Web Search powered by YAHOO! SEARCH
TEXT SIZE: A A A A
email this
print this
reprint or license this
The dining room at the Fountain Restaurant - voted No. 1 in Philadelphia for food, decor and service in the new Zagat guide - is prepared by maitre d' Nicolas Dubort (right) and waiter Vince Russo.
1 of 2
RELATED STORIES
 
Devil's Den
 
Restaurant Chat: The scientific formula of Bell ratings
READER FEEDBACK
On a bill of $100, how much of a tip would you leave?
Assume the service was very good.
$25 or more
$22 to $24
$19 to $21
$16 to $18
$13 to $15
$12 or less
SAVE AND SHARE


Zagat: Phila. tippers are nation’s biggest

"Philadelphians are the most generous tippers in the nation," according to a news release from Zagat, announcing the official publication today of its 2009 guide to Philadelphia area restaurants.

Also deserving of major kudos is the Four Seasons Hotel's Fountain Restaurant, named tops in three categories: food, decor and service.

Stephen Starr's Buddakan, though, was named most popular, followed by Amada, Le Bec-Fin, Alma de Cuba and Capital Grille.

Top newcomers, in order, are Cochon, a Queen Village BYO; Azie, an Asian fusion spot in Media; Vietnam Cafe in West Philadelphia; Supper, which serves upscale American on South Street; and Bindi, a modern Indian BYO in Center City.

According to Zagat - or at least the 5,507 local diners who reported on their preferences and habits to Zagat - people in the Philadelphia area leave an average tip of 19.6 percent.

New Yorkers leave 19 percent - the national average - while folks in L.A. leave 18.4.

Last year, Denver was No. 1, adding 19.5 percent to bills for gratuities. Philadelphia and Detroit tied for second, at 19.4 percent.

The new slim burgundy guide, titled 2009 Philadelphia Restaurants, has thumbnail reports and ratings on more than 1,000 restaurants in the region, from South Jersey to Wilmington to Lancaster.

Respondents, who average 2.6 meals a week at restaurants, said their favorite cuisines were Italian (28 percent), American (14), Japanese (11), French (10), Mexican (10) and Thai (9).

About 25 percent of area diners make reservations online, compared to only 14 percent in L.A. and an impressive 43 percent in San Francisco.

The $14.95 guide was edited by Inquirer Table Talk and Inqlings columnist Michael Klein and Sharon Gintzler and coordinated by Marilyn Kleinberg.

The ratings and reviews are also available at www.zagat.com.

 


Contact staff writer Peter Mucha at 215-854-4342 or pmucha@phillynews.com.

 

  • Jobs
  • Cars
  • Real Estate
  • Rentals
 
SEARCH JOBS
Find a Car | Sell a Car | Research | Loans
Spotlight Deal

Subaru Of Cherry Hill
(866) 412-7524
'07 Subaru Legacy 25i
$16,995
'07 Dodge Caliber SE
$12,997
'97 Chevrolet Cavalier LS
$4,490
'08 Kia Spectra
$13,995
SEARCH CARS Used  New 
Spotlight Deal
Port Richmond 19134
Spotlight Deal
Coatesville 19320
SEARCH REAL ESTATE
Spotlight Deal
Rittenhouse Square 19103
Spotlight Deal
Rittenhouse Square 19103
SEARCH RENTALS
find an event
Fr
Dec 5
Sa
Dec 6
Su
Dec 7
Mo
Dec 8
Tu
Dec 9
Venue search: - by name
- by cuisine
- by venue type, e.g. "movie theater"
Location search:
- Philadelphia, PA
- 19101
- Center City
Venue search:
- by name
- by cuisine
- by venue type, e.g. "movie theater"
Location search:
- Philadelphia, PA
- 19101
- Center City
Date search:
Select which day you would like to search events, or select Search all days
Event search:
Type in the name of the event, or event type, e.g. 'live music'
SPORTS
High Cheese: Phillies GM Ruben Amaro would not confirm or deny a report that the team has made a formal offer to starting right-handed pitcher Derek Lowe.
OBITUARIES
Nicholas Montos, the oldest prison inmate in Massachusetts and a career criminal who was the first person to make the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list twice...
Green
Sandy Bauers: Lighting experts are still tinkering with the technology to get LEDs that can replace the bulb in an end-table lamp. But where they really shine is in holiday lighting displays.
Philadelphia Inquirer
WASHINGTON - Humbled and increasingly desperate as car sales plummet, the heads of Detroit's Big Three automakers said yesterday that they were willing to accept government oversight of their spending in return for $34 billion in government loans to keep them afloat.
The Bucks County "Mom Gone Wild" case ended yesterday with a split verdict that cleared Angela Honeycutt of the most serious sexual assault charges with underage boys, but left her facing a possible jail sentence on lesser charges.