Chabaa Thai Bistro

This pretty, multilevel eatery brings a pleasant taste of Thai to Manayunk. The traditional menu is mildly spiced but fresh and authentically aromatic, with some notable highlights. The fabric-draped two-story space is one of the city's most serene havens for good pad Thai. Reviewed Sept. 30.

Coquette Bistro & Raw Bar

Queen Village has landed a lively and likable French bistro from Sansom Street Oyster House owner Cary Neff. The white tile, raw bar and rattan-chair look is classic Paris cafe. The kitchen's Gallic standards need some fine-tuning, but are good enough, and affordable enough, to lend this corner a welcome breath of bistro life. Reviewed Nov. 4.

Copper Bistro

First-time owners Daniel Connelly, the chef, and Jason Serock, the manager, have given the old Aden space a brighter, upscale look. The menu doesn't break new ground, but offers simple and satisfying renditions of New American standards (short ribs, fish and lentils) that make this BYO a pleasantly mellow option for edgy Northern Liberties. Reviewed Jan. 21.

Cosimo

Two Dilworthtown Inn alums (owner Anthony Mastroianni and chef Stephen Delaney) have combined talents for an ambitious wine bar and restaurant unique to the far western burbs. With 40 good wines by the glass and an impressive contemporary menu, the overdesigned space and green service can be overlooked. Reviewed Aug. 19.

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

The Main Line has a solid steak house in this Outback-owned chain. It does enough essentials right - superb prime meat, great onion rings, and 100 wines by the glass - to compensate for its generic chophouse soul. The service still needs polish, as does the kitchen, which struggles with anything that involves finesse cooking. Reviewed Feb. 4.

Fogo de Chão

Carnivores go wild at the city's first upscale churrascaria, an all-you-can-eat Brazilian chain that has transformed the old J.E. Caldwell store into a spectacular dining space. The meats aren't fabulous, but the gauchos' tableside showmanship, the grand ambience, and the wine list add up to an undeniably fun one-time experience. Lunch is an especially fair bargain. Reviewed April 8.

Honey

Lit with a romantic amber glow, this stylish little contemporary eatery from first-time owners Amy and Joe McAtee gives Doylestown a taste of the small-plate trend. The fusion creations range widely, from lamb samosas to tea-glazed ribs. Some of the honey-laced ideas need polish, but this ambitious venture is off to a sweet start. Reviewed Nov. 11.

Ida Mae's

This charming corner bruncherie gives Fishtown an eater's destination any neighborhood would covet, with a laid-back ambience and thoughtful cooking inspired by fresh local ingredients. It's clear from both the hearty Irish-themed brunches and the sophisticated New American menu at night that Ida's has pushed the gastro-border deeper into North Philly. Reviewed Oct. 21.

Kitchen 233

The P.J. Whelihan's crew opened this stylishly upscale wine bar and eatery with former Tangerine chef Chris Painter. Since Painter's departure, though, the creative Mediterranean menu has been scaled back a notch in ambition, with more traditional steak-house items and slightly lower prices. It has not been revisited since the review. Reviewed Jan. 28.

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