The 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia: 2013

1. Stateside

Chef George Sabatino is having a helluva year. He’s won contests and awards. He’s in command of the kitchen at one of the busiest, most popular restaurants in the city. Rumors say the James Beard House has even been sniffing around. So the question is, is Stateside really deserving of all this attention? Is it really as good as you’ve heard? Yes, it is. Everything about the place—from the ever-changing, weirdly locavore menu that touches on every vital food trope in play on the national scene, to the bar, the room, and the hum of energy from a crowd that knows it has found itself at the center of something exciting—marks Stateside as not just Philadelphia’s first truly post-gastropub restaurant, but the place where American cuisine has finally come into its own.

Don’t Miss: The smoked pork rillette with Korean BBQ sauce. It’s at the top of the menu and is perhaps the most pointed example of Sabatino’s modern notion of borderless but firmly rooted locality.

At the Bar: As good as the menu is at Stateside, the selection of American whiskeys, bourbons and ryes is almost as impressive.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Stateside, 1536 East Passyunk Avenue, 215-551-2500.

2. Marigold Kitchen

In the past three years, this onetime West Philly boardinghouse has become the best restaurant nobody talks about. Chef Robert Halpern’s four (or six)-course prix-fixe meals regularly swell to 16 with additions of clever canapés, multiple amuse-bouches, and modernist trifles like chocolate-salt-dusted chestnut ravioli or beet-salad-flavored dipping dots. And all for $65!

Insider Tip: Go with the four-course fixed-price menu—you’ll get the same fun amuse-bouches as your six-course-ordering neighbors.

Fun Fact: If you encounter popcorn sauced with liquid nitrogen, dig in quickly to experience the fire-breathing-dragon effect.

Speculation: If this were a liquor-licensed New York restaurant, prices would start at $150 a head, easy.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Marigold Kitchen, 501 South 45th Street, 215-222-3699.

Click here to make reservations at Marigold Kitchen.

3. Vedge

No one cooks a radish like Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby at Vedge. No one treats beets, rutabagas or mushrooms the way the kitchen here does. Because of this innovation and attention to detail, Vedge isn’t just the best vegetarian restaurant in Philadelphia; it’s one of the city’s best restaurants, period. Spend one night here and you’ll never look at a tofurkey with anything but shame ever again.

Get Your Mind Blown: By the sweet-potato pâté with grain mustard and toast, proof that smartly handled veggies can hold their own against proteins any day.

For the Dedicated Vegetable Enthusiast: On its best days, the daily “Dirt Menu” at Vedge is one of the most innovative boards in the city.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Vedge, 1221 Locust Street, 215-320-7500.

4. The Farm and Fisherman

One of a growing roster of chefs who’ve come home to open restaurants in Philadelphia, Josh Lawler, owner of the Farm and Fisherman, is taking best advantage of the city’s location close to the Jersey Shore and just an hour or so from the farms of Lancaster. Lawler can make vegetables sing even in the depths of winter, but with the bounties of summer, he turns his attractive Pine Street BYOB into a colorful chorus of all things seasonal. After a tour of local farmers’ markets, the chef turns conductor: A Jersey tomato is coaxed to new heights, a day-boat scallop becomes a soloist, Lancaster steak stars as an entrée worth an encore.

Don’t Miss: The beet steak. It’s been Lawler’s signature since he opened, and for good reason. It isn’t often that the lowly beet can be reasonably compared to the finest cuts of beef.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
The Farm and Fisherman, 1120 Pine Street, 267-687-1555.

5. Le Virtù

Joe Cicala’s homage to Abruzzo gets more right than the pasta (which it does gloriously). It actually feels like a place you’d find out in the Italian countryside, where beautifully rustic food goes for family-friendly prices.

Food Wow: The m accheroni alla mugnaia is a single noodle—a six-foot-long hand-rolled ode to chewiness, dosed with garlic and chili flakes.

Cold-Weather Cure: Savory pecorino crepes in chicken broth is the bowl of chicken soup your mom never made you.

Fun Fact: Sheep’s-milk cheeses are served with honey made by bees on the same Abruzzi farm where the sheep are raised.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Le Virtù, 1927 East Passyunk Avenue, 215-271-5626.

6. Sbraga

Kevin Sbraga’s eponymous restaurant has improved substantially since arriving on the scene about a year ago. The service has smoothed considerably with Vetri vet Ben Filecia on board, and the Top Chef victor has toned down the stunts and gimmicks just enough, while upping his focus on providing excellent food at the (almost) bargain price of $49 for the tasting menu.

Pro Tip: Maturity aside, Kevin Sbraga’s food is still fun. And nowhere is it more fun than at his chef’s counter, where he himself often cooks for six people.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Sbraga, 440 South Broad Street, 215-735-1913.

