Philly Mag Top 50 of 2009
Philly mag posted their list of the top 50 restaurants in Philadelphia. See the Philly mag comments there; for your vicarious menu-browsing pleasure, I have linked to the restaurants’ own sites. From the top, they are:
- Zahav
- Vetri
- James
- Osteria
- Lacroix
- Fountain
- Distrito
- Amada
- Talula’s Table
- Blackfish
- Bindi
- Gayle
- Morimoto
- Marigold Kitchen
- Modo Mio
- Chifa
- Barclay Prime
- Sovana Bistro
- Parc
- Ansill
- Xochitl
- Tinto
- Pub & Kitchen
- Supper
- Melograno
- Standard Tap
- Birchrunville Store Cafe
- Alison Two
- Union Trust
- Fork
- Bistro 7
- Nectar
- Le Bar Lyonnais
- Le Castagne
- Sang Kee Asian Bistro
- Nineteen
- Matyson
- Sagami
- Vietnam
- Horizons
- Little Fish
- Southwark
- Pumpkin
- Kanella
- Lolita
- Le Bec-Fin
- El Vez
- Honey’s Sit ‘N’ Eat
- Bar Ferdinand
- Tiffin
Overall, I liked the list. I hate lists that feel compelled to stock their top 10 with all the city’s special occasion fine dining options. Every time you go out should feel special! Also, though they don’t specifically mention it in their methodology, bang for your buck clearly played a factor. (I love Amada, but I definitely think you get more for your money at Distrito.) A list after my own heart, to be sure.
And the number one spot? After I went to Zahav last year, I raved about to an awful lot of people. Did I say to them, I just went to the best restaurant in Philadelphia? No. But I had a great time, and great food, and it was a fun evening that didn’t break the bank but still felt special. It wasn’t food you can get at a lot of places. And, last year, which was mostly marked by me cooking at home, not going out, I managed to get there twice. Though I’m not as hardcore as Anne and Sid with their “no repeats” restaurant policy, that’s still saying a lot in my book. I continue to recommend you go check it out. And it is veg-friendly.
On to the places I haven’t been, separated by reason:
They’re in the suburbs:
- Talula’s Table
- Blackfish
- Sovana Bistro
- Birchrunville Store Cafe
- Alison Two
- Nectar
I’m not sure if I want to spend *that* much money on dinner, considering other options:
- Vetri
- James
Lower interest than other places, but I’d go if you were paying :)
- Barclay Prime
- Union Trust
- Horizons
- Melograno
- Le Castagne
- Little Fish
Never even heard of it before seeing this list: Kanella
I have no good reason why I haven’t already been to all of these places:
- Marigold Kitchen: sounds delicious. has sounded delicious for years. it’s in west philly. it’s not that far away.
- Modo Mio: supposedly one of the great prix-fixe deals.
- Xochitl: I walk by, but it’s always not quite the right time.
- Pub & Kitchen: I could eat this tonight. I should eat this tonight.
- Supper: Again, I hear great things. The space looks super appealing. If the menu were a smidge more compelling, I would walk in immediately.
- Southwark: Too many gastropubs to count. Some have to fall lower on the try list.
- Pumpkin: The last time I walked by, it looked like a sorority had rented it out for the evening. And the menu still looked great!
Places I have already been, but I’d like to go to again with bda:
- Amada
- Fork
- Ansill
Other Philly restaurants that didn’t make the list, but I would like to try all the same:
- Jack’s Firehouse
- Cantina Dos Segundos
- Mémé (is this actually the same as Melograno?)
- Prohibition Taproom (aka “BAR”)
- Cochon
- London Grill
- Saute
- Time
- Kite and Key
What do you say? See something you want to check out? Something I shouldn’t waste my time and money on?
