♦ Jim's Steaks
400
South Street
Philadelphia,
PA 19147
(215)
928-1911
While
not a restaurant, this is a great
Philadelphia cheesesteak place that has to be listed.
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♦ Fork
306
Market Street
Philadelphia,
PA 19106
(215) 625-9425
Ellen
Yin's elegantly casual New American bistro helped pave the way for Old
City's revival in the mid-1990's. In the time since, its
consistent output of finely crafted and inventive cuisine has made it a
neeiborhood classis.
Reflective of its use of fresh, local ingredients, Fork's menu changes
daily to emphasize the flavors of the season. The (2004,
2002,
2001) menu
has influences from around the world, but the overall theme is decidely
its own. The restaurant's hip, stylish and sophisticated
interior
complements the contemporary menu and makes it a great spot fo a
business lunch, dinner with ffiends, or a romantic dessert with
cocktails.
Between lunch and dinner, Fork offers patrons seated at the bar a
special small plates menu. There's also a delicious late
night
menu that is perfect for the seemingly endless throngs of people who
converge on Old City after dark.
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♦ Cafe Spice
33 S. Second
Street
Philadelphia,
PA 19106
(215) 627-6273
"A
vibrant and contemporary Indian bistro. First opened near Union
Square in NYC and honored by Nation's Restaurant Magazine as a "Hot
Concept" for 2005, this restaurant introduces a cuisine that's
rising in popularity every year.
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♦ City Tavern
138 South
2nd Street
Philadelphia,
PA
(215) 413-1443
Step
back to Colonial times and sit down for a meal with authentic
décor right down to the pewter dishes, tankards, and servers
dressed in authentic colonial garb; it's easy to forget how good the
food is. Chef Walter Staib delivers a culinary experience
inspired by the customs and foods of 18th Century Colonial America.
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♦ Cuba Libre
10
S. 2nd
Street
Philadelphia,
PA 19106
(215) 627-0666
The
bright, contemporary Cuban restaurant and rum bar spices up the Old
City streets with exhilarating décor
that recreates a 1940's Cuban Street scene with an indoor courtyard,
enclosed rooftop desk, and skylight.
The bar serves more than 60 rums, southern hemisphere wines, 12
authentic Cuban cocktails and a whole menu of Cuban coffees.
When
the weather is warm, the first floor of this two-sotry restaurant opens
onto the sidewalk.
And
upstairs, there's plety of room to mix and mingle in the bar and
lounge area. Not surprisingly, even post-dinner patrons line
the
street to get inside on weekends. The mojitos are just that
good!
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♦ Continental Restaurant
& Martini Bar
138 Market
Street
Philadelphia,
PA
(215) 923-6069
A Philadelphia Institution. Sensational cocktails and a
brilliant menu of global tapas in a restored stainless-steel 60's
diner. Continental's oversized olive-shaped halogen lamps
pierced with huge toothpicks and olive-green banquettes are suspended
overhead as you snack on Wasabi Mashed Potatoes, Seared Tuna with
Mushroom Risotto, BBQ Chicken Quesadillas and Teriyaki Filet Mignon..
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♦ Moshulu
401 S
Columbus Blvd
Philadelphia,
PA
(215) 923-2500
Docked
permanently on the Penn's Landing waterfront, the Moshulu is a
restaurant that deserves a spot on your must-visit list. It
features an adventuresome contemporary American menu with a South Seas
flair. The Moshulu was named one of the top 15 restaurants in
Northeast America by noted food critic John Mariani and is the
recipient of the AAA Four Diamond Award (2005, 2006)
Dining on the Moshulu, one of the world's grandest tall ships, will
surely be a most memorable experience. The Moshulu's private
dining rooms and outdoor decks take full advantage of the unparalleled
views of the city and waterfront.
During the warmer weather months, you can enjoy a drink or a meal on
the historic ship's multi-level decks and take in the Philadelphia
skyline, the shimmering lights on the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, the
attractions on the Jersey side of the river and the fleet of boats
passing by. It truly feels more like a vacation than a
restaurant
in the city.
Executive Chef Ralph Femandez is the man behind the successfully
ambitious menu, featuring a wide selection of gourmet dishes.
There are plenty of full size entress, but there is also a
great
selection of smaller plates, appetizers and grilled items which will
allo you to share and enoy even more of the menu.
Some highlights include grilled Australian lamb chops, a shrimp and
chorizo flat bread, a fire roasted lobster tail, duck confit crepes,
and a ceviche trio which includes three rotating ceviches.
The
new "seafood plateau" (read raw bar) is a beautiful display of jumbo
shrimp cocktail, a daily selection of oysters, clams, and marinated
mussels, all accompanied by Wasabi cocktail, black pepper and shallot
mignonette, and more.
