10 Best Philly Restaurants

Who doesn’t love philly restaurants? I lived in the suburbs of Philadelphia for just about my whole life before moving to Boston this spring. While it was perfect timing in that I moved before the COVID-19 craziness broke out, it was unfortunate that I haven’t been able to explore the Boston restaurant scene.

To cope with the fact that I can’t go out to eat and to also prepare you for the soon-to-be bustling Philly restaurant scene, I give you my list of 10 favorite places to eat in Philadelphia.

1. Gustos

Hands down the best pizza I have gotten in the city, and since my boyfriend’s apartment was right around the corner from this pizzeria, we ate here quite a bit. My favorite pizza is the margherita, and I also love their mozzarella sticks. Finally, they are also a BYOB, so if you’d rather eat there than takeout, bring a bottle of wine with you.

2. Sotto

This is one of those Italian restaurants where you feel at home. It’s very tiny, so make sure you make a reservation. This was mine and my boyfriend’s go-to when we wanted a filling, reasonably priced, DELICIOUS meal. Try the calamari!

3. Giorgio on Pine

I couldn’t leave Giorgio’s off the list, even though I have another Italian restaurant right above it. This is one of my family’s favorite places because of their gluten free options. Both of my sister’s are gluten free, and it’s always been difficult to go out to dinner, but Giorgio’s made it easy with all the options they offer. I also have to say the entire staff is SO FRIENDLY.

4. Village Whiskey

The have the absolute best burgers. And I cannot say enough good things about their drink, The Commodore. The bourbon and mescal make for the perfect cocktail. If you even remotely like bourbon, you need to try it.

5. The Foodery

Talk about a bang for your buck. If you aren’t familiar with The Foodery, they have a few locations, but I always went to their Rittenhouse location. They have an entire wall of beer and cider you can pick from, and they serve huge portions if you decide to order food. It’s a bar feel for a fraction of what you would pay at your typical Philly bar.

6. Barclay Prime

This is one of those “special occasion” restaurants. My boyfriend and I would go here on our anniversaries, and oh my gosh is it the best meal you will ever have. I cannot say enough good things about the filet and the truffle mac and cheese (and everything else). It’s pricey, but it’s more than worth it.

7. Amada

Talk about a great Spanish restaurant. I went here for restaurant week, which was great because I could try a bunch of different things and not break the bank. If you haven’t taken advantage of Philly Restaurant Week, you need to. They do it twice a year, and it’s the best. The ambiance is also worth noting.

8. Spread Bagelry

This is more “grab and go,” but you better believe this will be my first stop the next time I’m in Philly. Hands down the best breakfast sandwiches ever. I always get “The Standard,” which is just a bacon, egg, and cheese, but it’s the best bacon, egg, and cheese you’ll ever have. You can thank me later. P.S. There is always a line out the door, so the earlier you go, the better.

9. Tinto

Like Amada, Tinto is is a tapas place–and it is amazing. I also have to note the atmosphere here. It’s the perfect date night restaurant!

10. Talula’s Garden

Talula’s Garden is one of those places that you need to go to at least once. The restaurant is beautiful. As the name suggests, there’s a garden atmosphere, so if the weather is nice, try to sit outside. I went for brunch, and the pancakes were awesome. You should also order the donuts–they are so light and fluffy.

And there you have it–my list of top 10 Philly restaurants you need to try! Do you have any suggestions? Where are your favorite places?

If you’re not ready to venture out just yet, I’ve got you covered with some recipes that you can make tonight!