The Resy Hit List: Where In Philadelphia You’ll Want to Eat Right Now

Lately, we’ve been doubling down on Philly’s pizza scene. Wilder’s domed oven turns out memorable seasonal pies, like one topped with green garlic and mustard greens or another with asparagus and Meyer lemon. But this pretty Rittenhouse restaurant is no one-trick pony. It’s also known for its raw bar, loaded with oysters, crudos, and shellfish plateaus, plus Italian-inspired pastas and entrées. The bar program is just as impressive, with as many spirit-free cocktails as boozy ones, from the Spaghetti Western with mezcal, preserved plum, ginger, lime, and cilantro-spring pea foam to the bubbly, zero-proof Mantra Melody with honey, sarsaparilla, lemon, and bee pollen.

Now that El Chingón is bookable on Resy, you can skip the wait for chef Juan Carlos Aparicio’s award-winning cemitas and tacos, stacked with fillings like braised beef, pork al pastor, and fried chicken cutlets. Aparicio first made his mark with the bread program at Parc, and here he leans into his Mexican heritage with a menu that goes well beyond handhelds. Expect ceviches and aguachiles, multiple takes on guacamole, and small plates like warm crab tostadas, plus brunch dishes like concha French toast layered with chocolate, tahini, and salted dulce de leche.

The team behind three swanky Forîn cafes brought us this neighborhood restaurant with ‘70s diner vibes. Percy is a one-stop shop for coffee, brunch, lunch, dinner, and fancy drinks. The all-day menu is familiar but tony: ricotta pancakes with cinnamon sugar compound butter, a double smash burger with Cooper Sharp, and a tuna melt with long-hot mayo on pumpernickel. Behind the bar, every wine, beer, and spirit comes from Pennsylvania. This summer, we’re into the housemade cherry and blueberry wines and fun cocktails like a Blue Hawaiian or a harissa-infused Bloody Mary. We’re even more into Percy’s music-oriented lounge, complete with swivel chairs and a fireplace.

Sure, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society runs the Philadelphia Flower Show, one of the region’s biggest spring attractions. But each summer, PHS also pops up in Philly gardens as a plant-filled outdoor bar where everyone is welcome, including dogs and kids. The menu leans casual, with hot dogs, mozzarella sticks, and burgers, plus lighter options like white bean dip and garden grain bowls. Frozen drinks are a specialty, especially when they bring in garden-inspired ingredients — like butterfly pea flower that turns a mojito purple, or a Gritty-themed orange margarita with black salt.

Find more info here.

With a name like Murph’s Bar, you think you know what you’re getting into, but stay with us. This former hunting lodge — complete with a separate “ladies entrance” and a bar topped in pennies — reads like a classic Irish pub until you look at the menu. That’s where chef Francesco Bellastelli comes in, turning out garganelli arrabbiata, cappelletti Bolognese, and tagliatelle with black truffle. A Puglia native, Bellastelli is quietly serving some of the best Italian pasta in Philly, tucked inside a no-frills bar on Girard Avenue. It’s an unlikely pairing born from friendship with the owners, and it works.

Find more info here.

=Celebrated chef and cookbook author Roberto Santibañez recently opened Mi Vida, bringing his signature Mexican cooking — already a hit in New York and Washington, D.C. — to Center City. We like the $45 family-style option, which moves through the menu with enchiladas, guacamole, queso, empanadas, tacos, your choice of salmon or carne asada, plus rice, beans, and churros, with vegetarian swaps available. Santibañez previously served as culinary director for Rosa Mexicano, so expect plenty of polish and a sense of fun throughout.

Named for Civil Rights era Mississippi restaurant server Booker Wright, Booker’s has been a neighborhood mainstay since Saba Tedla opened it in 2017. Now owned by Cheri and Tracey Syphax, the Baltimore Avenue restaurant is known for Southern-leaning comfort food and a full bar. Think hot chicken sliders, vegan jambalaya, blackened catfish, and bread pudding. Brunch is especially popular, thanks to dishes like fried chicken and shrimp and waffles with strawberry butter, plus cheesecake French toast. It also happens to be one of our favorite spots for outdoor dining — as mentioned above.

The Main Line town that seems to have it all — great shopping, live music, and good food — is also home to Ripplewood. This whiskey bar punches above its weight, with playful takes on classics like pretzel-style Parker House rolls with truffle butter, plus a menu that pulls from all over, with dishes like soup dumpling lasagna and mahi tacos with plantain crust. Take note of the daily happy hour from 3 to 5 p.m., when Manhattans and old fashioneds are $8 and cheese-covered Ripp Fries with brisket and jalapeño go for $7. And if you’re feeling fancy, the group’s cocktail bar Izzy’s is right next door.

