Estia

★★★★☆ 4.1 (892) • $$$

"Estia was a proximity and availability dinner decision. It was getting late and my team was exhausted so we were looking for something nearby. I open my Open Table app and filtered for 5 people, tonight, and a few options came up. My coworkers opted for Greek, so that is how we got to the decision of Estia. Our local colleagues mentioned it was a good pick. The restaurant looked upscale and dim lit. There were some couples at the corner tables making out when we were entering, so it's probably also a date night spot. They provided complimentary bread and my team shared a recommended Estia Chips ($20) and Spread Pikilia ($18) which comes with pita and 3 spreads in which we picked the Htipiti, Melitzanosalata, and Potato Skordalia. For our entrees, my team ordered the Moussaka ($26), Tuna Tartare ($21), Arugula Salata ($16) with added Grilled Chicken (+$7), and Lobster Linguini ($45). I had their Chilean Sea Bass Plaki ($50). The group seemed to really enjoy the food. I actually liked the appetizers more than I liked my entrée. I love sea bass and tend to order it when I see it on the menu but this sea bass was really acidic with the sauces and the portion size was small from being the most expensive thing ordered. The staff here is obsessed with clearing your plate, sometimes before you're even ready. When this lady was trying to grab one of the appetizers, my coworker said she was still working on it and the funny thing is that they took my coworkers individual plate away. Struggles. We were like, I guess you eat off the serving plate? And then when she was clearing my other coworkers plate, she threw their fork and knife into my plate. I wasn't done lady. Sigh. Fine, take it away. For a high end fine dining priced restaurant, I don't like feeling rushed with the food getting cleared before I'm done with it. This place has potential, but they have some things to work on."

Moshulu

★★★★☆ 3.5 (1088) • $$$

"Fabulous food in a fabulous, and unique, setting aboard an anchored ship. We all had fish--bronzino, salmon, and Red Snapper. All were fine, but the snapper was out of this world."

Positano Coast by Aldo Lamberti

★★★★☆ 3.8 (855) • $$

"I haven't been here in over 20 years and I have to say I'm not sure why I waited so long to come back! The food and service was excellent! I made a last minute reservation here with my girlfriends last night and the food did not disappoint! The ambiance is wonderful the dining room has beautiful photos of Italy throughout! I always get the zucchini crab cake because it's amazing , it's always consistent in flavor and presentation. We ordered the grilled octopus which was perfectly cooked and the vibrant and flavorful beet salad! It was so nice to sit and chat over wine and great food. My other girlfriend got the rigatoni ala vodka which is another favorite dish of mine! The best kept secret to this place is the creamy homemade limnoncello!! It's absolutely delicious! I'm so glad my girlfriends could be treated to such a darling food experience and take a quick pause on our hectic lives to reconnect. The staff was friendly and allowed us to take our time and really enjoy our evening!! I can not wait to go back!!"

Nam Phuong

★★★★☆ 3.9 (810) • $$

"Nam Phuong makes legit Vietnamese food. I've brunched and lunched here with family and friends for years.Nam Phuong is a popular South Philly restaurant. Thankfully there's plenty of seating; room for a crowd. Driving? There's (tight) shopping center parking, and street parking too.They make a mean bowl of pho and there's plenty on the menu if you're not in a soup mood. The lotus root salad is totally killer, the bo luc lac is savory. Who doesn't love beef cubes?Recommended if you need a Vietnamese fix!Dependable, efficient service. Credit accepted.PRO TIP: Want to spice up your meal, and Sriracha won't cut it? Ask for red chili peppers. (I didn't know they offered those until this past week!)"

Spasso Italian Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (675) • $$

"*IMPORTANT NOTE*The three-course dinner special on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for $40 per person is currently not offered. According to our server, it will not be available again until February 2024. I would recommend calling ahead and asking before you go."

Little Fish

★★★★☆ 4.4 (573)

"Little Fish has granted me new perspective that I've given out far too many five star ratings to other restaurants. Granted, this is my second time of visiting this restaurant my expectations have been exceeded for the second time in a row.EnvironmentThe environment is intimate(open kitchen), yet bright and the service is about two steps ahead of any presumptive request. FoodHands down this is my favorite seafood restaurant in the city. The menu varies but after two visits and trying half the menu on each occasion I can comfortably say chance will lead you to something delicious no matter what you select. It's easy to walk past the tiny restaurant but inside is a culinary adventure worth the cost. I'd recommend Little Fish for a date night or a quick sneak away to pamper yourself. Happy eats!"

