The One Who Keeps the Book Philadelphia
How to Get the Toughest Restaurant Reservations in Philadelphia
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Often in Philadelphia, the most important dining question doesn’t revolve around where to eat: It’s how do we get in?
That’s where we come in.
For years, we’ve been going straight to the source to ask restaurant hosts, maître d’s, and general managers for all the secret tips, tricks, and shortcuts to getting into the city’s most in-demand restaurants. You know, all the ones you set countless Notifies on Resy for, and the ones you’ve set multiple alarms for in anticipation of their next reservation drop.
We want to make it easier for you to find out all the intel you need, so consider this your ultimate cheat sheet for getting into those much-loved restaurants, and check back here on the regular; we’ll be updating this list frequently.
The One Who Keeps The Book
Kalaya Fishtown
Head here for a Southern Thai meal inspired by dishes chef and owner Nok Suntaranon’s mom used to make. The lighting is low and the food is fragrantly spicy, and now that they’ve received a James Beard Foundation Award® for Outstanding Restaurant, you know reservations will likely be even tougher to come by.
Reservations Drop: 30 days in advance.
Should You Walk In? They save a few bar seats for walk-ins, but reservations are highly recommended.
Must Orders: Taste of Kalaya family-style menu; shaw muang dumplings; tom yum soup for six; and baked shrimp and bacon woon sen.
Royal Sushi Omakase Queen Village
Photo courtesy of Royal Sushi Omakase
Hidden in the back of an izakaya, Royal Sushi deals in jewel-like cuts of fish, and the 17-course tasting is a delightful dive into the flavors of the sea. Chef and owner Jesse Ito was recently named the Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic at the James Beard Foundation Awards®, too.
Reservations Drop: 30 days in advance.
Should You Walk In? You can, at the bar (also known as Royal Izakaya), but for the omakase experience it’s best to get a Resy. They also save a few tables on the izakaya side for walk-ins.
Must Orders: You’re limited to the omakase here, but the 17 courses are anything but limited.
Pro Tip: This is one of the city’s most coveted reservations, so set those Notifies and don’t get discouraged.
Photo courtesy of Royal Sushi Omakase
Zahav Old City
Photo by Alex Hawkins, courtesy of Zahav
Because even with more than a decade of accolades, Zahav remains one of the premier restaurants — not only in Philadelphia, but the country.
Reservations Drop: Four weeks out at 11 a.m. for the dining room. The bar drops select reservations 48 hours in advance.
Should You Walk In? They hold some seats at the bar, so give it a shot.
Must Orders: Hummus tehina with laffa bread; freekeh arancini; pomegranate lamb shoulder; and Meyer lemon sorbet with fennel granita. To drink, Turkish coffee martini.
Pro Tip: The staff here knows their stuff, so don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Photo by Alex Hawkins, courtesy of Zahav
Emilia Fishtown-East Kensington
It’s a fiercely seasonal Italian spot from acclaimed chefs Greg Vernick and Meredith “Meri” Medoway and that places special attention on wood-fire cooking. Expect lots of pastas, raw seafood, and spritzy, summery cocktails.
Reservations Drop: 30 days out at 8 a.m.
Should You Walk In? Yes, you can – they save spots at the rail, bar, and lounge for just this purpose.
Must Orders: Spring pea suppli; scallop bruschetta; rigatoni with ragù bianchi; campanelle with asparagus and morels; crispy veal; and an Emilia spritz.
Pro Tip: The menu changes often here, so if you see something on there that you like, move quickly.
Alpen Rose Midtown Village
Alpen Rose is everything you’d expect from a steakhouse, and then some. The decor is a throwback to classic steakhouses, complete with leather booths, dark wood paneling, and a wall lined with books, but it never feels outdated.
Reservations Drop: One month in advance.
Should You Walk In? You can try, but it’s a relatively small spot.
Must Orders: Shrimp cocktail; wedge salad; bone marrow toast; Parker House rolls; dry-aged duck; bone-in ribeye; and mac and cheese, pomme puree, and creamed spinach on the side.
Pro Tip: This spot has a reservations team that gets to the phones at 2 p.m. every day, if you need extra help. Call them at (215) 600-0709.
Laser Wolf Philadelphia Kensington
Because Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook never run out of creative ways to express Israeli cuisine. There’s something about meats seasoned with Middle Eastern spices, and prepared over a charcoal grill, that just hits differently in their hands.
Reservations Drop: Four weeks out at 11 a.m.
Should You Walk In? Yes, but get there right when they open at 5 p.m.
Must Orders: Fries with tehina ketchup; date-harissa wings; Romanian beef kebab; whole branzino with tomato and ginger; and brown sugar vanilla soft serve.
Pro Tip: Ask for some ranch to go with your fries – trust us.
Suraya Fishtown
As soon as you walk in, Suraya transports you from Fishtown to Beirut. This bona fide Levantine oasis is a café, restaurant, and garden-in-one, and uses the full arsenal of the Mediterranean pantry for one flavor-packed menu.
Reservations Drop: 30 days in advance.
Should You Walk In? You can try, but it could be tough during prime dinner hours.
Must Orders: Baba ganoush; hummus; grilled head-on prawns; ground lamb kebabs; and turmeric rice. To drink, a Lover and Lover cocktail.
Pro Tip: If you’re visiting for dinner on Friday and Saturday, do know that you’re required to do the tasting menu (unless you’re at the bar).
