pickled pears, pine nuts, and shaved Parm; the crispiest and lightest fried calamari with a classic marinara and a surprise pepper jelly-and-orange marmalade underneath (which made for a sweet-and-savory bite); the Philly-themed roast pork cavatelli and chicken and broccoli gnudi (which smelled and tasted just like home); and the juicy roast chicken Savoy cooked in vinegar, salt, garlic, and thyme with extra crispy skin, which tasted even better when paired with a slightly chilled bottle of Fratelli Alessandri’s 2023 Verduno Pelaverga Speziale.
— Alisha Miranda, Philadelphia Writer, Resy Editorial
I was blown away by…
… Pietramala. This plant-based restaurant is creative, entirely delicious, and BYOB (something that’s becoming more and more rare these days). The back of the menu shouts out dozens of local farms and purveyors that supply everything you’ll be eating, and it was impressive: a Murasaki sweet potato got a wings treatment with Buffalo sauce and sour cashew cream; a pounded-thinly parsnip was fried up Milanese-style and topped with lemony greens; and sweet-and-savory tortellini could have come from a Vetri operation. I also loved the not-too-sweet chicory gelato for dessert. Admittedly, I waited until my vegan sister’s birthday as an excuse to finally go try it — don’t make my mistake!
— Sarah Maiellano, Philadelphia Writer, Resy Editorial
Before heading back to Philly…
… my husband and I drove up to Lita for an early meal at the bar, where the full à la carte and tasting menus are available. We love that their menu dials into specific geographical and familial references from the Iberian Peninsula, like the grandma’s chicken spaghetti, which tasted like a soulful homemade asopao de pollo with a split green and red sauce. Their rabbit nuggets were perked up by an Indian masala spice, and the diced tuna salad from chef Wandy was a play on textures with cucumber, tahini, passion fruit, and lemon vinaigrette. The pisco sour with mango and the Ancho Reyes and clarified tzatziki cocktail made us feel like we were on a mini vacation.
— Alisha Miranda, Philadelphia Writer, Resy Editorial