7. Fond

Fond comes to the scene with a three-pronged attack of excellence. First, you’re greeted by former Lacroix front-of-the-house guru Tory Keomanivong, who takes care of diners as well as anyone in Philadelphia. Second, chef Lee Styer and his crew handle the food with ever-improving skill and grace. Finally, don’t even think about skipping dessert, because Styer’s wife, pastry chef Jessie Prawlucki, helps each dinner end on
a high note.

Good News: With Fond’s new location comes a fully-stocked bar—though you’re still allowed to BYO on weekdays.

Don’t Miss: Styer’s risotto is second to none. And the lobster, hazelnuts and truffles added to it don’t hurt.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Fond, 1537 South 11th Street, 215-551-5000.

8. Amis

We’ve loved watching this restaurant establish a distinct identity on the Vetri family tree. Reflective of the big-personality commander-in-chief, chef Brad Spence, Amis is equal parts p layful and pensive. The just-open-enough kitchen and front bar add a vibrancy and casualness to the moody space, which is part of its appeal. There are meatballs made from swordfish. The hand-rolled pastas, a Vetri hallmark, are superlative. And Amis has one of the city’s best charcuterie programs, with a dreamy mortadella served in tissue-thin slices with hazelnut honey, or soft and spreadable on bruschetta.

The New Upscale: The bucatini tossed with creamy almond pesto and subtly spicy jalapeño best exemplifies the restaurant’s two sides—seriously cool.

Pro Tip: The tiramisu, which is often available even if it’s not printed on the menu, is possibly the best version of the ubiquitous dessert that you’ve ever had.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Amis, 412 South 13th Street, 215-732-2647.

9. Vetri

Homer sang hymns to Demeter and Apollo. American food bards sing hymns to Marc Vetri—and also his wine guru, Jeff Benjamin, if they’re savvy. Dinner at this mansion of ethereal pastas is the priciest ticket in town, but it delivers a blend of rusticity and elegance that’s rare in any city—let alone ours, where white tablecloths give us the willies but special occasions still call out for unerring service and cooking that has integrity.

Insider Tip: The coursed wine pairings show what happens when an inspired sommelier mind-melds with a master chef.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Vetri, 1312 Spruce Street, 215-732-3478.

10. Bibou

The menu at Bibou is short, but every plate coming out of the kitchen at this cozy, inviting BYO is a classic looked at with a modern eye. While French technique might be the Tao of every high-end kitchen that matters, chef Pierre Calmels’s kitchen is here to remind
us of all the reasons why French food still matters in this nouvelle American age.

What to Order: The cassoulet is the best in the city, but the truly le gendary dish here is the pied de porc—a braised pig’s foot stuffed with foie gras and French lentils.

Pro Tip: Bibou is cash-only, so don’t forget your folding money.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Bibou, 1009 South 8th Street, 215-965-8290.

Click here to make reservations at Bibou.

11. Blackfish

From the saline simplicity of raw oysters speckled with Meyer lemon to jazzed-up crudos like striped bass with yuzu syrup and radishes, Chip Roman’s range of creativity with seafood is as sweeping as the decor is spare at the BYO that continues to make Conshy a dining destination.

Favorite Dish That Will Never Die: Smoked salmon wrapped around a panko-crusted deep-fried egg.

Value Play: Tuesdays feature four courses—plus the odd amuse-bouche—for $45. If Only: There were a spot to wait for your table without looming (and salivating) over someone else’s.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Blackfish, 119 Fayette Street, 610-397-0888.

12. Brauhaus Schmitz

Yes, you can get excellent schnitzel and Bavarian pretzels at Brauhaus Schmitz. But not embracing chef Je remy Nolen’s “Modern German” cuisine ist ein grosse mistake. Dishes like his Stopfleberwurst—housemade foie gras sa usage—and the lamb prepared two ways (grilled as a chop and braised as belly) are redefining how people—smart people, anyway—look at German food. Unique Pricing: The house sells its bratwurst by the meter, so those of you who gauge your hunger by the spread of your hands (“I am this hungry tonight … ”) will feel right at home here.

Don’t Forget the Beer: Owner Doug Hager wants to do for German beer in Philadelphia what Tom Peters of Monk’s Cafe did for the Belgians. And he’s well on his way, with never-before-seen beers arriving monthly.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Brauhaus Schmitz, 718 South Street, 267-909-8814.

Click here to make reservations at Brauhaus Schmitz.

13. Osteria

Jeff Michaud and Marc Vetri’s bustling North Broad operation is said to be one of the best Italian restaurants in the country, and we’ve got no reason to argue. Whether you sit at the bar and share a speck/radicchio or escarole/gorgonzola pizza and a couple of glasses of wine, or find yourself in the see-and-be-seen dining room and buy into the whole Italian primi/secondi way of eating, you’re in good hands here.

