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1. Fountain
1 Logan Square, Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19103 · 215-963-1500
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CENTER CITY. Located in the Four Seasons Hotel, the Fountain sits in the middle of one of the most visually stunning settings in the city. Diners may opt for th eprix fixe menu, or choose from the a la carte selections. New American cuisine, with an emphasis on fresh seafood, is served at this refined and elegant establishment. Truly a special occasion destination. Fountain also delivers an oustanding Sunday brunch – one that features roasted monk fish osso bucco and grilled Norwegian salmon paillard. When you make reservations, request a table overlooking the spectacular fountain. Jackets required; business casual for lunch. Prix fixe dinner $120, with flight of wines $150.
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2. Le Bec-Fin
1523 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19102 · 215-567-1000
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| Avg. Entrée: |
$$$$$50+
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| Reservations: |
Required |
| Outdoor Dining: |
None |
CENTER CITY. The turn-of the century décor is a perfect match for the elegant nouvelle French cuisine at this favorite Philadelphia restaurant. For starters, try the tuna sashimi, chilled white asparagus soup, or their signature crab cakes. Escargots are served in a champagne hazelnut butter sauce – a creative twist on the traditional wine and garlic sauce. Entrees include Guinea hen perfumed with fennel stick and tea, and salmon in pastry with morels and asparagus. The wine list is extensive, with over 700 varieties, but the sommelier selects a wine flight for each meal if the choice is too difficult. Lunch prix fixe $54, tasting menu $70; Dinner prix fixe $138, tasting menu $165.
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3. Lacroix
210 W Rittenhouse Sq, Rittenhouse Hotel, Philadelphia, PA 19103 · 215-790-2533
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CENTER CITY. The Rittenhouse may be home to some of Center City's most elegantly-appointed rooms, but interview a local and you'll quickly discover that the hotel is also held in high esteem because of its celebrated restaurant. Lacroix has collected honor after honor since opening in 2003, and it's easy to see why. The candle-lit dining room is spacious and contemporary – perfect for a romantic outing. Multi-course dinners, meanwhile, beguiles palates with the likes of lobster and fois gras pastilla, roasted NY squab and butter-roasted wild boar. For a more intimate Sunday brunch or dinner (Monday-Thursday only) experience, try to reserve a seat at the Chef's Table in the kitchen.
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4. Morimoto
723 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19102 · 215-413-9070
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CENTER CITY. Neon colored booths lit from within, wavy bamboo walls and ceilings, and funky little tables in the lounge give this restaurant a super stylish, modern atmosphere. You may recognize chef Morimoto from his Iron Chef days, or even from Nobu in NYC. The menu includes a number of entrees, including several dishes from Nobu, but for a truly unique Morimoto experience, you must order the Omakase. Make weekend reservations well in advance, and expect to make an evening of it – this is a dining experience, after all! Omakase $80-120, Chef's sushi/sashimi selection $30-70.
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CENTER CITY. Restaurateur Stephen Starr certainly hit the mark with this spectacular seafood number, and it's easy to be awed by its sheer beauty. In fact, those who visited Striped Bass during its pre-Starr heyday will find much of what made the original space so glamorous has been left intact – still here are 28-foot ceilings, the marble columns and Bob Philips' large metal fish sculpture. As to cuisine, dishes like wild bass wrapped in cabbage, miso-marinated black cod, with Chinese mustard greens, and parmesan-crusted Nova Scotia halibut with tomato chutney ensure that the current incarnation will be as prestigious as its precursor ever was. Chef's seasonal five-course tasting menu: $85; five-course wine pairing: $45.
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CENTER CITY. With only 35 seats, this hip restaurant is booked one to two months in advance, so call way ahead for reservations. Chef-owner Marc Vetri prepares elegant "new" Italian cuisine, such as saffron risotto with lobster and sweetbread sausage, squid and artichoke galette, and guinea hen stuffed with foie gras or prosciutto. The signature dessert, chocolate polenta soufflé, sounds wacky, but it's quite good. Business dress appropriate. On Saturday nights, the restaurant offers its signature multi-course tasting menu, $90-115. NB Vetri closes for two weeks in January and another three weeks in August, so call ahead if you're thinking about dining here during those months.
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7. Buddakan
325 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · 215-574-9440
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OLD CITY. You know right away that this will be special, from the Zen-like entrance with its wall of flowing waters. Duck and shiitake postickers, lobster fried rice, sesame crusted tuna, make for a memorable meal. After your meal, try the chocolate Bento box for two, a sampler of five unique little desserts. The bar gets packed and stays packed, but don't let the noise deter your mission to enjoy a wonderful meal. Make sure to rub the Buddha statue on your way out. Advance reservations are recommended, especially for weekends.
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QUEEN VILLAGE. Featuring an impeccible wine list and the creative flare of owner-chef Daniel Stern, Gayle is firmly entrenched as one of Queen Village's more outstanding eateries. There's an à la carte menu Monday through Wednesday, and a prix fixe is served Thursday through Saturday. Representative mains include skate, liver and onions, monkfish with artichoke and saffron, veal stew, and duck with parsnips and cabbage.
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9. Paloma
6516 Castor Ave, Oxford Circle, Philadelphia, PA 19149 · 215-533-0356
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NORTHEAST PHILLY. If you're looking to stray a bit off the gastronomical straight and narrow, few places in Philly can match the delightful daring of Paloma, a restaurant a few miles northeast of Center City that delivers fascinating amalgamation of haute French and Mexican inspirations. Rich, flavorful and artfully presented, owner-chef Adán Saavedra's cookery is unlike that you'd find anywhere else, and his attention to detail and creativity truly reward diners. NB The snug space (and superb food) dictate that reservations are strongly encouraged; last seating is at 8:30pm.
Looking for a restaurant? We've explored the options, checked with critics, and pounded the pavement to offer only the best. Recommendations come complete with contact information and a brief description highlighting the important features of the restaurant. Fit our choices to your mood, or let us guide your tastes. You'll likely find a few places that not even locals know about.
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