Double Knot Midtown Village
Because there’s oh so much more here than the robatayaki they’re known for. It’s hard to decide between the baos, sushi rolls, and the grilled meats. So prevent FOMO by ordering the chef’s tasting menu.
Reservations Drop: One month in advance.
Should You Walk In? Yes, especially for happy hour.
Must Orders: Hamachi carpaccio; duck scrapple bao; pork tonkatsu; octopus, pork belly, and chicken wing robatayaki; and a blue crab hand roll.
Fun Fact: There’s now also a New York City location of Double Knot as well as one in Miami, too, but this is the OG.
SOUTH Restaurant Spring Garden/Fairmount
Photo courtesy of South Restaurant
First thing you do at South: Get the cornbread. Don’t even think about it, just do it, whether it’s for you alone or not. Fried green tomatoes, mac and cheese, gumbo — these are all reasons to dine here. But then the live jazz starts in the other room, and the whole evening just grooves.
Reservations Drop: 60 days in advance.
Should You Walk In? Probably not. They don’t hold any tables or seats for walk-ins, so if you don’t see anything online it means they’re fully booked.
Must Orders: Mac and cheese; cornbread; Creole devilled eggs; Low Country catfish and gulf shrimp; fried chicken; and smoked turkey collards.
Pro Tip: If you want to see a show with your dinner, make sure you get your tickets directly from their website.
Photo courtesy of South Restaurant
illata Graduate Hospital
Chef-owner Aaron Randi’s Illata is proving that modern American cuisine rife with seafood and local produce can be the star in a 20-seat BYOB neighborhood restaurant. The seasonal menu is ever-changing, but start with the housemade sourdough bread and butter and absolutely order the fried clams and chicken schnitzel if they have it.
Reservations Drop: Two weeks in advance.
Should You Walk In? You can try – they hold four of their bar seats for just that. But, it’s a very small space, so hedge your bets.
Must Orders: Fried squid; carrots with crab and brown butter; English lamb; and a brown butter guava tart.
Pro Tip: They’re BYOB, so grab your favorite bottle before you visit.
Bomb Bomb Lower Moyamensing
It’s a South Philly institution with a hell of a backstory – and some serious seafood chops. Head to their back room to enjoy a full meal with Italian sensibility, or pop down at the bar to try their more casual dishes like a porchetta sandwich.
Reservations Drop: 21 days in advance.
Should You Walk In? The bar is walk-ins only, so yes.
Must Orders: Clams casino; mom’s stuffed calamari; spaghetti carbonara; fries with Bomb sauce; and a vanilla sundae.
Fun Fact: They got their name the hard way, by being bombed. Twice.
Vernick Food & Drink Rittenhouse Square
Be like everyone else who comes to this neighborhood staple, sit upstairs or down, and get the blueberry pie. And before that, get everything else — the steak tartare or English pea butter toast, scallops, halibut, and the roast chicken. Nothing disappoints.
Reservations Drop: On the first day of the month at 8 a.m. for the following month.
Should You Walk In? They take walk-ins for the bar and lounge, where they serve the full menu.
Must Orders: Braised morels on toast; uni and soft scrambled egg; grilled asparagus with white chocolate and wood sorrel; and roasted pork chop.
Pro Tip: Don’t skip dessert — especially if that blueberry pie is on the menu.
Tesiny Passyunk Square
The only thing more surprising than Tesiny’s quiet residential street location is how stunning it is inside. Lauren Biederman — of Philly’s beloved smoked fish shop — went all in for her first full-service restaurant: An elegant oyster bar where a glowing open kitchen turns out shellfish plateaus and charcoal-grilled octopus under golden light.
Reservations Drop: 45 days in advance.
Should You Walk In? They save the bar for walk-ins.
Must Orders: Crab and endive; broiled oysters; chicken lollipops with shrimp and tomato hot sauce; shaved roast beef with aioli; and a limeade mocktail.
Pro Tip: Dress to take some photos – you don’t want this interior to go to waste.
Dancerobot Rittenhouse
Photo by Aaron Richter for Resy
For Jesse Ito’s second restaurant, the multiple Beard nominee teams up with chef Justin Bacharach for a high-energy Japanese izakaya where comfort food classics meet playful drinks — think katsu curry at dinner, frozen cocktails and fancy sake at the bar, plus quality zero-proof options, too.
Reservations Drop: Three weeks in advance.
Should You Walk In? Yes, for bar seating which is walk-ins only.
Must Orders: For dinner, the katsu curry, miso marinated salmon; cheesy mentaiko omelet; and takoyaki. For brunch, kare pan; sourdough pancake; and bacon, egg, and cheese onigiri.
Fun Fact: Ito personally creates the playlists for all of his restaurants, this one included.
Photo by Aaron Richter for Resy
Giuseppe & Sons Center City
This 14,000-square-foot Central City extravaganza resembles an elegant ristorante in Milan, with its vintage photo-lined hallway and its Carrara marble bar, while the fare is elevated South Philly Italian American, from meatballs and gravy to chicken parm.
Reservations Drop: One month in advance.
Should You Walk In? They’re walk-ins only during happy hour.
Must Orders: Meatballs and gravy; housemade ricotta; cheesesteak stromboli; stuffed long hots; spaghetti with Sunday gravy; oxtail agnolotti; and short rib braciole.
Pro Tip: Cannolis are a must, must, must.