Best of the Best: The Parma pizza is still one of the finest pies in the city, hands down.

You’d Be Surprised to Know: That Osteria isn’t as absurdly expensive as you might think. You can eat comfortably for well under $100 per person. Not cheap, but a great value for what you get on your plate.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Osteria, 640 North Broad Street, 215-763-0920.

14. Zahav

There’s no roast chicken, no pizza with an egg on it, no sweet-potato fries. Not here. Zahav caters neither to trends nor to your usual cravings—unless you’re someone who gets regular hankerings for sweetbread schnitzel or raw lamb with sumac and shallots. No, what Michael Solomonov and crew always do so brilliantly at his modern Israeli hot spot is stun your brain and belly out of their gastropub complacency with fried cauliflower brightened with mint and dill, or velvety, buttery hummus with warm laffa you can tear into, or tender grilled duck hearts with sweet cherries. And for this, Zahav is more than just something different: It’s a game-changer.

Best Seat in the House: Each weekend, Solomonov cooks personally for no more than eight people at Zahav’s Chef’s Counter.

Rare find: The servers—so unobtrusive they’re almost ninjas—are among the best in town.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Zahav, 237 St. James Place, 215-625-8800.

15. Vernick Food and Drink

Philadelphia, this is a newcomer worth keeping an eye on. And we know it will only get better than it already is. Well-pedigreed and with strong vision, chef-owner Greg Vernick is turning out accessible, clean, thoughtful food at his airy new eatery. Take, for example, the delicious selection of toasts. He spent plenty of time figuring out the best bread (a tangy sourdough from Metropolitan won out), which he chars over lava rocks (seriously!) before layering on toppings such as a brandade-like briny crabmeat, or peas and bacon. Many of his dishes have a touch of something acidic—a pickled chili here, a black-olive dressing there—that keeps you reaching for more, and more, and more.

All Good in the ’Hood: The easy vibe and approachable menu at Vernick make it one of those rare restaurants that can suit so many things: dinner with food-snob friends, cocktails with a gal pal, a meal with the non-adventurous in-laws.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Vernick Food and Drink, 2031 Walnut Street, 267-639-6644.

16. Will

Will was one of the most anticipated openings of the year—especially considering its location in one of the most closely watched food neighborhoods in the city. And yet even with all that pressure, it drew almost unanimous raves for chef Chris Kearse’s conceptual creativity and museum-grade plating, neither of which gets in the way of simple, soul-soothing deliciousness at the best new BYOB of 2012.

Can’t-Miss Dish: Scallops with almond milk and uni mousse.

Did You Know: Kearse overcame an auto accident—and more than 20 reconstructive surgeries—before becoming a chef.

If Only: The tables weren’t crammed together like Indian pilgrims in a third-class train car.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Will, 1911 East Passyunk Avenue, 215-271-7683.

17. Fork

Terence Feury was a tough act to follow in the kitchen, but for owner Ellen Yin, bringing in hot New York chef Eli Kulp was a masterful move. Kulp has unleashed yet another blast of creativity into this venerable (but by no means stuffy) Old City institution. Insider Tip: This is one place where entrées can outshine appetizers, so save room.

Can’t-Miss Dish: Guinea hen with pear marbles and horseradish cream.

If Only: Servers delivered the food menu along with the cocktail list, so you wouldn’t feel railroaded into ordering a drink that might clash with your appetizer.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Fork, 306 Market Street, 215-625-9425.

18. Zeppoli

This Collingswood BYO describes itself as “very intimate.” What they mean is “extremely small”—only 35 seats, so getting in at prime time isn’t always easy, even on a weeknight. And once you do get in, you’ll spend a fair amount of time jockeying for floor space with the person at the table behind you. But if you can endure all that, you’ll be treated to delicious, expertly conceived and completely un-fussy Italian plates like house-made tagliatelle topped with bottarga (a Sicilian cured fish roe), grilled swordfish or stewed rabbit.

Behind the Music: Chef Joey Baldino’s last job was as chef de cuisine at Vetri.

You Should Probably Know: That Collingswood police take the whole DUI thing very seriously. If you’re driving from Philly and bringing your own, mind the consumption.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Zeppoli, 618 Collings Avenue, 856-854-2670.

19. Han Dynasty

Han Chiang knows how to get Philly hot and bothered—whether it’s with scorching Szechuan peppercorns or deliciously profane tableside banter. This year, he added another weapon to his arsenal: Katie Loeb’s tiki drinks at the new University City location.

Can’t-Miss Dish: Dandan noodles. They’re just as good as you’ve heard.

Mandatory side: Spicy crispy cucumbers.

