Craig LaBan's Other Favorites
restaurants, philadelphia dining,philadelphia best restaurants, BYOB,BYO
If you're thinking that all a food critic wants for dinner every night is an eight-course tasting menu at a high-end restaurant, you'd be wrong.
Usually, I'm content exploring the stunning diversity and depth of our dining scene just below those more rarefied experiences. In fact, it is that extraordinary wealth of sophisticated neighborhood spots, BYOBs, internationally inspired kitchens, gastropubs, and New American bistros - constantly fine-tuning to reflect the moment - that is the true measure of Philadelphia's considerable worth as a restaurant town.
Here are just the best of my favorites beyond the 13 that already appeared in my recent four-bell quest, most of which were revisited recently. A couple - Fond and Pumpkin - were even upgraded to three bells after showing major improvements. The lists are in six categories, but are not arranged in any order because I've never believed in numerical rankings. They are all favorites. And I could have listed dozens more. So stay tuned, as we plan to continue with more categories of favorites.
Of course, that means I have dinner plans galore, and hopefully, now, so do you. - Craig LaBan
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Marc Vetri's boisterous industrial space has chef Brad Spence serving rustic Roman fare.
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South Philly’s best Italian restaurant has continued to evolve under chef Joe Cicala.
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Luke Palladino's intimate 30-seat BYOB in a Shore strip mall is one of South Jersey’s most compelling dining draws.
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Roman-born chef-owner Gianluca Demontis has “the touch” for trattoria cooking at his BYOB.
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Joey Baldino’s authentic Sicilian flavors are informed by the finesse of his pedigree, but the noise!
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Clean flavors, smart combinations, homemade English muffins, and stylish small plates define a modern aesthetic of casual sophistication.
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The doyennes of Midtown Village (chef Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran) have a runaway hit with this narrow wine bar.
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This trailblazing bistro, now 15 years old, is as good as ever since the arrival of chef Terence Feury.
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Jose Garces’ lobby restaurant in the Cira Centre is an ode to great American ingredients.
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Caterers Mitch and Jennifer Prensky helped lead the way for Philly’s small-plate movement.
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Szechuan master Han Chiang’s peppercorn-fired pyrotechnics and opinions are the draw ... or drawback.
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This corner BYOB is a heartfelt homage to the authentic Cypriot-Greek flavors of Konstantinos Pitsillides’ island home.
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David Gilberg and Carla Gonçalves' romantic BYOB elevates rustic Portuguese flavors to a rare sophistication.
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This pan-Asian has moved beyond its initial reputation as "the Buddakan of the suburbs."
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Tiffin meets Buddakan at this groundbreaking venture that combines talents of Western and Indian chefs.
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Old City’s classic rock-and-roll beer bar serves some of this town's best New Orleans-inspired cooking.
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Few spots along Fishtown’s buzzing nightlife avenue are as handsome as this corner bar, whose tool motif is an ode to industrial days past.
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Of all the neighborhood hangs owned by Brendan Hartranft and Leigh Maida, this has the most ambitious kitchen.
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From its double-wide townhouse, SPTR has become the epicenter of South Philly’s beer revolution.
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The gastropub that started it all still captures a certain super-bar magic.
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The creative kaiseki tastings from chef Matt Ito remain after three decades among our most extraordinary adventures.
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Less is more at this airy, open-kitchen corner, which comes alive with David Katz’s vivid bistro-plus flavors.
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Michele DiPietro and Irene Landy’s wine bar has become a destination under chef Anne Coll.
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Sean Weinberg’s wood-fired ode to Italian flavors and local ingredients has matured into one of the suburbs’ best restaurants.
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Sheri and Kip Waide’s tavern remains a go-to haunt for the city’s best Manhattan followed by an inventive meal.
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There’s a reason the white rooms of this contemporary storefront are perpetually filled with fine-wine-toting Main Line devotees.
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This BYOB was one of the star debuts of 2011, with Josh Lawler and his wife, Colleen, showing the pretenders how farm-to-table is done.
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Upgraded from 2 bells The cooking couple behind this intimate East Passyunk BYOB has made huge progress.
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The young guns are still having fun at one of Center City’s longstanding BYO hits. And don't miss the world's best coconut cream pie.
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Upgraded from 2 bells. Always a charmer, this shoebox-sized pioneer of the BYO movement near the old Graduate Hospital has made tremendous strides.
