The Resy Guide to Splurge-Worthy Dining in Philadelphia
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Philadelphia is a more affordable major city than some nearby metropolitans. (We’re looking at you, New York and Washington, D.C.) It’s one of the reasons why people move here and stay here. We’ve got a BYOB culture that can make dining out a deal and lots of neighborhood restaurants, but the city does indeed have its share of fine dining and sometimes, that’s just what you want.
There’s something so special about a night out where the service, food, and atmosphere come together to make you forget about the world outside. Sometimes you have a reason to drop bills like a birthday or anniversary and other times, you just want a meal that truly wows. From intimate omakase counters and tasting menus to elegant French meals, these Philly restaurants deliver when you’re looking for a truly blowout experience.
Here are 14 splurge-worthy restaurants in Philly.
Friday Saturday Sunday Rittenhouse Square
Friday Saturday Sunday is, arguably, Philly’s top restaurant, having been named the best restaurant in America by the James Beard Foundation in 2023. Chad and Hanna Williams’ Rittenhouse dining destination has been lauded for good reason: Everything here is perfect for an evening out, from the music, the lighting, the absolutely expert servers, the lovely downstairs bar led by Paul MacDonald, and most importantly, the food. The $165 tasting menu follows a standard format, but changes regularly. Among the eight courses, you’ll generally find something raw, something fresh, something from the sea, something meaty, something sweet, and some surprises. If you’re lucky, fresh canelés will also be on the menu, so save room.
Ambra Queen Village
Chef-owner Chris D’Ambro has been one of Philly’s best chefs for a long time. His primary restaurant Southwark is a neighborhood gem that punches well above its weight. Ambra, which shares a kitchen with Southwark, is where D’Ambro gets to go big with an ever-changing, Italian-influenced tasting menu that only a few lucky people get to experience each week. There’s a kitchen counter right in the middle of the action that seats two to four people or a serene dining room that can accommodate a few more. Both are tough to book, so check early. This experience is $300 cash per person, and includes a thoughtful and fun wine pairing.
Forsythia Old City
Chef Chris Kearse’s French restaurant in Old City is one of those places that other top chefs rave about – that’s how you know it’s special. Go for the chef’s tasting menu ($80 per person) that highlights Kearse’s favorite dishes on the menu. Alternatively, you may decide to split dry-aged Rohan duck that’s been dry aged for 10 days and served alongside sauce à l’orange ($140) or a rabbit blanquette au poivre for two that’s crusted in bone marrow ($90). This spot offers a more accessible version of fine dining, where the food sings and service rocks, without too much formality.
Alpen Rose Midtown Village
Behind a speakeasy-style door right on bustling 13th Street, Alpen Rose is prolific restaurateur Michael Schulson’s smallest and swankiest restaurant. This intimate steakhouse is encased in rich wood and dotted with old books. Settle into a leather booth under a massive chandelier and order the classics, especially anything served tableside. Sharing a 38-ounce Tomahawk ($142) is the move, but you’ll also want to keep things light with a seafood tower ($75) to start and a pineapple upside down Alaska that is flambéed at the table (break out that camera) before you leave.
Lacroix Rittenhouse Square
Photo by Craig Fineburg, courtesy of Lacroix
In terms of classic fine dining, a timeless tradition full of elegance, Lacroix at the Rittenhouse is one of the best. Expert servers guide guests through stellar chef Eric Leveillee’s menu, which can be enjoyed prix fixe or à la carte. You’ll be given proper silverware for each course, the table will be “crumbed,” and you’ll chat with a somm about wine selections. Each French-leaning dish here combines solid technique with creativity and luxury, like a gorgeous “risotto” made, not with rice, but with painstakingly hand-diced new potatoes, topped with a pile of Kaluga caviar and chive oil. No splurge meal here is complete without a course of Japanese Wagyu. Lacroix also offers one of the fanciest and most iconic brunches in Philly, too.
Photo by Craig Fineburg, courtesy of Lacroix
Cicala at the Divine Lorraine Fairmount
Joe and Angela Cicala’s restaurant in the historic Divine Lorraine building on North Broad exudes elegance, with tufted booths wrapped in luxe red velvet, white tablecloths, elaborate, glittering chandeliers everywhere, high ceilings, and attentive service. And then there’s what’s on your plate: ribeye with Parmigiano Reggiano for two ($125), whole Mediterranean dorade in a white wine sauce ($55), and “The Green Gold” housemade pistachio gelato with spicy Silician olive oil and Trapanese sea salt ($17). Talk about authenticity: The Cicalas spend months every year traversing Italy in search of new recipes, techniques, and ingredients.