Rex at the Royal

★★★★☆ 4.3 (598) • $$$

"Full of flavor!I was in town on business travel during restaurant week so I decided to meet a friend for dinner at Rex at the Royal for dinner. We both went with the restaurant week menu but got different things. I went with the tempura vegetables, chicken with kale & street corn fish, and the key lime pie. My friend got the Caesar salad, shrimp & grits, and bread pudding. We both loved our food and also loved each other's meals. If I visit Philly again, I'd definitely visit Rex on the Royal again!"

Chickie's & Pete's

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (702) • $$

"Chickie's and Pete's in South Philly is a winner! The service is top-notch, and there's plenty of space for your whole crew. It's the go-to spot for pregame or postgame vibes in the area. The seafood is delicious, and let's talk about those crinkle-cut fries - perfectly crispy every time. Shrimp tacos are absolutely delicious with a slight touch of heat from the jalapeños. This place nails it for a good time and tasty eats. Definitely, a must-try!"

XIX Nineteen

★★★★☆ 3.5 (662) • $$$

"XIX! Booked a resy for Sunday brunch to celebrate my mom's birthday, and it was amazing! While the food was delicious and the view was chefs kiss, it was really the service that made our meal so special. From our reservation confirmation call to the happy birthday mini cupcakes, our host Chris was so thoughtful. We took his recommendations and ordered the eggs benedict, strawberry cheesecake french toast along with the egg breakfast. We ateeeee. Lol We also ordered the mimosa carafe, which easily had 6 servings. Extra points for Chris giving us the drop on the best spots for lighting so we could take pictures. There were so many good photo ops we couldn't choose just one. Noting: Our reservation was for noon, and the place was superrr chill."

Ting Wong Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (502) • $$

"This is my number one roast duck in North America so far, it's very delicious, another recommended dish is beef brisket noodles"

Ocean Harbor

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (596) • $$

"Love this place. I grew up in Philly and moved to Miami. Any time I am back in Philly I go to Ocean Harbor for dim sum with my son. It's a tradition! Love the food and variety of choices!"

Steak 48

★★★★☆ 4.2 (342) • $$$$

"It was my first time here and it was for a company function. The service was impeccable from the hostess station to the servers to the bussers. I had the braised salmon, and it was fork tender and so flavorful. We had a variety of sides for the group. I heard high praise for the crème brulee corn, the asparagus, and scalloped potatoes. I also had the Warm Vanilla Caramel Cake suggested by the server and she was right, it was amazing. It is located across the street from South Park Mall, it cannot be seen from the road. It is in the APEX. Snooze AM eatery is on the corner as location reference. And as others have mentioned it is on the pricier side, but worth it for a memorable evening out.The only "sort of issue" we had, as a group of a certain age, was the lighting. It was very dark and hard to read the menu. We dined around 6pm all the windows were covered; they raised the blinds around 9pm when we were leaving."

Alpen Rose

★★★★☆ 4.4 (303)

"Long over due review!Top notch from first knock to finish! Always love the concept of secret places lol... but knocking to be let in is fun. Make sure to try and make reservations because a few people were turned away while we were waiting!The whole place is a vibe in itself. Loved the decor... the bookshelf.. and the bar area. We were seated at the bar. Always nice making conversation with the bar tender and asking for their opinion on what to get. Lots of great cocktails. The food is pretty good! Started with the bone marrow... only wish there was more! I went with the Beef Wellington, probably a tad under seasoned but still good.. and it was A LOT! Husband went with the lamb, which he said was just ok seasoned. He was a little bummed but the sides that came at least made up for it! Dessert was the apple pie which was HUGE!I'd definitely come back!Come for the experience, service, food and drinks! You won't regret coming!"

Bistro SouthEast

★★★★★ 4.5 (270) • $$

"It's my favorite place to order from. The food is always fresh and tasty. I love the mint limeade. Very refreshing. The shrimp po'boy is good. So is the veggie fried rice. I enjoy the wings as well. I would say my least favorite is the Cajun pasta with chicken. I highly recommend them."

David's Mai Lai Wah

★★★☆☆ 3 (566)

"David's is the old reliable, mainstay Chinese food restaurant in Chinatown. Nothing fancy, in fact it's kind of ANTI-fancy. The waiters are taciturn, bordering on cranky, and they've been there since dirt, but they'll remember you, and take good care of you.The food is good, but what brings everyone back is the dumplings. The dumplings, the dumplings. They have been referred to as dumplings with crack sauce, and rightfully so. They are addictive. They are delicious.Right now there is no indoor dining, which is a shame, because that was part of the experience. Anyway, old, reliable David's. Can't go wrong."