Luckily, we have plenty of good sushi around town, but Hikari offers two things that help it stand out: outdoor seating and a BYOB policy. Pick up a bottle of sake or a crisp wine and settle in on the year-round patio along Liberty Walk. Chef-owner Matthew Sim worked at some of Philly’s best-known Japanese restaurants (Pod and Morimoto) before opening this playful spot, where classic sushi — spicy yellowtail and Philly rolls — shares the menu with creative takes, like one featuring shrimp tempura, cream cheese, avocado, strawberry, and starch pearls.

Tucked into a South Philly strip mall, Sky Cafe has been serving Indonesian food since 2010. The menu is long, but helpfully organized into sections like noodles and rice, with photos that make it easier for first-timers to decide. Start with the fried soy-garlic chicken wings, fried wontons, or saucy pork skewers, then move on to nasi lemak — a banana leaf-wrapped rice packet with coconut-braised beef rendang, chicken, or seafood — or egg noodles with chicken, barbecue pork, and meatballs. It’s the kind of place that calls for repeat visits.

Find more info here.

As Philly’s dining scene has filled out with elegant, high-profile restaurants, neighborhood standbys like Sidecar have kept doing what they do best: taking care of locals in search of a reliably good meal. Despite some changes in ownership, it has held that role in Graduate Hospital since 2005. This is the kind of place where one person can order a double smash burger loaded up on a brioche bun while another goes for monkfish piccata with sautéed kale and artichoke hearts. Kids will be happy with a hot dog and fries or Detroit-style pizza topped with pepperoni or Buffalo chicken. It’s flexible in the best way, with lunch, dinner, happy hour, and weekend brunch all in the mix.

Launched in 2002, Vientiane is one of the longest-running restaurants in the region. The Lao-Thai BYOB began in Daovy Phanthavong’s backyard and has since grown to two locations. Specialties include green papaya salad, sweet basil stir-fries with your choice of protein, sticky rice, lettuce wraps with crumbled coconut rice, and spicy, creamy king’s soup over vermicelli noodles. It’s also a favorite for vegan and vegetarian diners, with padek (fermented fish sauce) intentionally left out of many dishes and available as an add-on. Cash only.

Find more info here.

Consistently one of the highest-rated restaurants in the Philly region on Resy, Po Le Cucina is a long-running BYOB in the suburbs, about 45 minutes north of Center City. In a dining room with black-and-white checkered floors or on a charming covered patio, Italian classics are the specialty. Start with marinated artichokes, bruschetta, or, for a true throwback, clams casino. Then move on to a whole branzino, veal osso buco, or the restaurant’s signature penne with shrimp and scallops in vodka sauce. This summer, don’t miss the buttery, crispy fried soft-shell crab, served as either an appetizer or entrée.

Whether you’re in the sunny dining room or on the umbrella-dotted patio, the Barnes Foundation’s on-site restaurant makes for a lovely museum-day meal. Like much of the art inside, the menu leans French, which feels right after wandering the world’s largest collection of Renoir and Cézanne paintings. Settle in for a crab and shrimp galette or seared tuna niçoise. The restaurant is open for lunch Thursday, Friday, and Monday, and brunch Saturday and Sunday, so plan accordingly.

At El Mictlan, Chelo Manzanarez specializes in the cuisine of Mexico’s West Coast in a friendly BYOB setting. Go for classics like guacamole, barbacoa tacos, and burritos, but don’t miss the more distinctive dishes. There’s Acapulco-style ceviche with shrimp, octopus, tuna, and snails, plus a family recipe for red mole Colorado served over corn tortilla enchiladas with salsa from Guerrero. For entrées, Italian flavors tag in with cilantro cream risotto topped with roasted poblanos, corn, crispy prosciutto, Parmesan, and microgreens.

Find more info here.

Dubu, one of Philly’s favorite Korean restaurants, takes its name from its signature dish: soondubu jjigae, the piping-hot spicy stew made with silken tofu. It comes with a range of add-ons, from mushrooms to dumplings to beef intestine. Beyond the soondubu, the menu covers Korean classics like LA galbi, bibimbap, seafood pancakes, fried and steamed dumplings, and spicy rice cakes. Tip: The restaurant also runs a karaoke bar two doors down, with affordable rates and fun cocktails.

Find more info here.