If Only: Han ­Chiang himself could wait on every table, spreading his knack for crafting a meal along with his trademark irreverence.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Han Dynasty, 3711 Market Street, University City, 215-222-3711.

20. The Fountain Restaurant at the Four Seasons

If you're looking for the best service in Philadelphia, there's no need to look beyond the Fountain. And the menu is right there, too, at this staple of our high-end dining scene, offering smart American cuisine with French overtones. Aha moments abound, from the modernist take on a crab "cocktail" to the warm chestnut flan that accompanies the prosciutto-stuffed pork loin. This is far from the staid, conservative board you might expect from one of Philly's longtime white-tablecloth temples, but these days, the kitchen brags about its rooftop herb garden and partners with Dock Street Brewery on inventive collaborations. It's a restaurant that's growing with the times, and one that tourists and locals alike should consider for a special night out.

Perhaps a cocktail? Peruse the iPad wine-and-drinks list and head toward the cocktails, where local ingredients and spirits will make any citizen's ego swell with pride.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Fountain Restaurant at the Four Seasons, 1 Logan Square, Center City, 215-963-1500

21. Amada

Seven years can be several lifetimes in the restaurant biz, but Amada isn’t showing any signs of age. Though Jose Garces has since turned into an epicurean megastar—that’s Iron Chef Garces to you—his first restaurant’s tapas always taste just as authentic as they did when he first opened the place way back in 2005. Plus, since the front of the house has always been a particular obsession for Garces, the service here is warm, knowledgeable and attentive. Don’t Miss: The crab-stuffed peppers.

For Special Occasions: The $75 lobster paella is a must.

If Only: You could get a table during normal dining hours. Make reservations far in advance, especially for weekend dining.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Amada, 217 Chestnut Street, 215-625-2450.

22. The Dandelion

If you’re going to have a British pub in Philadelphia, one thing that can help it rise above theme-restaurant schlock? Having an incredibly talented British chef running the kitchen. At the Dandelion, Robert Aikens sidesteps the overdone gastropub label by offering a menu that depends on comfort more than surprises and practiced classics over technical flourishes. Yet the offerings are deep enough that no matter how often you find yourself here, there always seems to be something new to try.

On the Level: The Dandelion has a warren of dining rooms on different floors, all done up in varying levels of kitsch, but the best seats in the house are still at the crowded main bar on the first floor.

Teatime: Afternoon tea (complete with a full cocktail list) is offered every day between three and five o’clock.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
The Dandelion, 124 South 18th Street, 215-558-2500.

23. Tashan

“But they don’t even eat octopus in India,” said one Tashan diner early in the restaurant’s tenure. “This isn’t authentic Indian food,” said another. Both parties are correct. But so what? After changing the way we eat Indian food throughout the region with his entry-level Tiffin mini-chain, owner Munish Narula took a huge gamble with this swank, modern Indian restaurant that regularly invokes the F-word (fusion) while charting a bold course with modern Indian flavors. Whether this gamble pays off will depend largely on people being able to wrap their heads around the idea of going out for Indian food and not just getting tandoori chicken.

Gamble #2: Tashan recently launched a high-end delivery program that’s somewhere between Indian takeout and a full-scale catering operation.

You Should Probably Know: When the hostess says, “Do you like to sit near all the action in the kitchen?,” what she really means is, “Do you want to sit next to our blazingly hot tandoor ovens?” Don’t bother bringing a sweater.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Tashan, 777 South Broad Street, 267-687-2170.

Click here to make reservations at Tashan.

24. Little Fish

It’s hard to imagine how Little Fish, the now-slightly-bigger-than-postage-stamp-sized BYOB in Bella Vista, is still improving. After all, it’s been several years since Mike Stollenwerk’s original restaurant received national praise as one of America’s best seafood restaurants. Stollenwerk has since sold Little Fish to chef Chadd Jenkins, and the restaurant has relocated down 6th Street to slightly larger (but still definitely little) confines. And yet it might just be a better restaurant than ever. The fish is perfectly cooked, and the $25-and-up prices are more than justified by the creative showcasing of surf, turf and fowl, with veal sausage knocking the cobia up a notch and duck with lentils and red wine making tuna feel new again.

Value Play: Little Fish’s $33 Sunday-night tasting menu is still one of the best deals anywhere.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Little Fish, 746 South 6th Street, Bella Vista, 267-455-0172.

25. JG Domestic

On one hand, the crab-and-corn soup comes deconstructed, with a warm cream broth poured tableside. On the other, the brussels sprouts are served simply grilled, with Allagash honey and bits of La Quercia prosciutto. The whole place is a study in contrasts—a regional menu that draws as often from Jose Garces’s own Luna Farm as it does from nationwide boutique producers, a comfortable blond-wood space inside a sterile skyscraper’s lobby. But what’s most surprising here is that while firmly wedged into the local, farm-to-table headspace of the restaurant industry’s gestalt, JG Domestic is also most indicative of the Iron Chef’s daring and cutting-edge impulses.

