3 1/2 Stars

Resting unassumingly on a hill amid the Society Hill Towers, Zahav has given traditional Israeli street food a makeover. Celebrated Chef Michael Solomonov has gone to great lengths to transport the multiethnic flavors of his homeland to Philadelphia. He calls the food “Modern Israeli,” and each small plate is equal parts passion, execution, and rustic goodness. The open kitchen gives a professional demeanor to the 100-seat room, while the smell of roasting lamb and warm glow of the hearth offer a homey contrast. Zahav is Hebrew for “Gold,” and its chefs are alchemists, transforming and elevating simple flavors and ingredients …

Dining in Philadelphia has finally become both elegant and romantic since the addition of “M”, the restaurant at the Morris House Hotel. With such fine dining available both indoors and outdoors in the magnificent center city garden, “M” is a pure gem right in the heart of the historic district of downtown Philadelphia. The menu is designed by internationally trained chef David Katz, who offers daily entrees with extraordinary originality, making “M” a destination for superb dining at it’s best. M offers a modern menu of tantalizing dishes and indulgences to guests and local patrons alike.

If you’ve ever been to South Philly's predominately Italian neighborhood, you may know the charming feeling that emanates from a place immersed in such culture and authenticity. Maggiano’s Little Italy, located in Center City, recreates the enchantment of an Italian neighborhood to a tee, with a menu chock-full of hearty Italian dishes that are served in bountiful portions, an extensive wine and drink list, and friendly service from a staff straight from the motherland. Combine all of this with Old Blue Eyes and other rat-pack era musicians supplying the soundtrack, and you are guaranteed to leave floating on a cloud …

Pumpkin, coined from the pet name of husband and wife co-owners Ian Moroney and Hillary Bor, offers an adventurous menu that changes daily – dishes can include snails, cardoon, and homemade banana gelato. The intimate 28-seat restaurant in the city’s Graduate Hospital area also serves up the sort of comfortable charm that comes of candle lighting, small tables, and attentive service from employees that include members of Moroney’s family. This neighborhood restaurant is well suited for a second date, a second anniversary or a couple of hours catching up with old friends. With an ever changing menu that boasts farm-to-table …

Tucked away on a not-so-traveled North Broad Street block lies Osteria, a glowing creation by the renowned Philadelphia Chef Marc Vetri. Service fit for kings and an ambience that spares not an ounce of luxury only begin to describe this experience. Dishes are rooted in the rolling hills of Tuscany, and guests may select from a non-traditional array of homemade Italian items, from crispy pizzas and pastas to meat and poultry dishes. An open kitchen greets patrons as they arrive while a full bar lined with a collection of wine corks beckons in the rear. Portions are small, but bursting …

Mixto Restaurant infuses the cuisines of Latin America and the Caribbean, providing an explosive Latin culinary experience. A part of Antique Row Center, the restaurant has brick and wrought-iron wooden decor, and a spicy Latino soundtrack. The incredibly diverse menu offers numerous selections from Mexico, South America, and distant Spain. Start with an appetizer such as the tangy Shrimp Ceviche in lemon sauce, or go straight to the delectable entrees, where the Pollo Champignon—chicken in a rich mushroom sauce with a cheesy baked potato cube—is one of many mouth-watering choices. Private rooms, a Latin-inspired wine list, and a loaded dessert …

While the story behind this restaurant’s name may be tragic, its fine Mexican cuisine and welcoming atmosphere is anything but. La Hora Feliz puts smiles on faces nightly in the bar, and the warmly lit lounge is where many go to welcome the weekend. The restaurant itself hopes to unite diners around a collective passion for Mexican cuisine with authentic dishes that often beg to be shared. The Pescado Entero con Guajes is a whole roasted fish with acacia seed-tomatillo sauce; and the Tostadas de Ceviche is prepared with shrimp, octopus, and Spanish mackerel. And in honor of the Queen …

Valanni fuels night-time revelry with its clever cocktails, scrumptious snacks and lively atmosphere. The menu is an elegant hybrid of Mediterranean and Latin influences,with traditional Spanish-style dishes like Seafood Paella sharing space with more fusion flavors like the Sesame and Pepita Crusted Yellowfin Tuna and the Honey glazed Duck Breast. The stylish dining room blends a rugged industrialism with a polished cosmopolitanism, juxtaposing exposed brick walls and an expansive bar with leather banquettes, modernist accents, and soft, glowing, amber lights. The allure of flavorful beverages like the Mango Mojito and Watermelon-Rita (a muddled watermelon margarita) make happy hours and late …

The ChopHouse is a very chic restaurant featured in red brick building that offers fresh steak and seafood. Executive Chef Markese Beverly always creates interesting dishes and enjoys a big catch of the day. Patrons are seated in elegant booths while waiters attend to every need. The lounge is a great place to get drinks with numerous cocktail choices on the wall. Semi and private parties are encouraged as the rooms can accommodate up to 200 people. Reservations are recommended upon request.

Before Patou came to Old City with its ultra-hip appeal, Patrice Rames already had a Philadelphia success nestled atop the Marketplace Design Center in Center City. Since 1987, Patou’s sister restaurant Bistro St. Tropez has been serving Philadelphia foodies the finest of French food, and has given five-star French spots some stiff competition. In Bistro St. Tropez you will find the illusion of Provence amidst simple elegance, classic French cuisine, and a predominately French wine selection—all presented with Rames’s signature classic style that gives Philly a true taste of France.

Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse creates a world apart from the rest of Philadelphia’s big name steakhouses by infusing the dining experience with Old-World elegance and glamour. From the cloth-draped columns to sky-high ceilings, one step inside the restaurant showcases how majestic a meal can be-- given the right chef and a commitment to fine dining. Serving up premium steaks and seafood is always done with the utmost quality. Leaving no corner of steakhouse cuisine untouched, Del Frisco’s explores classic American fare with a passion for excess and delivers an unforgettable evening in the comfort of its plush surroundings.

For old and young alike, Ted’s Montana Grill is an enticing foray into how the West was fed. The restaurant, partly owned by media magnate Ted Turner, takes its cues from classic American fare and traditional frontier cuisine. Bison is featured prominently on the menu and promises to make every meal at this Center City eatery an event to remember. Surrounded by cozy wooden booths, and with a spacious dining room and bar to enjoy, diners can indulge their homespun appetites in an ideal rustic setting.

Chef Dave Clouser’s impressive resume, including such notable restaurants as Susanna Foo, The Inn at Montcharin and Nectar, has given him the essential tools to open his Bryn Mawr restaurant, Sola. Serving a familiar American cuisine with a distinctive European flair, Sola attempts to redefine the typical bistro. This 50-seat restaurant offers diners a warm intimate environment with fresh seasonal ingredients and an ever evolving weekly prix fixe menu. Since its inception in 2006, Sola has remained a BYOB restaurant and promises to stay that way.

The space formerly known as Sonoma was recently revamped by dynamic chef and owner Derek Davis. The result is Derek’s, a casual contemporary lounge serving sophisticated comfort food in a family atmosphere. Whether opting to order from their sweeping wine list or to BYO with no additional corkage fee, casual wine drinkers and enthusiasts alike are sure to feel at home. The menu is no less welcoming and offers thoughtful small plates and regular portioned entrees made from sustainable and seasonal ingredients. Sidewalk seating is ideal in the warmer months and conveys a European joie de vivre you’ll be hard-pressed …

Are you ready for a venue wherein classic meets contemporary? If so, check out Philadelphia’s Table 31, a new restaurant by chef and restaurateur Chris Scarduzio. Table 31 boasts quite the inventive Italian-inspired menu as Chef Scarduzio pays homage to his rich heritage with playful spins on traditional steak, seafood, and pasta dishes. This modern venue is located inside Philadelphia’s Comcast Center on JFK Boulevard and contains a bar, lounge, main dining room, outdoor seating, and private dining. With an intimate ambiance and trendy décor, Table 31 provides a new age Italian kitchen experience for its patrons and has fast …

Located in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square, Tria Wine Bar and Café serves a large variety of specialty wines, beers, and cheeses-- many of which are hand crafted. Not sure how to navigate the restaurant’s extensive wine list, knowledgeable staff is always available to help. Tria’s menu is stocked full of inventive contemporary flavors and ingredients. Their fresh take on classics like paninis, snacks, and bruschetta is by very definition refreshing. Tria even hosts a happy hour several nights a week where guests can sample 2 wines, 2 beers, and an artisan cheese. This casual and relaxed Philadelphia favorite even features “Sunday …

Feast on quality casual fare and fine libations while treating yourself to supreme sounds at World Café Live. This top-notch music venue and eatery caters to what Philadelphia craves most: great times and even better food. The Café itself features three spaces to accommodate everything from sit down dinners and mid-concert munchies. Upstairs Live is open weekdays for full lunch and dinner service and nightly on the weekends, giving guests the chance to satisfy their appetite for healthful salads, savory burgers and sandwiches, and fresh pasta and seafood specialties. On weeknights, it’s also a great idea to head Upstairs for …

Marley's is serving unique food & craft Beer. One of Bloomsburg’s most popular restaurants, Marley’s provides a unique, delicious twist on the traditional bar and grille. We offer mouth watering casual American cuisine, using nothing but the freshest ingredients in our menu items, which includes soups, sandwiches, wraps, pasta and more. All of our award-winning beer is brewed on site. Reservations are recommended.

Sit in cozy avocado-colored booths or in the pleather swivel chairs of yesteryear, with a background of cherry wood, framing stacked stone brick walls reminiscent of the Brady Bunch. Enjoy a tasty soda pop or order a “cool” cocktail such as Proud Mary, Hound Dog, or Cloud Nine. Choose from comfort foods like Baked Mac and Cheese, Thanksgiving Dinner, Meatloaf, or a Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie. Have smaller fare such as Tomato Soup with grilled cheese or a Tuna Melt on rye. Step back in time to the 1970s, near Independence Mall, where the history of the 1770s abounds. Book over …

Audrey Claire is a small New American gem in the heart of elegant Rittenhouse Square. Owner Audrey Claire Taichman gives the restaurant its name and also its minimalist elegance, which engulfs guests with bare white walls and palatable heat from the open kitchen. Executive Chef Kiong Banh mixes up traditional New American cuisine, creating simple yet inventive dishes such as Roasted Leg of Lamb with Cranberry-Rosemary Puree. Taichman's conceptual direction coupled with Bahn's insistence on excellence and innovation ensure that Audrey Claire’s atmosphere and menu remain sophisticated without being pretentious, and unique while retaining simplicity and quality.