Pearl's Oyster Bar

★★★★☆ 3.8 (352)

""Eat Oysters Love Longer" -- As an oyster fiend I knew I had to enjoy some oysters while travelling to the east coast. Pearl's Oyster Bar is located inside of the Reading Terminal Market and they have diner style seating and a few tables. Since I was alone I decided to get the Small Raw Bar Sampler ($42) to try a bit of everything since it comes with 8 oysters, 4 clams, and 4 shrimp cocktails. Service was questionable. It took a while to get me the order too. When I asked which oysters they were they waitress was like umm these are from Massachusetts and these are from New Jersey and the clams are Littleneck Clams from Virginia. Very nonspecific. Like what breed, what farm? Not just what state. Also the reason I dinged them on the rating is POOR SHUCKING. You guys are an oyster bar. This is unacceptable. There were visible shells floating on some and some of these oysters and clam got super cut up. Basically an example platter of what not to do. The shrimp was the best thing on the platter and the clams came second. I didn't really enjoy the oysters. Maybe they accidentally washed out the natural brine cause it was so bland, and not that salty briny taste I get from east coast oysters. Please train your staff on how to shuck an oyster properly and better explain to the customer what they purchased."

Rittenhouse Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (346) • $$$

"The cheetah carpet seems tongue-in-cheek when taken with the upscale piano bar atmosphere, excellent pianist, and sophisticated drinks. I had reservations elsewhere and only popped in for a drink but I think I'll be back for the food before long."

Anastasi Seafood

★★★★☆ 4 (310) • $$

"Came in to get some shrimp for dinner. Place is relatively small but lots of fresh choices! Service was good. The shrimp were cleaned and even the tail was removed. Highly recommend."

Tai Lake Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (333)

"This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in Philly! Coming from California where there's an abundance of Chinese food, I can say this restaurant serves really authentic and yummy Chinese food. Whenever I miss those authentic Cantonese flavors, I will be coming back to this restaurant!We asked the waiter for recommendations from the menu and he told us that they're known for seafood dishes. They have multiple tanks of different kinds of live seafood at the entrance of their restaurant so you can bet on them to serve you the freshest seafood! Most of their live seafood don't really have a set price. It's calculated by market price (by pound). The service here is really quick. They bring out the food really fast and it comes out piping hot. The waiters do not check up on you to see how the food is but that is typical service at a Chinese restaurants. They offer bowls of white rice at no extra charge to go along with your food.FILLET GROUPER AND BEAN CURD - 3/5The first dish that came out was the fillet grouper and bean curd. The grouper (fish) in this dish is fried before they mixed it into a clay pot with some sauce. The grouper is already deboned which made it very easy and pleasant to eat. To my surprise, there is a layer of Napa cabbage on the bottom of the pot which is a nice way to incorporate some veggies. The flavors in this dish wasn't too great. I've had better but it was decent. I wish it had more sauce. I would probably try something else from their menu next time.I forgot to take photos of the other dishes because they all looked and smelled so good LOLSNOW PEA LEAVES WITH GARLIC - 5/5This was delicious! The snow pea leaves weren't too tough, you could tell they used good quality young snow pea leaves to make this dish. It was stir fried with some garlic and had the perfect amount of seasoning. A classic veggie dish to go with the rest of your meal.CRAB AND DRIED SCALLOP FRIED RICE - 5/5Out of the 3 items that we ordered, my favorite is their crab and dried scallop fried rice. This fried rice tasted super authentic and had all the flavor notes that you would look for in a fried rice. It was seasoned perfectly where it would make your mouth water. There is umami flavors from the dried scallops and they use real crab in their fried rice! None of that imitation stuff. The rice wasn't stuck together and had the perfect texture. I would come back just for this dish.At the end of your meal, they even bring you a free dessert! 3 dishes from their menu was enough variety to feed 2 hungry adults plus some leftovers to take home."

Scannicchio's

★★★★☆ 4.2 (235) • $$$

"Been going to this restaurant for years and their food is really good. The portions are a nice size and the service is always really good. The prices are fair esp because it is a BYOB. A South Philly gem I highly recommend Scannicchio's if you want great Italian food in South Philly. Place is small and kind of loud so not a great place to go to have serious convos though."