On the Floor: Despite the challenging location (inside the Cira Center, across from the Amtrak station), JG Domestic often still sports a line of people waiting for tables. Plan accordingly.

If Only: Some of the more successful experiments pulled off by the kitchen here, like the brilliant lobster cappuccino from the opening menu, would find their way back into the regular rotation.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
JG Domestic, 2929 Arch Street, 215-222-2363.

26. Le Bec Fin

Chef Walter Abrams’s cooking isn’t as rich as that of Le Bec’s original French incarnation, but his eight-plus courses, combined with new owner Nicolas Fanucci’s charisma, can make you feel like a million bucks.

Now Factor: Fruits and vegetables are the new stars at Le Bec 2.0. Think cucumber juice with watermelon and nasturtiums, or a tomato “prawn” cracker cradling carrots and beets.

Insider Tip: Whatever your budget, be sure to befriend sommelier Philipe Sauriat, who can find gems at almost any price point.

Did You Know: In October, an $85 dinner option debuted as an alternative to the $150 tasting menu.

If Only: Fanucci had kept the rightly beloved dessert cart.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Le Bec Fin, 1523 Walnut Street, 215-567-1000.

27. Zama

The quality of the fish is on par with the best sushi restaurants in town, but chef Hiroyuki “Zama” Tanaka’s inventive roll combinations (branzino with hot sesame oil; tuna with sesame and edamame hummus) are unmatched in Philly. Don’t Miss: The snow crab California maki. You won’t look at this sushi staple the same way ever again.

Save Room for: Something from the equally talented kitchen, like the crisp-skinned miso black cod appetizer served with pickled vegetables and endive leaves. A tasty play on a traditional lettuce wrap.

Pro Tip: Service is slow and can sometimes be forgetful, so sit at the sushi bar for an expedited meal.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Zama, 128 South 19th Street, 215-568-1027.

28. Jamonera

Chef Marcie Turney and partner Valerie Safran’s latest—a Spanish tapas joint and wine bar housed in the former home of Bindi—has reignited our love affair with small plates, thanks to its dimly lit decor, polished service and truly sexy food.

Can't-miss dish: The smoky papas fritas with house-made sherry-vinegar hot sauce. They’re like french fries for grown-ups.

Drink This: Sherry. The servers are shockingly well versed on the extensive sherry list and can help you choose the glass that best suits your order.

Don't overlook: The charcuteria platter. That, and any of the other tapas containing Ibérico ham.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Jamonera, 105 South 13th Street, 215-922-6061.

29. Il Pittore

Stephen Starr’s longtime lieutenant Chris Painter finally got his own spot, and his semi-eponymous Il Pittore is turning out pasta that’s as delicate and delicious as any in this entire pasta-crazed city. Painter’s pappardelle with wild boar is one of the stars, but so is the corzetti—pasta coins served with braised goat with mint and chili oil. Il Pittore isn’t some neighborhood red-sauce joint, and the main courses, like the braised short rib and roasted lamb chops, have the sophistication (and prices) to bear that out.

Greatness Takes Time: Painter waited a long time for his own restaurant, and he exercises that same patience with his slow-cooked suckling pig. Cured for 15 hours in salt, sugar and herbs, buried in pig fat, then slow-roasted for another 12, this piggy arrives at the table plated with baby carrots, sweet pear mostarda and cavolo nero, and is worth every minute of the wait.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Il Pittore, 2025 Sansom Street, 215-391-4900.

Alla Spina

A night at Alla Spina can be confusing. What is Marc Vetri, Philadelphia’s don of high-end Italian, doing with this graffiti-tagged bar on North Broad? Where are the delicate pastas? The impeccable wine selection? Why are there Negronis on tap? What is Italian craft beer, and why is it so friggin’ expensive? But come to Vetri’s Italian gastropub simply looking for a good time in a fun bar, and the thrills abound. Is the fried chicken remotely Italian? No. But don’t let that bother you. Poutine isn’t, either, but Alla Spina’s version, with mozzarella cheese curds, a guinea hen bolognese, and spuds fried in beef fat, shows there are geniuses at work in this kitchen. But as fun as it is to snack at Alla Spina, don’t sleep on the mains. The veal cutlet hoagie shows just how high a hoagie can fly, and the beef tenderloin is stunningly supple.

Don’t Miss: The best pretzels anywhere, elevated by a beer-cheese sauce that makes them a worthy addition to any last-night-on-Earth fa ntasy menu.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Alla Spina, 1410 Mount Vernon Street, 215-600-0017.

