Where to Power Lunch in Philly Like a Boss
Ditch the desk salad and impress your colleagues with oysters, skyline views, and classy lunchtime cocktails.
Oysters, caviar, and shrimp at Little Water / Photograph by Ted Nghiem
Lunch options in Philly took a beating in 2020 when the city’s office workers had to abandon downtown and work from home instead. But as more and more of us return to the office, the need for a nice weekday lunch is on the rise. Thankfully, local restaurants are rising to the occasion, making our morning commutes worthwhile with exciting menus featuring housemade pasta, crafted sandwiches, and midday cocktails that will make that post-lunch meeting a little more interesting. Here’s where to go if you’re looking for a lunch spot where you and your co-workers can slurp down oysters or you need a place to impress your new client.
Parc, Rittenhouse
When it comes to power lunch, Parc is a popular pick. Walk in on a weekday, and you’ll see people in suits eating warm shrimp salad and trout amandine, presumably while they gossip about co-workers. Make a reservation, or hope for a bar seat.
Little Water, Rittenhouse
If you need a nicer, sit-down Center City lunch spot but Parc feels too obvious (or it’s full), go to Little Water. Show off your impeccable taste with fried oyster BLTs, swordfish Milanese, and steak frites.
Mawn, Italian Market
You probably can’t get a reservation at Mawn for dinner, but you can walk in for lunch and eat many of the same noodle and soup dishes that have made this small noodle shop so hard to get into. Do not skip the soft shell shrimp, which is fried and then tossed in a sticky, sweet-savory fish sauce caramel.
SkyHigh / Photograph courtesy of the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia
SkyHigh, Center City
Going to lunch at the top of Philly’s tallest building is probably one of the biggest power moves you could make. This is where deals are closed, promotions are awarded, and first impressions are made — over yellowfin tuna tartare, seared beef tenderloin, and an agave negroni, all while taking in the skyline views 60 floors above the city.
Bloomsday, Queen Village
Bloomsday is known for its weekend brunch vibes and its nighttime wine and vermouth options, but keep it in mind for lunch as well. They’re open Wednesday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., which means you can talk shop over oysters, patatas bravas, French onion soup, and more, then transition right into happy hour.
El Chingon, East Passyunk
When the weather is good, the team at El Chingon throws open the restaurant’s big windows and sets up sidewalk tables where you can eat big, delicious cemitas stuffed with melted cheese, refried beans, and scrambled eggs for a brunch moment. Remember, it’s a BYOB, so we won’t tell if you splash a little tequila into your spritz.
Middle Child Clubhouse, Fishtown
If your boss or co-workers want to go somewhere they’ve seen on the Internet, take them to Middle Child for sandwiches and possibly day drinks. This is also a great pick if someone in your lunch squad is gluten-free since all their sandwiches are available on actually good GF bread.
High Street crudites / Photograph by Jason Varney
High Street, Washington Square West
High Street is good when you need some elegance — they don’t do white tablecloths, but they do have a nice wine list, attentive service, and a quiet enough dining room that you’ll be able to hear your companions talk. Discuss this quarter’s numbers over crudites, the tahini kale Caesar, a bowl of handmade pasta, or a classy pizza.
Vernick Fish, Center City
If you’re dining with a corporate card, have a very fancy boss, or are looking for a location for a celebratory birthday, Vernick Fish has all the shrimp cocktail, grilled branzino, and white Burgundy you could ever want. Note that they also have one of the best agave spirit collections in the city, if you’re into that (you should be).
Mighty Bread, East Passyunk
Mighty Bread is a bakery, yes, but they also do some of our favorite soups and salads in the city – think French onion topped with sourdough bread and gruyere or a kale salad with ricotta salata and dried cherries. Mighty Bread also has a generously sized dining area, with tables perfect for catching up with co-workers and maybe doing a little work.
Famous Fourth Street Deli, Queen Village
Fourth Street is Philadelphia’s oldest deli, which gives your lunch a sense of pomp and circumstance, even when you’re trying to unhook your jaw to get the deli’s gigantic Reuben in your mouth. The portions here are very large, so it’s good to share – it’s team bonding!
