The Philly Restaurants We Loved This Month

I had an ideal Friday night…

… involving Turkish pide, spicy soppressata pizza, BYOB wine, shrimp cocktail, and a martini. It all started with a meal at Stina Pizzeria where my friends and I ordered a hearty feast of Italian, Turkish, Greek, and Moroccan specialties — everything from roasted carrots with Greek yogurt and chermoula and kolokithopita (butternut squash phyllo) to kefta pide and pizza. Afterward, we headed for a nightcap at Friday Saturday Sunday for some shrimp cocktail and a stiff drink. I ordered myself a Cheap Suit, but next time, I’m going for the cognac- and rum-based Assassin’s Handbook.

— Deanna Ting, New York & Philadelphia Editor, Resy Editorial

I fell in love with a new restaurant called…

… Amá, which is serving regional Mexican food and drinks off Front Street in Fishtown. Not only was I excited to visit some of my favorite bartenders at their new gig, I was excited to finally taste the food of chef Frankie Ramirez. I’m calling it now: Amá will be the summer dining destination, thanks to its grand indoor-outdoor layout (the 4,000-plus square-foot space offers multiple dining areas, both large and communal, and small and intimate) and airy coastal design.

My husband and I opted for an all-fish dinner: tuna tostada (classic and simple with salsa macha and smashed avocado), swordfish tacos (think pieces of cubed grilled fish with dollops of labneh and brick-red spicy salsa topped with pickled onions), the Tikin Xic (a Yucatán Peninsula-derived whole striped bass grilled skin-side up that made for a juicy, tender fish, brushed with achiote and xnipec habanero salsa), and their chips and salsa combo, which came with whole fried tortillas that you can tear and dip into six different sauces representing various native ingredients from Mexico. Having recently returned from Guadalajara, eating tortillas that fresh with every dish transported me right back to Mexico — as did the churros for dessert.

— Alisha Miranda, Contributing Writer, Resy Editorial

After interviewing chef Nok more than two years ago…

… Kalaya was at the top of my list. So, when I returned to Philly (after not having been since 2019), it was naturally the first place I went to as soon as our bus dropped us off, right in time for lunch. It was Easter Sunday and chef Nok was in the house, working the pass in the open kitchen and greeting and touching what seemed like every single table. Everything we ate was wonderful, but our absolute favorites were the gui cha (delightfully crispy garlic chive rice cakes, dipped in a spicy soy sauce) and the goon ob woonsen (incredible glass noodles with shrimp, Chinese celery, and bacon).

Pro tip: If you’re too full for dessert (like we were), get the Thai tea tiramisu boxed up to go — it holds up beautifully.

— Noëmie Carrant, Senior Writer and Editor, Resy Editorial

For a great lunch spot in Fishtown…

… head to Kalaya. There are lots of options, it’s easy to share dishes, and there’s something for everyone. Standouts included the kha soi nua, the mussel golae, and the cabbage side dish (the kalum tod nam pla), which you absolutely cannot miss.

— Alice Tran, Restaurant Trade & Industry Marketing Manager

I understand why…

… illata is so beloved among my friends and colleagues who’ve been lucky enough to dine there. It’s just such a special place where the food is excellent, and the warm hospitality makes you feel so at ease and at home. Dining there with a friend on an early Friday night, we had to restrain ourselves from ordering nearly everything on the menu. Some standouts were the exceptional sourdough bread and butter, the towering chicory salad studded with flecks of Comté, and the savory sweetbreads. Also, don’t force yourself to decide between the chocolate cake or brown butter tart for dessert; do what we did, and just get both. You won’t regret it.

— Deanna Ting, Resy New York and Philadelphia Editor, Resy Editorial

All the food was great…

… at Kiddo, and they had a guinea hen liver mousse special that was amazing. The beet salad was one of the best I’ve had. Really great vibe in the restaurant, too.

— Andrew Marquez, Senior Hospitality Coordinator

The service was top-notch at…

… Mish Mish — very attentive without being overbearing, with a relaxed vibe overall. Everything was excellent but the dish I’m still thinking about is the grilled lion’s mane mushroom with onion caramel, hazelnuts, and kohlrabi, with a red wine vinaigrette. I tried to convince my friend to split another one but she was already too full. It’s probably for the best, because the desserts were not to be missed: an olive oil cake with persimmon jam smothered in vanilla yuzu cream (created by chef Evan Barghout). The other was deconstructed s’mores, where the marshmallows were perfect.

— Alexa Harrison, Communications Manager

Is there anything better than…

… going in on a pitcher of mango margaritas with your friends? LMNO in Fishtown has a crazy tasty mango marg rimmed with chile salt that is the opening track to a night filled with Baja-inspired hits and cool vibes. We loved the crab guacamole and the pollo asado tacos that sat atop a layer of seared cheese. Side of rice and beans is a must.

— Adrianna Harris, Restaurant Success Manager

One of my favorite restaurants in the city…

… is LMNO, especially when I’m dining with friends. The space is gorgeous and the food is amazing. We started with the cucarachas: fried shrimp in hot sauce with butter and lime, which always has the perfect spice level. Next up (and highly recommended) was the lobster Puerto Nuevo, or pan-fried whole lobster with macha butter — it went down perfectly with a Phony Mezcal Negroni.

— Robert DeFelice, Enablement Analyst

Nothing beats…

… nabbing the best seat in the house: in Sorellina’s case, a perfect nook at the front of the restaurant. The pizza was good and we tried their special of the night, which had a ricotta-stuffed crust (!). I was excited they had a dedicated spritz menu and ordered the Hugo spritz.

— Alexa Harrison, Communications Manager

I already know where I want to return to on my next trip to Philly…

… and it involves a seat at the counter of Supérette. This spot from the same team behind Superfolie and The Good King Tavern has everything you’d want in a wine bar: excellent pours and bottles, satisfying French fare, and warm, friendly hospitality to boot. I loved everything I shared with my friends and colleagues, but their version of jambon-beurre (it has potato chips for crunch!) and Comté ravioles were particular standouts. I can’t wait to try more of the menu next time.

— Deanna Ting, New York and Philadelphia Editor, Resy Editorial

Bonus: I found an excuse…

… for an overdue return to one of my favorite local gastropubs, Standard Tap. They hosted a one-day-only kitchen collab with Sergeantsville Inn, a restaurant near New Hope that people keep raving about (including restaurant critic Craig LaBan). My husband and I took one look at the old-school tavern-style Sergeantsville menu and were instantly sold — we ordered one of everything: crispy, lightly battered onion rings; a big, tart radicchio salad with a generous amount of chunky cheddar and sliced pears; sweet sticky juicy sriracha-honey fried chicken à la Bonchon; butterflied shrimp given the “casino” treatment, broiled with parmesan, herbs, and lemon; and an absolutely perfect single patty cheeseburger cooked medium with a slice of Cooper Sharp and pickle-mustard sauce. After that meal, we put Sergeantsville Inn at the top of our summer must-visit list.

— Alisha Miranda, Contributing Writer, Resy Editorial

More Philadelphia staff picks, right this way.