Kei Sushi Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.5 (193) • $$

"I absolutely adore Kei for many reasons! Their takeout game cannot be beat. I've ordered rolls, appetizers, and more for takeout and it always comes quickly and well packaged. They don't play with their service and quality.I also love that I can pop in as a solo diner and sit at the sushi bar even on a Friday night. Because their takeout business is thriving, they often have seats available in house if you'd like a casual dine in experience. It is a BYOB and the team here is SO kind. I decided to dine in this past weekend and felt so well taken care of. I like the sushi bar because it is like dinner and a show. They have three sushi chefs working tirelessly to churn out classic and specialty rolls, sashimi platters, sushi boats, nigiri, and all of the other items you'd expect to see at a top tier sushi restaurant.I love how near this is to my house and that they pride themselves on their high quality fish. They don't skimp on portions either and the prices are the best in the city. I got three rolls and an app for ~$37. I can't wait for my next takeout order and it's great to have Kei as a go-to!"

Teca Newtown Square

★★★★☆ 3.6 (301) • $$$

"I've been to Teca in West Chester a million times but this was my first time in Newtown - it is HUGE!!! I appreciated that it was staffed really well. Service was excellent. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because the menu is so much smaller than WC! I wish I could give 4.75 because our server got the kitchen to make what my mom usually gets even though it was not on this menu. I just thought it was weird to have a bigger restaurant but smaller menu.My dish was great but my favorite taste of the night was the oil that came with the table breadI am VERY turned off by the manager comments though...what is that"

The Shake Seafood

★★★★☆ 4.1 (216) • $$

"We came in and we're immediately seated. This was my first time here as I've heard so much about it. I looked over the menu and I saw there was no king crabs which is what I wanted at first, however I've been having a hard time finding king crabs probably due to the pandemic. So I ordered the lemon pepper wings and fried shrimp with fries. Everything came out nice and you! The wings were so crispy and the lemon pepper flavor was a nice compliment to the wings. The shrimp was flavorful and I didn't get any sauce with it; they were so good and juicy on their own.Oh I'm definitely coming back!"

Elia Greek Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (186) • $$

"A recommendation from a sweet lady at the Keswick Theater. We got seated immediately. Our sever was attentive. （）We ordered Beet salad, lemon chicken soup, and dolma. If I had my ukelele I would definitely strum a Love Song about The Beet salad being so amazing. Very special very flavorful fresh and delicious. The dolma was served hot. It was so very delightful. Perfect shape. Delicious taste! The chicken soup had perfect amount of lemon. I've never had this before and I was so happy to try it. I loved it.Delightful Greek decor . The tiles are quite charming. The owner came by and let us know that his wife makes the desserts . Of course. I'm so delighted to try some thing she created specifically. We ordered baklava."

Bistro La Baia

★★★★☆ 3.6 (261)

"I came here as part of Center City's Restaurant Week & here are my takeaways: Ambiance: the place is small and intimate. I got there at 6pm and there were only 6 other people in the restaurant. I was seated right across from the door, which I didn't mind for the most part but I did get a chill anytime the door was opened. The place started getting full around 7 PM. Service: the staff were great. Very attentive and checked in on me periodically to make sure I was doing alright. There were only two people working, which was fine, but did cause a bit of a slowdown when the place began filling up. Food: I started off with the polpette (meatballs) and they were good and a good size for an appetizer for one person. The gnocchi pesto was delicious. The gnocchi are perfectly made and the pesto was great, not too oily. The portion of the gnocchi was also very gracious and I had leftovers to bring home. Now to the star of the show: their homemade tiramisu. Probably the best tiramisu I've had in Philadelphia. Overall, I think I just found my new favorite Italian restaurant in Philly!"

Pescatore

★★★★☆ 4 (207) • $$$

"This is our 2nd go around with Pescatore. The vibe here is old school Italian American. This place hasn't changed one bit since it opened way back when! We had a large group for a Saturday evening and we were seated and taken care of very well and throughout the whole night. What we snagged:-Calamari -Mussels -Sunday Gravy -Veal Mia (VERY Flavorful) -Chicken Milanese Overall, the meal was great. Highly recommend checking this place out for a great meal that's BOYB. Can't catch those in Philly. Only downfall was my wife's uncooked chicken. Like WAY undercooked. Sent it back and it was fixed. They even gave us a free cannoli to apologize. Very sweet."

Marzano Ristorante

★★★★☆ 3.8 (229)

"This restaurant has a spacious parking lot at the back. Very spacious dining area. They can accommodate a couple of groups of private parties.They do not have paper menu. You can see it by scanning the QR code or they will lend you an iPad.Our waitress was very nice and attentive. The complimentary Italian bread is warm and crusty. Fried calamari wasn't heavily breaded. Instead of being served in rings, they came in bite sizes. Fresh and perfectly cooked. Pear salad: arugula with poached pear and goat cheese. I normally do not the bitter flavor of arugula but this one isn't bitter at all. Very delicious and didn't have too much dressing.My entree is halibut with crab meat served with potatoes and vegetable. Big slice of the halibut, the crab on top is a bit too salty.Dessert menu isn't available online. Instead the waitress brings you a tray of the available dessert options, very inviting.Peanut butter pie is delicious and so is limoncello cake. Tiramisu is ok."

