All right, it took me a while, but here are my Philly favorites! I may have forgotten some categories, so I’ll probably update here and there as my memory returns to me. Also bear in mind that I haven’t been to every restaurant in Philly, sooooooo if I left out your favorite, I probably haven’t been there yet! If you want specific recommendations for dishes at these restaurants, feel free to ask! Also let me know if you have additional categories!
-Hana
Breakfast/ Brunch
- Best Breakfast Sandwich: Bui’s Lunch Truck (38th & Spruce)
- Best Upscale Brunch: Tinto
- Best Casual Brunch: Fork
Honorable Mention: Rx - Best Modern Mexican Brunch: Distrito
Lunch
- Best Light & Casual Lunch: Garces Trading Company
Honorable Mention: Continental - Best Spanish Lunch: Amada
- Best Food Truck: Hemo’s
Honorable Mention: That One Behind Meyerson with the awesome Spaghetti (I don’t remember the name. Is that the one that doesn’t have a name?)
Dinner
- Best Steakhouse: Barclay Prime
- Best BYO (wine): Audrey Claire, Matyson, Pumpkin (3-way tie)
- Best BYO (tequila): (TBD)
- Best Greek: Effies
- Best Spanish: Amada
- Best Asian Fusion: Buddakan
Honorable Mention: Chifa - Best French: Parc
- Best Italian: (TBD)
- Best Thai: (TBD)
- Best Chinese: (TBD)
- Best Sushi: Vic’s Sushi Bar
Honorable Mention: Haru - Best Cuban: Cuba Libre
Honorable Mention: Alma de Cuba - Best Seafood: (TBD)
- Best Brazilian Steakhouse: Fogo de Chao
- Best for Vegetarians: FARMiCiA
Dessert
- Best Gelato: Capogiro
- Best Chocolate: Teuscher
- Best Ice Cream: The Franklin Fountain
Snack
- Best Bar Food: Village Whiskey
- Best Late Night Post-Drinking: Nick’s Roast Beef of Old City
Drinks
- Best Whiskey Menu: Village Whiskey
- Best Beer Menu: (TBD)
- Best Wine Bar: Tria
- Best Classic Cocktails: The Franklin Mortgage and Investment Co.
- Best Creative Cocktails: Apothecary Bar & Lounge
- Best for Casual but Classy Post-Dinner Drinks: Parc
- Best for a Yuppy Crowd: Continental Midtown Rooftop
- Best for Outdoor Drinks: City Tap House
- Best Mojitos: Alma de Cuba
- Best Margaritas: Distrito
- Best Entertainment: Jolly’s Dueling Piano Bar
Other
- Best Service: Barclay Prime
- Best Location: (TBD)
- Best for a First Date: Audrey Claire
- Best for Groups: Marrakesh
Honorable Mention: Continental Midtown - Best Unique Experience: The Victor Cafe (singing waiters!)
Other Places I’ve Heard Great Things About But Haven’t Been To Yet
Thanks for putting together such a great list. I recently moved to Philly so its really nice to see “bests” from a blogger not a magazine. I’m rode by Audrey Claire’s so many times and just thought it would be expensive – after your 2 mentions I checked the website and was pleasantly surprised. Heading there tonight!
[...] even know the cuisine served. When I stumbled across another blogger’s post title “the best (philly)”, Audrey Claire, in their view was not only best BYO, but also Best Place for Date. And to to top it [...]