Quick Bite Restaurants

Just five weeks after Ralph’s opened its doors, Teddy Roosevelt sat down for a classic Italian meal in a burgeoning South Philadelphia Italian neighborhood; that was in 1900. Today, Ralph’s still caters to a host of notable diners and delivers the same simple, homey but high quality Italian fare as always. It’s a spaghetti and meatball parlor where red tomato sauce is king, queen, and heir to the thrown. Ralph’s is the oldest family owned Italian restaurant in America. The trattoria’s no fuss consistent approach to Southern Italian cuisine and elegant but non-stuffy atmosphere have made it a favorite among …

Can’t decide between eating seafood, sushi, steak, or Peking duck? Royal Buffet and Grill has a wide variety of all-you-can-eat options to choose from, including Chinese, American and Japanese cuisine. Their interior is equipped especially for the most serious buffet fans, with specific dining sections such as an Open Kitchen, Open Grill, Open Hibachi, Long Sushi Bar, Chef’s Special Bar, Hot Food Bar, Dessert Bar, Salad Bar, and Fruit Bar. Serving over 200 items daily, Royal Buffet and Grill was voted Best Buffet Restaurant by Main Line Times and named one of the Top 10 Buffet Restaurants in the USA …

Showcasing the bounty of locally grown produce and organic ingredients, celebrity chef Eric Ripert has dished up yet another success with 10 Art. His mission is simple: to offer the best of contemporary American cuisine. His menu is exemplary: Ripert’s elegantly fine-tuned technique balances the complexity and heartiness of many of his most notable dishes. The Steamed Mussels are served in a chorizo and white wine broth, while the Pork and Beans highlights braised pork belly in a summer bean ragout. Understated and masterful, the Bouillabaisse has market fish and shellfish in a saffron and tomato broth.

Indian food can be a delicacy for foodies, but when served all-you-can-eat style, it can be a match made in heaven. Since 1988, New Delhi Indian Restaurant has brought spice to Philadelphia, serving a wide selection of both traditional Indian cuisine as well as options for seafood, vegetarian dishes, salad, and dessert. Traditional favorites include chicken tikka masala as well as samosas, vegetable malai kofta, and garlic na’an. They also feature options for catering and take-out. With a large, modern, upscale dining area, great for large parties or special events, this fair-priced buffet is sure to spice up your life …

Cheesesteaks are so ingrained in Philly tradition that visitors don’t dare depart the city without sampling the city's namesake sandwich. At Pat’s, diners come for the original—founder Pat Oliveri created the sandwich in 1930—and are willing to suffer long lines and follow strict instructions for “How to Order a Steak.” Make sure you come with cash and a decisive palate—if you stumble over your order you may be sent to the back of the line. But stay steadfast and the reward is yours: thin slices of juicy ribeye, smothered with melted cheese and grilled onions, and stuffed into a crisp …

Enjoy a cold cocktail—and seasonally, a warm fire—while watching the sunset over the Delaware River. In the summer, sit on the patio, and watch the calming river while munching candied walnuts atop a crisp Marguerita Salad. Please a selective palate with an atmosphere that offers choice: dress up, dress down; eat light, eat full; dine fancy or relax in an over-stuffed chair in the plush, yet relaxing, lounge. Satisfy mom’s flavor for flounder, a cousin’s craving for crabcakes, and still get your monthly mignon. Try the Yardley Inn, where classy contemporary is really choice.

Located in the historic Corn Exchange Building in Old City, this Irish pub has a recognized reputation for great food, live entertainment, and a bustling atmosphere. French Chef Vincent Fanari has earned national praise for the innovative menu that mixes technique with the Irish appreciation of fresh vegetables and local products.

There are plenty of bars to choose from in Manayunk, but for true beer aficionados there's really only one choice: Manayunk Brewery, which has at least eight craft-brewed beers on tap at all times (brewed in their beer cellar), not to mention an extensive wine list (bottles are priced only $10 above cost) and a full bar. Patrons also keep coming back to Manayunk Brewery for the food, which ranges from their famous burger and a rotisserie chicken marinated in beer to ahi tuna and filet mignon.

Rivaling neighboring Pat’s, Genos is Philly’s other notorious 24-hour cheesesteak stop. As has been the case since Joe Vento opened in 1966, sandwiches come heaping with thinly sliced steak and a choice of American, Provolone, or cheese wiz melted across the top. The menu is simple, the ordering straightforward, and the meal a decadent version of the best sandwich Philadelphia has to offer. If the glowing storefront doesn’t lure you in, the unmistakable scent of grilled steak certainly will.