Pera Turkish Cuisine

★★★★★ 4.5 (149) • $$

"Excellent service and food! This place is super cozy and inviting. The meat was cooked perfectly and not dry. The serving size was also excellent. The cheese rolls were crisp, and a really yummy app. The salad was a nice balance for all the meat we ate. definitely give them a try!"

House of Pho

★★★★☆ 3.7 (217) • $$

"Ate there a few times and the meals were wonderful. The coffee is exceptional. The location is convenient."

R & G's Ping Pong

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (263) • $$

"I've dined in and gotten take-out a few times from this location. The menu is extensive, with traditional offerings, which is always a welcome sight.Whenever I see authentic Chinese cuisine offered at a local Chinese restaurant, I always have to order something. It's not that common out here in the burbs. I've always had a positive experience dining in here and the food for takeout is always piping hot and well-seasoned."

Ocean City

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (241) • $$

"Nice selection of dim sum dishes to choose from. Many bun, shumai, and fried specialties. I was happy to see some favorites, and also was served some extra light dessert items. Staff inside is very nice, and was welcoming. Classic interior and menu. Most items were steamed or fried nicely, and had good flavors. Come here with friends for tasty meal."

Trio

★★★★☆ 3.6 (200) • $$

"Special COVID review update alert.Trio has been a go-to for sometime, but excelled in a recent COVID delivery in all categories. Keep an eye on their specials. You SHOULD be ordering the Drunken Noodles with pastrami if you like drunken noodles and pastrami. They make their own pastrami and it goes darn well in this staple dish.Their ratatouille is also chock full of fresh veggies and seasoned, marinated with a pan-Asian twist.Delivery was quick, and they followed the contact-free instructions.Trio is a must- have on your COVID delivery list and a mainstay on your everyday list."

Bluefin Eagleview

★★★★☆ 4.2 (144) • $$$

"Wondering who the kind seating host was today (03/06/24), who helped me find my hat. He took the time to actually search and didn't stop until we found it. I was impressed! So thank you to whoever you were. *I left my hat many weeks ago, and only came back today*. The food was exquisite, (when I came many weeks ago), and will definitely come back in the near future! The vibe of the whole place was amazing as well!!"

Xun Yu Si Kao

★★★★☆ 4 (153) • $$

"Pros- offer two small complimentary appetizer dishes- the dishes here are authentic and delicious- menu is big with beautiful photos of the food: it makes you want to order everything - reasonable food portions- nothing is overly spicy, flavors bring me back to ChiCons- our server wasn't that great, it was clear that he didn't want to be there- a bit pricey when comparing to other Chinatown restaurants- you need to find your own parking- gets crowded and busy at peak times!"

Alma Del Mar

★★★★★ 4.7 (106)

"An absolute hidden gem, skip the apps, go straight for the fish! This is the place to visit if you want to experience a pre-covid authentic restaurant dining experience. Dress warmly if it's later at night. BYOB.Must get: octopus*, bronzino, mango saladMeh: calamariMissed out: all the fishesIt is so refreshing to write a restaurant review after the long covid hiatus. It is without a doubt that many establishments have struggled to balance a traditional restaurant experience, amazing quality food, and shortening each dining experience to allow for appropriate sanitation. However, Alma Del Mar figured it out...and it does so by having only 1-2 people take on the role of the cook, waiter, and greeter. They march at their pace, and your job is to enjoy the show.I gotta say, before even going further into the experience, I really loved this place - we went during cinco de mayo and they had (slightly loud) live music playing and the overall energy was intoxicating. For food, the (everything) is very fresh, and I still can't stop thinking how Alma managed to put mustard on fish, and made it so unforgettable. Seriously, the food here is so filling and amazing that the price is entirely justified. My friend got the beef + seafood option, and they were quite pleased with both the quantity and the quality of the meats. Finally, the octopus - it was so perfectly cooked, but just a bit too salty. However, the grilled watermelon was so wonderfully paired to dilute the saltiness, sigh, it was so amazing.Overall, I could go on and on, but you won't go wrong if you spend a little extra to try out the main dishes. Seriously, call to make your reservation and go already!Food: 5 starsService: 4 stars (can be a little slow)Price: 5 starsAmbiance: 4 stars (it's really just a space between two buildings covered by a tent...but hey, it's got style."