A Guide to Philly’s Most Irresistible Fall Dishes
From butternut squash ravioli to pumpkin mousse cake, here are Philly's must-try autumn eats.
Cake & Joe’s pumpkin mousse cake / Photograph by Mike Prince
October’s change in season always inspires me to make a list of the best fall foods to eat in Philadelphia. I love the intermingling of seasons, the mix of tomatoes and winter squash at the farmer’s market, and the renewed ability to turn on my own oven without heating my kitchen above 90 degrees. This is also my favorite season for restaurant dining; it’s right before it gets cold and miserable, and though the days are getting shorter, it makes it all the more cozy to share long evening meals with folks you love. These are the dishes I’m excited to seek out this fall.
Pumpkin Mousse Cake at Cake & Joe, Pennsport and Fishtown
Nothing brings autumnal bliss much like pumpkin everything. Cake & Joe, pastry architects of the city’s cutest desserts, has a pumpkin mousse cake that’s as tasty as it is festive. It’s got a pumpkin cream, milk chocolate mousse, and pumpkin mousse core encased in pumpkin cake. Best of all, it’s shaped like a pumpkin. 1401 East Moyamensing Avenue and 2012 Frankford Avenue.
Mighty Munch at Mighty Bread Co., East Passyunk
One of my very favorite Philly bakeries has recently introduced aperitivo — an early evening menu of savory bites to pair with their new beer and other drinks. Included in this menu is their so-called Mighty Munch, a savory mix of baguette chips, candied nuts, and pretzels. For me, it hits the back-to-school nostalgia of Chex Mix. It also pairs nicely with an amaro and soda, which is my fall answer to a spritz, and just so happens to be on their new beverage menu. 1211 Gerritt Street.
Braised Rabbit Gnocchi at Stina Pizzeria, South Philly
Stina gets a lot of shine for their pizzas, pides, and Greek small plates, but chef Bobby Saritsoglou almost always has a handmade pasta on the menu as well, proving my point that this is among the most versatile restaurants in the city. Right now that pasta is light and tender Parisian gnocchi, grounded with a super savory, tender rabbit ragù. Nothing says fall to me quite like braised meat. 1705 Snyder Avenue.
Roasted Honeynut Squash at Pietramala, Northern Liberties
Honeynut squash is among my favorite fall vegetables, and nowhere does vegetables better than Pietramala, where they’re roasting tiny squash, filling them with a cherry husk puree, and topping them with a crown of granola-like puffed grains. It’s served with a swirl of tahini-inspired pumpkin seed sauce made with mushroom oil, making it a delightful fall dish. 614 North 2nd Street.
Hazelnut and Cocoa Cornetti at Fiore Fine Foods, Kensington
Fiore Fine Foods is deepening the flavor of their always-delicious cornetti by adding a little whole wheat and spelt flour. They then slice the pastries open and fill them with hazelnut and cocoa nib frangipane and bake them again. It’s sort of like the lovechild of a chocolate and almond croissant, all wrapped up in an Italian package. 2413 Frankford Avenue.
Duck Confit at Rice & Sambal @ Dankbaar, East Passyunk
I get excited to eat all kinds of long-cooked meats in the fall, and among the ones I’m seeking out this season is the duck confit at Rice & Sambal, the Indonesian pop-up hosted by Diana Widjojo, whose name you likely recognize from her time at Hardena, the staple Indonesian spot opened by her mother. It comes with Indo-style mashed potatoes and green tomato anchovy sambal. 1911 East Passyunk Avenue.
Halibut kebab at Suraya / Photograph by Mike Prince
Halibut Kebab With Roasted Pumpkin Seeds at Suraya, Fishtown
Fall is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Lebanese delights served at Suraya, but they do have a halibut kebab that pairs perfectly with sweater weather. The yogurt-marinated fish comes with burnt orange, freekah, and roasted pumpkin seeds for a meal that’s got the brightness you’d expect from the Mediterranean with the warm aromas indicative of autumn. 1528 Frankford Avenue.
Collard Green Eggrolls at Black Dragon, West Philly
I always want greens when the fall rolls around, and this year I’m seeking them out in the form of Black Dragon’s collard green egg rolls. Chef Kurt Evans takes the Chinese takeout classic, fills them with tender braised greens, and serves them hot and crispy with a side of mango sauce. Pair it with Black Dragon’s other “Black American Chinese food” like jerk chicken dumplings and oxtail beef and broccoli for a comforting meal. 5260 Rodman Street.
Butternut Squash Ravioli at Darling Jack’s Tavern, Midtown Village
No fall eating agenda is complete without the classic flavors of butternut squash and sage in pasta. Darling Jack’s Tavern has perfected the combo in the form of the butternut squash ravioli topped with hazelnut brown butter, plenty of sage, lemon, and a smoked ricotta salata. 104 South 13th Street.
Applething at Cleo Bagels, West Philly
You might not walk into Cleo Bagel planning to get a sweet treat, but you should. Their Applething is a sort of apple cake/muffin/doughnut hybrid, made with locally grown apples and covered in sugar and spices. They’re a fall special, ideal for morning walks with a steaming cup of coffee. Consider this the highbrow substitute for an apple cider doughnut. 5013 Baltimore Avenue.
Grilled Sweet potatoes and more at Otto’s Taproom, Brewerytown
I’ll admit to craving a pumpkin beer every now and then — I’ll be fulfilling that craving this autumn at Otto’s Taproom, where they’re stocked with local beers and seasonal specials like grilled sweet potatoes and braised leeks. Even better if I can eat and drink outside wearing a cable-knit sweater. 1216 North 29th Street.
