Your Philadelphia Summer Eats Bucket List

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Few cities can rival what the Philly-area food scene brings to the table—ahem, literally. Come summer, fresh seafood, barbecue, and cold treats take the stage as unrivaled warm-weather eats. In fact, the lineup is so fantastic, we’ve decided to round up all of the can’t-miss snacks, plates and sweets into a handy guide. If you decide to eat your way through it, well, consider that a victory. 

Jumbo Lump Cheese Fries at Varga // Varga serves up American food with a twist, and nothing beats their outdoor seating on a warm day. Nab a table outside and try the jumbo lump cheese fries, which, unsurprisingly, are fries topped with truffle oil and jumbo lump crabmeat. The decadent side is unexpected in a region where crab fries dominate. 941 Spruce Street, Washington Square West.

Duroc St. Louis Ribs at Fette Sau – It just wouldn’t be summer without a barbeque. Instead of grilling at home, head to Fette Sau for their Duroc St. Louis ribs, just one of many delicious smoked meats on their menu. The barbeque restaurant specializes in dry-rubbed meats from small, local farms and the studied folks on staff smoke all their meats in-house. Choose one of their tasty sides and slide up to a table in their outdoor seating area for the full summer barbeque out experience. 1208 Frankford Avenue, Fishtown.

Dump Dinner at Oyster House // Grab a group of friends and check out the dump dinner at this Center City seafood spot. The family-style meal includes Maine lobster, steamed clams and mussels, sausage, seasonal vegetables, potatoes, hand-cut fries and slaw. And, yes, it’s as delightful — and, at times, messy — as it sounds. 1516 Sansom Street, Center City.

Ernie’s Crispy Coconut Shrimp at Marsha Brown // A Creole kitchen housed in a beautifully restored church, New Hope’s Marsha Brown offers great eats all year round. However, nothing quite says summer like the crispy, subtly sweet coconut shrimp with spicy sauce. Enjoy them on their own (they’re seriously addicting) or with an entrée. 15 South Main Street, New Hope.

Risotto Primavera at Washington Crossing Inn // With summer squash, asparagus, spinach, zucchini and roasted red pepper, this veggie-packed and gluten-free dish is perfect for the season. 1295 General Washington Memorial Boulevard, Washington Crossing.

Dr. Dovey’s Classic 1904 Banana Split at Franklin Fountain // A scoop of ice cream is a warm-weather standby, but this massive banana split is in a league of its own. This old-timey treat features one scoop each of vanilla, strawberry and chocolate ice creams doused in crushed pineapple, strawberry topping and chocolate syrup. It’s then topped with whipped cream, chopped almonds and three cherries. 116 Market Street, Old City.

Pulled Pork Sandwich at SquareBurger // You can’t go wrong when you take a leisurely afternoon to enjoy Franklin Square’s mini golf course and carousel. Stop at SquareBurger while you’re there and grab a pulled pork sandwich. With bourbon BBQ pork and cranberry mustard on a brioche buns, it’s a summer staple. 200 North 6^th Street, Franklin Square.

Butcher’s Burger at Buttonwood Grill // Whether grilled at a backyard barbeque or ordered at a restaurant, burgers are one of the foods that make summer, well, summer. The signature “Butcher’s Burger” at this Peddler’s Village eatery weighs in at a half-pound and is a favorite among restaurant goers. Enjoy one on the outdoor patio for a real seasonal celebration. Route 202 & Street Road, Lahaska.

Since a true foodie bucket list features spots beyond city limits, you’ll need a ride to hit up all of these eateries. For this, check out the Honda Accord, which features high-tech Honda Sensing, Multi-Angle Rearview Camera and Road Departure Mitigation System so you can navigate your routes safely. En route, listen to your favorite summer hits with Apple CarPlay.

Document your experience along the way and enter the #WanderWithDelValHondaDealers photo contest for the chance to win $3,900 worth of prizes. Learn more here.