31. Pub & Kitchen

The gastropub model, done better than it has to be—that’s the draw here. That, and the space (which is rustic without sacrificing comfort and comfortable without degenerating into frat-house-y-ness), and the vibe (which is humming), and the no-nonsense crowds drawn by the smart but restrained cocktails, a carefully curated beer list, and a menu full of things like watercress salad with pork cracklings, cassolette d’escargots, and rainbow trout stuffed with crab mousse, served over fennel-scented polenta.

At the Bar: George Costa has a drink for every mood and a story for every drink.

Just a Taste: There are plenty of places where you can (and should) make a meal out of the appetizers. What’s rare is a place like Pub & Kitchen, where one can make a meal out of the sides—that is, if you don’t feel weird sitting at the bar and eating “Guts and Glory” chicken stuffing with a spoon.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Pub & Kitchen, 1946 Lombard Street, 215-545-0350.

32. Pumpkin

Ian Moroney’s South Street mainstay got a rustic makeover this year, but the cooking remains as elegant and honest as ever, from one of the most exquisitely seared duck breasts we had all year to the enveloping warmth of a side of sweet-potato polenta.

Insider Tip: Bring your good wine—this BYO’s glassware befits a grand cru.

Dessert to Get: Warm chocolate cake. (We know it sounds boring, but when it’s on the menu, and it usually is, Pumpkin always does it right.)

Value Play: The five-course Sunday dinner for $40 can’t be beat.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Pumpkin, 1713 South Street, 215-545-4448.

33. Barbuzzo

So it’s a little tight in there. And a little hard to snag a reservation. And your chances of getting a bar seat on a Saturday are only slightly better than your shot at winning the Mega-Millions. Just deal with it, people, or you’ll miss out on the city’s best-executed Mediterranean-inspired menu—and also the joy of ordering a lengthy parade of small plates, each better than the next. (Unless you start with the lardo pizza. There’s nothing better than that.) Whether getting into this convivial little sliver of a restaurant means 45 minutes at the door or three weeks on Open Table, Barbuzzo is one of those rare Philly spots that are always worth the wait.

Sure beats Little Pete’s: The late-night menu offers $3 drafts, $5 wine and $10 pizza, Sunday to Thursday, 10:30 to midnight.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Barbuzzo, 110 South 13th Street, 215-546-9300.

34. Kanella

This solid Cypriot BYO might be best known for its brunch (thanks in part to an appearance on the Food Network), but dinner is where chef Konstantinos Pitsillides really shines. From the daily selection of house-made dips to a simply grilled whole fish or a deeply flavored, marjoram-spiced octopus ragout, there’s just not a bad dish on the menu.

What to Get: About those dips … pray that the creamy, salty carp roe version is in the rotation on your visit.

Pro Tip: As of September, the Sunday-night family-style meze dinners ($30 to $35 per person) returned.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Kanella, 1001 Spruce Street, 215-922-1773.

35. Sovana Bistro

Sovana can feel like an anomaly—it’s hard to understand how an establishment this attractive, tasty, accessible, consistent, energetic and inspired can be tucked away in a Kennett Square shopping center. Chef Nick Farrell doesn’t reinvent the wheel here; he just cooks everything on the constantly changing, Chez Panisse-evoking menu at the highest level, and elevates ingredients to their best possible state. So the sweetness of roasted squash is punctuated by sour cherries in a salad; apples and bacon are tossed in toasted caraway vinegar to form a slaw; and a potpourri of corn, salami, jalapeño and feta makes for a memorable pizza topping.

Apologies in Advance: To Sovana’s cadre of faithful regulars for blowing up your spot—we’re just jealous that this is your neighborhood joint and not ours.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Sovana Bistro, 696 Unionville Road, 610-444-5600.

36. Bistro 7

It’s one of the city’s last good secrets, Bistro 7. Although why a cozy little BYO with consistently wonderful food would still be a secret is beyond us. The service can be a little weird sometimes (example: the server who wandered off, mid-spiel, to pet a pretty dog out on the sidewalk), but that’s neither unusual in this town nor enough of an issue to detract from the creative “modern French” menu, with stars like a salted terrine made of red and yellow beets, a brioche-and-truffle-stuffed roast chicken, and the classic tarte tatin with maple syrup crème brûlée. A date-night no-brainer.

Don’t miss: The escargots stewed in a fennel Pernod cream—decadent enough to feel French and unfussy enough to be likeable.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Bistro 7, 7 North 3rd Street, 215-931-1560.

Click here to make reservations at Bistro 7.

