Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is a hot restaurant town. If you're visiting Philadelphia for the first time, here are the top 5 things to know about the city's dining scene. These tips will help you enjoy eating out in the city and getting the best experience.
Because of Pennsylvania's archaic liquor laws, many of the city's best restaurants do not have a liquor license. Quite a few excellent chef-driven restaurants are "bring your own" when it comes to wine, beer, or even tequila for making mixed drinks. So be sure to check a restaurant's website or call in advance to find out if they have a bar or wine service, so that you are prepared either way.
Visit Philly and you absolutely must check out one of celebrity chef Jose Garces' fine establishments. Amada, Tinto, Village Whiskey, Chifa, Distrito, JG Domestic...the list goes on and on. Each has a different theme and tables are hot, so be sure to make a reservation if you can.
Ask five Philadelphians who makes the best cheesesteak, and you will get five different answers. And one of those five will surely tell you to skip the touristy cheesesteak places like Pat and Geno's altogether, and get a Roast Pork sandwich from DiNic's instead.
If you enjoy trying out all kinds of culinary delights in a casual atmosphere, the Reading Terminal Market is easily the best place in the city to go. Wander through aisle after aisle of food counters, delis, specialty food markets, bakers, ice cream counters, coffee roasters...it's all here. From Japanese to Mexican to Italian to Amish, you will find something to savor at Reading Terminal.
Philadelphia has so many great, independently-owned and operated restaurants there is absolutely NO reason to end up eating at some boring, generic national chain which in town. Stay away from Olive Garden, Maggiano's, Melting Pot, Ruby Tuesday, Applebees and all of their ilk. Whether you want Italian, seafood, "pub grub" or steaks, the city has far too many unique offerings of any of the above to ever bother setting foot in a chain restaurant within city limits.
select one here...