Located just south of the hustle of South Street in Queen's Village, the Famous 4th Street Deli is a quaint Jewish-American restaurant featuring hospitable service and enormous sandwiches. Named after the streets in New York City, some of the sandwiches stand over six inches tall and come with a choice of sides like potato pancakes and fresh fruit. Traditional Jewish American delicacies, including monsterous bowls of matzah ball soup, can be ordered as appetizers. The attached bakery freshly bakes a motley of pastries available for desert or take out daily.

Gluten-free? Sugar-free? Vegan? Dairy-free? No problem! At Sweet Freedom Bakery, quality baking meets health conscious alternatives—it’s a place where those with a sweet tooth can get their sugar fix knowing that all products are mindful of food allergies and health conscious individuals. With a philosophy that ensures premium product and a guarantee that everyone can get something sweet, Sweet Freedom Bakery sells a treat for everyone that walks through the door. Whether you’re picking up something small, or ordering cakes, cookies, or doughnuts by the dozen, Sweet Freedom Bakery doesn’t turn any stomach away.

With its kitschy theme park decor and its hip Latin beats, Old City’s Cuba Libre is all about the ambiance. The elaborately designed space – with its tall palms and wrought-iron balconies – was built to resemble an outdoor café in Cuba circa 1940. The restaurant’s menu combines “Nuevo Cubano” dishes alongside traditional Cuban cuisine. From the tasty mango butter spread accompanying the bread to the juicy Guava BBQ Rib entrée, this Latin feast will be an experience all its own. The endless variety of Cuban rums and a tasty selection of mojitos, Cuba Libre’s specialty drinks, won’t disappoint either!

Restaurateur Stephen Starr’s vision of the future burns bright in the University City section of Philadelphia where Pod dishes out Asian fusion cuisine in an atmosphere that is a playful cross between Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Jetsons. Fresh sushi, dim sum, and full entrees are served in Pod’s sleek, high-tech dining space. The restaurant’s glossy, pure white interior, accentuated by concentric circles of blue, orange, and purple lighting and flooded with the pulse of ambient music, boldly transports patrons to a culinary destination that is truly ahead of its time.

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 …

Located in Pennsport, Ruby Buffet has a great selection of tasty lunch and dinner options in an all-you-can-eat restaurant set-up. This seafood, Chinese, Japanese, and sushi buffet has an assortment of different dishes that you can try for just one low rate. Favorites include their hand-rolled sushi, snow crabs, shrimp cocktail, and coconut chicken. Their large, spacious interior can give way to large parties, and the buffet space is always serving up fresh new dishes. With quality, cleanliness, service, and selection, Ruby Buffet has a great variety of dishes that can satisfy whatever you’re craving.

Part of a family of steakhouses committed to quality, Smith & Wollensky is founded on a tradition of excellence. At the Philadelphia location, Executive Chef Patrick Dwyer partakes in Smith & Wollensky tradition, hand-butchering and dry aging USDA Prime beef on premises. Whether feasting on Dwyer’s steaks or opting for fresh seafood or other Smith & Wollensky classics, diners are promised an extravagant experience. The two-story restaurant, located inside the Rittenhouse Hotel, offers a classic setting paired with stunning views of Rittenhouse Square.

In a city where every restaurant is striving to be the next big thing, The Oyster House manages to stay true to its roots. Now back in the hands of the original owners, The Oyster House has been given a much needed face lift. Still located on the unassuming Sansom Street, The Oyster House remains a grand old tradition of fresh fish at its finest. With dishes like Southern Fried Oysters with Chicken Salad, Herb Roasted Bluefish, and Snapper Turtle Soup, classic seafood is alive and well in this no-nonsense setting. Sam Mink, the son of original owner David Mink, …

Delinquent account! This restaurant has an unpaid balance for our services. Unfortunately, it has been our experience that account delinquency is the result of an establishment’s financial difficulties, which also commonly translate into a deterioration in service and food quality. As we have not been given the opportunity to assess the status of this restaurant, we cannot in good faith recommend it to our customers. While we can’t currently endorse this venue, we are happy to suggest a number of other high quality restaurants to meet all your dining needs. Thank you for your understanding.

Devon Seafood Grill offers “global aquatic cuisine,” with ingredients and flavors from all corners of the world. Chef Jitendra Gulgule serves up creative interpretations of market-fresh Pacific and Atlantic fish and shellfish, presenting both daily and seasonal specials and signature classics. An oyster bar and extensive wine cellar add to the experience, as does the comfortably elegant setting.

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 …