The Food Department

Philly's 20 hottest restaurants

Essential dining in the area right now, based on buzz.

Philly’s 20 hottest restaurants

POSTED: Wednesday, March 27, 2013, 12:03 PM

Whether you need a date destination for Saturday night, a pick for fussy out-of-towners, or a quick stop in Center City, Philly.com/food has you covered with 20 essential restaurants of the moment. (They're in alphabetical order.)

@ 12:03 PM Permalink | 50 comments

Comments (50)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:03 PM, 03/27/2013

I agree with the Moose. There's never anything about really good, affordable (i.e. entrees about $20) restaurants in the area-there's a LOT more to the Greater Philadelphia area than this food section ever seems to be bothered trying to find. How about some coverage of that?

— Stripes_55

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:09 PM, 03/27/2013

First of all, slide shows are slow and annoying so I didn't bother to click beyond the #1 (Barclay Prime). Secondly, the whole list is suspect if B-Prime is listed as "hot". B-Prime has not been "hot" for about 4 years now. You can walk in there any night without a reservation and get a table, (as long as it's not Penn Graduation weekend).

— #1 With A Bullet

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:14 PM, 03/27/2013

Nectar is hit and miss. Had a great meal there first visit, and had one of the WORST meals of my life there on a second visit. The lobster they served on visit two was rubber, unchewable. So at their prices I'm afraid to go back. Will it be great or garbage?

— warrentheape

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:19 PM, 03/27/2013

A bunch of negative comments, who would have thunk it. I guess the biggest suprise is that there are only 8 so far.

— superturtle

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:23 PM, 03/27/2013

lol PETA

— cloudkitt

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:28 PM, 03/27/2013

Three of these picks aren't even in Philly. Change the title of the piece to "20 of the hottest restaurants in the Philly area."

— daxtremesolja

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:28 PM, 03/27/2013

@Stripes - there are so many places you never hear about (especially in this publication) that fit the bill of great food in the $20/entree range. Many of them are labeled gastropubs, which could be why. Sidecar, Devil's Den, Kraftwork, South Philly Taproom and Kite and Key are just a couple of the many places who employ up-and-coming chefs who are out to prove their chops (ncluding lamb and pork). Give them a try and you won't be disappointed. Most have great tap lists, too.
Also, Berwyn and Collingswood are not Philadelphia, thank you.

— stefek23

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:31 PM, 03/27/2013

You don't know what you're talking about. Every one of those restaurants you listed has been covered in this publication multiple times.

— Tatt2

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:49 PM, 03/27/2013

Kraftwork sucks.

— FunCakes

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:01 PM, 03/27/2013

I am your consumate restraunteur. I know everything about food and dining. I have never been to Philadelphia, but these restaurants sound terrific. I like ostrich meat and zucchini.

— doctor72

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:03 PM, 03/27/2013

Philly has some great places to eat and there is something for everyone. There are not too many cities with good eats outside of NY or New Orleans. I dare you to compare. NY wanna bees just move up there.

— streamerzzz

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:10 PM, 03/27/2013

I have a feeding tube. I wish there was list of the top-rated restaurants for people with feeding tubes.

— doctor72

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:13 PM, 03/27/2013

Bloody hunks of animal tissue make me sick. All the striated muscle and veins the ooze fluid as you slice through it. Look at that? It's so rare it's blue. Do yourself a favor and eat healthy alternatives to meat instead. You will look and feel much better. That meat is not healthy.

— MS. LOU.