37. Nectar

Though his younger brother Terence has traditionally gotten most of the press and glory, Patrick Feury is doing fine work at his Chester County restaurant—a welcome oasis in what’s generally a dining desert. The Asian influence here comes from Feury’s stint in the kitchen of Le Cirque 2000 under Cambodian chef Sottha Khunn, and is best exhibited in dishes like the wok lobster with local corn fried rice and Thai basil, the striped-bass-and-scallop hot pot, and the edamame-chanterelle dumplings. Plus, the seasonal sushi rolls—from pumpkin-pomegranate in the fall to soft-shell crab in the summer—are always a hit.

Don’t Overlook: The cheese plates. They’re Feury’s personal obsession.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Nectar, 1091 Lancaster Avenue, 610-725-9000.

39. Oyster House

This delightfully gimmick-free seafood spot is always jumping. And for good reason: The oysters are fresh, the cocktails are strong (the punch almost dangerously so), and the atmosphere is coolly casual. Happy hour gets dependably loud and raucous, but the attentive staff always makes you feel like you’re the only table in the joint.

Must-Eat Appetizer: Chilled colossal wild shrimp cocktail. “Colossal” isn’t just a frilly adjective here. These are, seriously, the biggest shrimp you’ve ever seen.

Must-Drink Cocktail: Mother’s Ruin Punch. But just one. Otherwise you might fall off the bar stool (and you should definitely be eating at the Oyster Bar).

Miss The Crowd: By dining at Saturday brunch. The menu changes regularly, but the impeccable service and the sweet, meaty lobster roll always stay the same.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Oyster House, 1516 Sansom Street, 215-567-7683.

38. Bistrot La Minette

This place is like a dream of France: a tiny little Parisian bistro ripped from its moorings along the Seine and dropped smack in the middle of Philly. On its best nights, there is perhaps no restaurant in the city so capable of transporting you somewhere other than where you are—and then bringing you home again gently when the evening inevitably ends.

Must Try: If you walk out of here without eating the snails, someone should just punch you. Especially if you’re the kind of person who normally doesn’t eat snails.

If Only: The bar were a bit more serviceable. Six crowded seats and a (deliberate) lack of certain spirits can make the place a challenge for non-wine drinkers.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Bistrot La Minette, 623 South 6th Street, 215-925-8000.

40. Butcher and Singer

A lot of people think steakhouses don’t belong on Best Restaurant lists because it’s hard to screw up a steak. Well, Stephen Starr’s sexy Walnut Street supper club, straight out of a Mad Men scene designer’s handbook, does steaks better than anyone else in the city, and manages to nail every other detail of the dining experience with laser precision.

You’d Be Crazy to: Skip the Baked Alaska. Or the chance to dine here on someone else’s dime.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Butcher and Singer, 1500 Walnut Street, 215-732-4444.

41. Lacroix

A legend just for the number of current execs and chef-owners who have done time inside its kitchen, Lacroix under chef Jon Cichon is a house in transition, moving toward a more modern, more inventive take on haute (mostly French) cuisine without sacrificing the artistry that makes the dining here so fine in the first place.

Pro Tip: While dinners at Lacroix recently went fully prix fixe, if you ask nicely you can still order individual items off the tasting menu in an à la carte fashion.

Breakfast of Champions: The brunch here remains the one against which all others in the city ought to be judged.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Lacroix, 210 West Rittenhouse Square, 215-790-2533.

42. Standard Tap

Yes, you can get a burger here—a very large and very good one, at that—but this NoLibs stalwart offers much, much more. Specifically, inventive and startlingly fresh fare leaning heavily on locally grown ingredients, presented through a tidy chalkboard menu that changes daily depending on what’s available and what chef Carolynn Angle feels like cooking.

Insider Tip: Go on the early side—before seven—to grab one of the mondo wooden booths that comfortably fit six.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Standard Tap, 901 North 2nd Street, 215-238-0630.

43. Matyson

This place has a regular à la carte menu, but what really matters (and honestly, all that most people pay attention to) are the weekly $45 tasting menus cooked up by chef Ben Puchowitz—often at the last minute, often inspired by random notions flitting through the kind of mind that can conceive of 50-odd unique, always interesting, occasionally brilliant tasting menus per year.

Smart Business: The regular menu, while not bad by any means, is definitely there for those who want to play it safe and order the chicken breast. The tasting menus, on the other hand, exist to please those looking for something a bit more challenging and to give the kitchen space to flex its muscles.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Matyson, 37 South 19th Street, 215-564-2925.

Click here to make reservations at Matyson.

44. Koo Zee Doo

You want octopus in gravy? Koo Zee Doo is your place. Potato and salt cod croquettes, or whole sardines, perfectly grill-marked and laid over a tangle of roasted peppers? Koo Zee Doo is it. This is a Portuguese restaurant, sure, but it really exists to fit a mood—to be the place you want to hit when craving the rustic comforts of exposed brick, an uncorked bottle, a small room full of light and voices, and the soul of an entire culture expressed through a few simple plates.

