Best of Gay Philly 2012

Best of Gay Philly: Where to Eat in Midtown Village

Best New Restaurant
Jamonera, the newest eatery from chef Marcie Turney, is all about small plates packing big Spanish-inspired flavor, like Lancaster pig egg and clams with house-made chorizo. To learn more about the Best New Restaurant in Gay Philly: Jamonera, 105 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, 215-922-6061.

Best Brunch ’n’ Lunch
We love Green Eggs in South Philly. We love Green Eggs in NoLibs. And now we love Green Eggs in the Gayborhood. To learn more about the Best Brunch ‘n’ Lunch in Gay Philly: Green Eggs, 212 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, 267-861-0314.

Best Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant
Vedge planted itself in the Gayborhood, where it bucks tradition with its gourmet twists on meat-free cuisine by chefs/owners Richard Landau and Kate Jacoby. The bar is set high in this sleek eatery—not just for plant-based plates, but for Philly dining period. To learn more about the Best Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant in Gay Philly: Vedge, 1221 Locust Street, Philadelphia, 215-320-7500.

Best To Go
Garces Trading Company is the perfect spot to pick up a great red or white, or gourmet treats for that last-minute shindig. To learn more about the Best To Go in Gay Philly: Garces Trading Company, 1111 Locust Street, Philadelphia, 215-574-1099. 

Best Thai Restaurant
Looking for authentic Thai food? Sawatdee is a fast, affordable BYOB—and a great alternative to the usual haunts for that first date night. To learn more about the Best Thai Restaurant in Gay Philly: Sawatdee, 1501 South Street, Philadelphia, 215-790-1299.

Best Italian Restaurant
Amis is a little bit rustic and a little bit rock ’n’ roll, thanks to multicourse meals that are certainly not for the carbophobic. And the atmosphere? Perfect for celebrating a milestone.To learn more about the Best Italian Restaurant in Gay Philly: Amis, 412 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, 215-732-2647.

Best Bar Food
Westbury has upgraded its beer list, and the longtime gay bar is vying to be a true gastropub thanks to affordable comfort food from burgers and fries to shepherd’s pie. To learn more about the Best Bar Food in Gay Philly: Westbury, 261 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, 215-546-5170.

Best Quick Bite in the ’Burbs
Get your Greek on at Desert Rose, a low-key restaurant and market that keeps it real with authentic Mediterranean dishes and a laid-back vibe in downtown Media. To learn more about the Best Quick Bite in the ‘Burbs in Gay Philly: Desert Rose, 305 State Street, Media, 484-442-8012.

Best Shore Thing
You don’t have to go to the Shore to taste chef Jose Garces’s Spanish tapas, but you’ll want to when you see the stunning oceanfront view from Amada at Revel. To learn more about the Best Shore Thing in Gay Philly: Amada at Revel, 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, 855-348-0500.

Best Juice Bar
Do it raw at Jar Bar. From the elixirs to the no-nonsense dishes that do a body good, recharge from the night before with a cucumber, celery, lemon, parsley and spinach juice. To learn more about the Best Juice Bar in Gay Philly: Jar Bar, 113 South 12th Street, Philadelphia, 215-923-1600.

Best Late-Night Bite
Chicago-style hot dogs feed Philly’s after-hours scene. Underdogs serves up some of the best beef wieners in the city until 4 a.m. on the weekend with highly original toppings. There’s even a veggie dog. To learn more about the Best Late-Night Bite in Gay Philly: Underdogs, 132 South 17th Street, Philadelphia, 215-665-8080.

Best New Hope Eats
Experience a taste of New Orleans at the refined Creole kitchen Marsha Brown, where the eponymous chef pays homage to her Louisiana roots in gay-friendly Bucks County, a stone’s throw from the Raven. To learn more about the Best New Hope Eats in Gay Philly: Marsha Brown, 15 South Main Street, New Hope, 215-862-7044.

Best BYOB
It’s all about farm-to-table at Russet, a rustic BYOB that serves up local-inspired specialties with many ingredients from nearby Lancaster County. To learn more about the Best BYOB in Gay Philly: Russet, 1521 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, 215-546-1521.

Best Collingswood Eatery
Don’t expect a lot of extras at Il Fiore. But do expect a traditional Italian feast for less than you might spend just to get into Voyeur for the night. 693-695 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, 856-833-0808.

Best Dessert
Finally, something for the adult sweet tooth. Federal Donuts bakes ’em fresh with flavors like Indian Cinnamon and Creamsicle. The fried chicken is a bonus. To learn more about the Best Dessert in Gay Philly: Federal Donuts, 1219 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia, 267-687-8258.

Best Healthy Takeout
Three words: Crispy HipCity Ranch. Eat this meatless “chicken” sandwich with a green smoothie at HipCityVeg and you won’t regret it—and neither will your waistline. These vegan dishes are a Rittenhouse delight. To learn more about the Best Healthy Takeout in Gay Philly: HipCityVeg, 127 South 18th Street, Philadelphia, 215-278-7605.

Best Coffee
It may have changed owners (and names) over the years, but Café Twelve is still the coffee shop to see and be seen in the Gayborhood. The sweets and sandwiches aren’t too shabby either. To learn more about the Best Coffee in Gay Philly: Café Twelve, 212 South 12th Street, Philadelphia, 215-893-5680.

>>Click here to read Best of Gay Philly: Where to Play in Midtown Village