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♦ Old Original Bookbinders
125 Walnet
Street
Philadelphia,
PA 19106
(215) 925-7027
The
long awaited return of this landmark restaurant finally came in early
2005. After a nearly three-year hiatus, the legendary seafood
house reopened as a newly designed 380-seat restaurant with an open
kitchen, the country's largest lobster tank, oyster bar, outdoor dining
area, and a clubroom. The new design is a praise-worthy
achievement that successfully integrates the restaurant's distinguished
history with a new modern space.
Classic seafood dishes still dominate the menu, which includes several
of Bookbinder's past signature dishes: snapper soup, giant lobsters and
strawberry shortcake. These classics are accomppanied by some
newer dishes like the popular Yellow Fin Tuna Tartare and significant
upgrades like the huge new raw bar.
Old Original Bookbinder's was established in 1865.
A
stone's throw from the Delaware River docks, the restaurant's
location assured the abundance of the freshest seafood for its early
patrons. Over the past 140 years, it became one of the
country's
most famous seafood restaurants. Now as it enters the 21st century,
Bookbinders continues to build on its legacy.
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♦ Morimoto
723 Chestnut
Street
Philadelphia,
PA 19106
(215) 413-9070
Contemporary
Japaness cuisine, brilliantly crafted by a world-renowned chef in a
strikingly serene and modern setting. Morimoto brings the
unexpected together with the modern in an organic and sensual room,
awash in colored light, glass and Karim Rashid's signature cutting-edge
design - a messanine-level lounge soars above the main dining room,
with its pink glass bar and white leather banquettes.
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♦ Philadelphia Fish & Company
207 Chestnut
Street
Philadelphia,
PA 19106
(215) 625-8605
While
other restaurants have come and gone, Janet and Kevin Meeker's
Philadelphia Fish & Company has been an Old City staple since 1983
serving fresh, high quality, unique seafood. It's all pretty
basic here but basic is also excellent. Dishes are cooked with
fresh herbs, olive oil, and compound butter, and the fish is grilled or
seared, not fried or baked. A highlight of the year is a visit by
Hawaiian Chef Sam Choy.
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♦ Positano Coast
by Aldo Lamberti
212 Walnet
Street, 2nd Floor
Philadelphia,
PA 19106
(215) 238-0499
Enjoy
the luxuries and pleasures of the Amalfi Coast in Italy right in Old
City Philadelphia, with a stop along Aldo Lamberti's "Tour of Italy."
From the cobalt blue floor, to the spectacular life-sized
postcards covering the walls to the contemporary menu, when you step
into Positano Coast, you will need to catch your breath. Craig
LeBan, of the Philadelphia Inquirer, put it best when he said "Aldo
Lamberti has struck Amalfi Gold with Positano Coast."
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♦ Geno's Steaks
1219 South
9th St
Philadelphia,
PA 19147
(215) 389-0659
Geno's
steaks was started by Joe Vento back in 1966. He figured that if
he was going to sell a steak, he had to be where they were already
eating them...at the "X" shaped intersection of 9th & Passyunk in
South Philadelphia.
A Word of Warning!
Be prepared to know how to order, because the service is fast and the
line keeps moving. For example, on a cheese steak with onions
specifiy which kind of cheese you'd like (Provolone, American or Cheese
Whiz). By the time you have given your order, your money will be
taken and your sandwich will be out the window nice and hot! At
the next window you can pick up your soda, fries and coffee.
Geno's is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is no indoor
dining, but there are tables under canopies on the sidewalk for those
who wish to enjoy sandwiches on the premises rather than drive off with
them. Stop by when you're in town and see why Geno's Steaks has
become a Philadelphia Tradition.
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♦ Pat's King of
Steaks®
1237 East
Passyunk Ave
Philadelphia,
PA 19147
(215) 468-1546
Pat's
King of Steaks® was founded by Pat Olivieri in 1930. Pat had
a modest hotdog stand at the base of the famous Italian Market in South
Philadelphia. One day he decided to have something quite
different for lunch, so he sent for some chopped meat from the butcher
shop. He cooked the meat on his hot dog grill, placed the meat
into an Italian roll, and dressed it with some onions. Just as he
went to take a bite, a cab driver who ate a hot dog everyday asked what
he had there. Pat said that it was his lunch. The cabbie
insisted that Pat make him one. The cabbie took one bite and said
to Pat, "Hey...forget 'bout those hot dogs, you should sell
these." The steak sandwich was born. As the years passed,
both employees and customers alike demanded change...cheese was
added.
What a hit!
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♦ Recommendations from the Sheraton
Pat's
King of Steaks® (above)
Geno Steaks - (above)
Rotten Ralphs - 201 Chestnut St - 215/925-2440
Dave n Busters - 325 Columbus Blvd - 215/413-1951 |
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