Bring Friends: The food is served family-style and is meant for sharing. Oh, and don’t forget to bring a bottle (or two) as well, because Koo Zee Doo is BYO.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Koo Zee Doo, 614 North 2nd Street, 215-923-8080.

Click here to make reservations at Koo Zee Doo.

45. Percy Street BBQ

Where do you go for serious barbecue in a city not really known for serious barbecue? To the guy famous for his duck hearts and doughnuts, of course. With Percy Street, Michael Solomonov brings to the city an adopted tradition of smoked meats and classic sides that can hold its own against all comers.

Pro Tip: Percy Street already pours the best root beer float in town (Yards root beer and homemade vanilla ice cream), but go during happy hour and you can spike yours with a half-price shot of bourbon.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Percy Street BBQ, 900 South Street, 215-625-8510.

46. Federal Donuts

Is it strange to have a fried-chicken-and-doughnut operation listed among the 50 best restaurants in the city? Absolutely. But even setting aside the fact that this fried-chicken-and-doughnut operation is the brainchild of one of the city’s best chefs (Michael Solomonov), and that it seemed almost custom-designed to fill a set of low-down cravings determined by some kind of magical zeitgeist detector hidden in Solo’s back office, one cannot deny the weight that Federal Donuts swings in the modern Philly scene. It’s a place that is not just liked, but beloved by its fans, and deservedly so. Everything here—from the wildly flavored doughnuts to the unique and challenging rubs and glazes on the chicken—is an original thought, a thing that exists nowhere else outside Federal Donuts.

Eat Naked: Despite all the wild flourishes of color and flavor, the plain honey doughnut that comes alongside every order of chicken is still the best breakfast weapon in the FedNuts arsenal.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Federal Donuts, 1632 Sansom Street, and 1219 South 2nd Street.

47. Supper

Chef/owner Mitch Prensky didn’t invent upscale comfort food, but he’s trying hard to perfect it. His recipe: Meld thoughtful cooking and a light hand with a dose of Jewish grandma, a sprinkle of Southern flair, some whimsy, and superlative bounty from a farm that grows stuff just for him. The results are quintessentially American.

Bonus Points: For the playful brunch, with dishes like a pastrami chicken salad sandwich, a house-made hot dog, biscuits and country ham, and duck fat fries that aren’t awful.

Green Thumb: Prensky is well on his way to sourcing 100 percent of his produce through his partners at Blue Elephant Farm, making Supper one of the most purely local and seasonal restaurants in town.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Supper, 926 South Street, 215-592-8180.

48. Mica

Chestnut Hill’s lack of a high-end dining scene has befuddled locals for a long time. But the addition of the attractive and intimate Mica and the cooking of Chip Roman have combined to give the top of the hill a destination restaurant all its own. Roman’s successor to Blackfish shows that the young chef has continued to grow and is turning out refined plates of New American cuisine.

You Might Not Believe It: The seasonal cocktails at Mica are a revelation—not at all what you’d expect from a restaurant that doesn’t have a bar.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Mica, 8609 Germantown Avenue, 267-335-3912.

49. Talula’s Garden

The union of Aimee Olexy and Stephen Starr had a rocky start. There were three head chefs before the vintage metal chairs in the charming yard had begun to oxidize. But since those early shake-ups, the restaurant has quietly produced tight meals and, much to the disappointment of local food blogs, minimal drama. The army of Olexy-ites whirls about, playing a game of geography, whispering Kennett Square, Lancaster, Jasper Hill and Hudson Valley as they deposit mushroom soups, torchons of foie gras and loins of pork on eager diners’ tables. All that’s missing is the commotion, but that’s okay.

Pro Tip: When the weather’s good, a glass of wine, a board of cheese, the setting sun and a constant breeze make this the quickest and most beautiful escape in Philadelphia.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Talula’s Garden, 210 West Washington Square, 215-592-7787.

50. Parc

Is there anywhere in Philadelphia you feel more glamorous eating than in Stephen Starr’s duskily lit homage to the humble French bistro? The only things missing are (thankfully) the berets and the haze of Gauloises smoke. But the rest—the charming tile, the flattering cinematic lighting, the warm and lively bar, quaint restrooms, sidewalk tables lined up like toy soldiers, even the profusion of tiny dogs—just screams Arc d’Triomphe chic without drifting over the line into Epcot Center schlock. And if there’s a dish more irresistible than the archetypal roast chicken, nestled atop pommes puree and bathed in the bird’s own succulent juices, we have yet to find it.

Insider Tip: Dress fashionably. The French hostess with the severe black bangs notices diners with a bit of European flair—and seats them at prime tables by the windows.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Parc, 227 South 18th Street, 215-545-2262.