The Best Philly BYOB Restaurants to Quench Your Thirst

In the emerging Loft District, a pizza joint joins older sisters Cafe Lift and Prohibition Taproom to bring wood-fired whole pizzas and slices, salads, soups, desserts and espressos to a tattooed crowd of neighborhood dwellers and curious outsiders. They listen to classic rock and drink craft beer out of growlers purchased at the bar on the street as they munch obscure Neapolitan 'za topped with shaved brussels sprouts, taleggio, speck, and scallions and finished with a balsamic reduction. Reservations not accepted; the "b" at this BYOB should be a growler filled with craft beer chosen from Prohibition Taproom's rotating taps

Seasonal, fresh ingredients abound at this Bella Vista gem. The menu changes frequently but you can catch up on the latest offerings via the updated chalkboard menu. Pair the seafood selection that most interests you with the BYOB option of your choice for a great meal that's not a repeat of things you've tasted and dismissed before. Selections here include such options as Ora King Salmon with bbq mustard, corn, porcini and farro; Monkfish accompanied by maitake, yukon, fermented pepper, pork belly, and perilla will make your mouth water. Combine these with a starter or delicious dessert for a meal you'll swear was delivered by little sea fairies.

When craving Italian pasta done right, Giorgio's On Pine does not disappoint. Get your Italian on with a variety of dishes designed to please the palate. From rigatoni to linguine to ravioli and gnocchi, plenty of pastas are available on both the lunch and dinner menus. Choose from regular, whole wheat or gluten-free versions. Top them with one of their signature sauces, accompanied by a salad or soup. Interested in more than pasta? Giorgio's offers choices like Chicken a la Valentina, Veal Melanzane or Grilled Salmon. For finishers, there are homemade desserts, coffees and teas to send you off happily.

Visitors and regulars agree that this restaurant delivers when it comes to delicious Italian food. Located in East Falls, it has a distinctly neighborhood feel, while still being able to compete with Center City eateries quite well. Reserve your seat and enjoy sampling such dishes as tagliatelle bolognese, spaghetti with clams, Franco's saltimbocca, chicken battuta or eggplant rollatini. Follow that up with a great dessert treat and the beverage of your choice and you have a meal with remembering. It's cozy and quite romantic, too, so don't hesitate to take your sweetie for lunch or dinner or to celebrate a special occasion.

This quaint Philadelphia restaurant is really just part of a larger enterprise including a cafe and a market. The restaurant utilizes fresh local ingredients (resulting in a menu that changes daily) and manages to retain an elegant rusticity mirroring its fresh-from-the-farm dishes. While the menu is subject to frequent updates, diners can expect dishes including Maine scallops in a lemon sauce, sea bream with a cauliflower puree, and pan-roasted Lancaster chicken served with stir-fried greens among other delicious options. Located in Rittenhouse Square, this place is also close to shopping, luxury hotels and pleasant scenery, making your dinner choice perfect for an entire evening out.

With his refined preparations of seafood dishes, Chef Chip Roman continues to almost single-handedly make Conshohocken a dining destination for city dwellers and suburbanites. Located just outside the city limits, the spare storefront décor at this superior Coshy eatery serves to make dishes – like oysters with carbonated lemon, bronze fennel, and pink peppercorn – pop. The menus change daily, and five-to-seven course tasting menus invite diners to sample whatever's on Roman's mind at the time, at at various times of the year. Reservations recommended; as is the best bottle of white from the cellar. 119 Fayette St., 610-397-0888, blackfishrestaurant.com

Recently re-invented as a prix-fixe only restaurant, this sunny and homey former boardinghouse in West Philly is re-capturing the spotlight. It did away with its a la carte menu in favor of an $85, 15-course tasting dinner, with the chef choosing all but the entrée. Still on the menu: modernist preparations (beet-salad-flavored dipping dots, anyone?) and molecular gastronomy techniques that employ "ingredients" like liquid nitrogen. Reservations are required; and for a pairing recommendation, it is recommended to consider sparkling wines to start and a red or white Bordeaux for the actual meal. Take a trip here for a little something different, and certainly a little something special. 501 S. 45th St., 215-222-3699, marigoldkitchenbyob.com.

Ingredients foraged from nearby farmers markets dictate the ever-changing menu at this crowded 30-seat East Passyunk BYOB. Here, chef/owner Chris Kearse uses modern gadgets and techniques to prepare new takes on sumptuously-plated French-inspired dishes. This cozy cafe features an earthy feel and a menu to go along with it. He works with the season, the local ingredients he has, and the things he's good at to come up with fare that is inspiring and tasty, creative and delicious. Reservations are recommended here, and white or red wines will work, though a light Viognier, Riesling, or Pinot Noir may work best.

The buzz built for months before this teensy Northern European BYOB opened on East Passyunk, and Chicago chef/owner Joncarl Lachman's house-smoked fish and anise-based sauces certainly don't disappoint now that it's operating and working to please patrons night after night. Lachman adds warmth to his rustic cold-weather seaside dishes by personally greeting guests. Come in and sample this Dutch cuisine and enjoy the white-tableclothed experience, and frequently house-made selections along with your favorite bottle. Reservations are recommended, along with a rich Alsatian or Burgundian white wine to bring out the flavors of your entree best. 1046 Tasker St., 267-909-9704, noordphilly.com

Philadelphia's top dining critic bestows rare top honors on the 30-seat BYOB "bistro" that elevates French peasant food into fine-dining art. Chef/owner Pierre Calmels boasts an impeccable French culinary pedigree, and his wife, Charlotte, is revered for her graciousness at the front-of-the-house of this East Passyunk staple. This family-run small establishment is great when you want to feel cozy and well-taken-care-of in a setting that's akin to a friend's kitchen. Remember to hit up the ATM before arriving, however, as this spot is cash-only. Reservations recommended, as is a cult bottle of French red worth showing off. 1009 S. 8th St., 215-965-8290, biboubyobcom