Ogawa Sushi & Kappo Omakase Old City, Philadelphia
One of Philly’s newest and nicest places to go opened at the end of 2023. Chef-owner Minoru Ogawa is a second-generation sushi chef who’s been running Sushi Ogawa in Washington, D.C. for a while, and has now brought his talents to a 12-seat omakase counter in Old City. Twice nightly, this $200 offering will get you 23 courses that go beyond the expected bites of sliced fish over rice, though those are certainly a highlight. Chef Carlos Wills also delivers hot dishes like miso soup with baby crabs, shrimp tempura, chawanmushi, and torched Wagyu.
Kalaya Fishtown
Individual dishes at James Beard Award winner Chutatip Suntaranon’s innovative Southern Thai restaurant Kalaya are not overly expensive, but it’s all so good that you’re going to want to order everything on the menu. That’s why it’s a splurge. Go with a group to taste as much as possible. Think intricate flower-shaped and bird-shaped dumplings, crispy garlic chive rice cakes, spicy curries, stir fried crab meat and crab roe, a whole grilled freshwater river prawn, a $95 spicy and sour soup with jumbo river prawns and barramundi, plus creative cocktails and mocktails.
Vernick Food & Drink Rittenhouse Square
Greg Vernick is one of Philly’s most masterful chefs. His restaurants eschew flashiness and deliver consistent excellence. His two-story flagship Vernick Food & Drink is one of the restaurants that hospitality industry folks consider a go-to. This is one of those places with a big menu where you could easily drop in for a glass of wine and a $24 plate of fazzoletti with braised pork or you can go all in for a luxurious meal. Our advice is to try one or two items from each section of the menu. You’ll taste something on toast, some raw seafood, a pasta dish, a small plate like sea scallops or veal carpaccio, and a couple of entrées. Vernick is known for its mahogany roasted chicken with lemon herb jus, but can also make a mean bone-in, dry-aged strip loin, or whole fish.
Townsend EPX East Passyunk
Chef-owner Townsend Wentz’s eponymous restaurant just turned 10 this year, but it’s been a local classic for years. Love French food? You’ve come to the right place. Think: Escargots, roasted bone marrow, gratin, and côte de boeuf for two for $118. An $85 tasting menu will get you five courses that show off what the kitchen can do, but à la carte is also an option. Sommelier Gordana Kostovski curates a bottle list of old and new world wines with a decent selection available by the glass. The bar here is a popular after-work spot for hospitality industry folks, but it’s lovely any time of the evening.
Oloroso Washington West
At Townsend Wentz’s Oloroso, you can choose your own Spanish food adventure. Maybe it’s a casual night of a few tapas and a glass of Albariño, but on special occasions, book the chef’s counter where chef Jason Peabody and his team chat with guests and serve nearly two dozen bites and dishes to just a couple of diners each evening. This $125 dinner features classic tapas, creative small plates, a mini paella, and traditional desserts, like burned Basque cheesecake. If the counter is tough to book, you can order a $75 five-course tasting menu or a $95 chef’s tasting at any table.
River Twice East Passyunk
Ever since chef Randy Rucker moved to Philly to open River Twice with his wife Amanda, it’s been one of our city’s most talked-about restaurants. Seafood stars on his $80 four-course menu as do local, seasonal ingredients. Think steelhead trout with lemon verbena and heirloom cucumber. Ordering a few add-ons, like ibérico coppa with fermented broccoli leaves and black garlic vinegar ($52) can make this meal even more special. In the summer, you must try an heirloom tomato sandwich with smoked mayo and caviar ($40), and on Monday nights, definitely get yourself a Mother Rucker burger.
HIROKI Philadelphia Fishtown
Chef-owner Hiroki Fujiyama trained under “Iron Chef” Masaharu Morimoto for more than 10 years before opening his own omakase operation. At Hiroki, he serves a 20-bite menu ($155) that includes a few small plates, a meat course, lots of nigiri, miso soup, and dessert. Add on a $65 sake pairing to try six versions of the fermented rice beverage, each paired to complement a section of the meal. P.S. You’ll enter this transportive, dimly-lit sushi den through a round door next to Wm. Mulherin’s Sons.
Irwin’s South Philadelphia
Salvatore’s Counter
Chef Michael Ferreri has been running the show at Irwin’s on top of South Philly’s uber hip Bok Building for a few years. And while he’s known for excellent Sicilian cuisine, he’s been spreading his wings lately. With Salvatore’s Counter, he serves 10 courses to four guests each Sunday night. This personalized, $180 experience starts with a call from a “concierge” to learn about the guests and their preferences to create an entirely unique menu that will never be repeated. Go ahead and add the $120 beverage pairing to sample drinks and wine from Irwin’s bar.
