Regan here — food writer and Philly native. There are a few more days until the solstice makes it officially summer, but the season is already in full swing across the City of Brotherly Love: Locals are gathering in Rittenhouse Square and Clark Park, John’s Water Ice is slinging overfilled cups, and diners are lingering over meals a little longer. Join them, armed with The Times’s updated list of the 25 best restaurants in Philadelphia, right now.
You’ll see familiar spots, including Royal Sushi & Izakaya — look out for the chef Jesse Ito’s new izakaya, Dance Robot, later this summer — and Mawn, a B.Y.O.B. destination for punchy Cambodian fare and the sister restaurant to the hotly anticipated Sao, a new crudo and oyster bar. We’ve also added a handful of newcomers to the list; here’s a preview.
Your favorite Italian cafe’s favorite Italian cafe
I suggest planning your Philly eating schedule around multiple visits to the Italian all-day cafe Fiore. First thing in the morning, order a shakerato and buttery cornetti, which the co-owner and pastry chef Justine MacNeil, a Del Posto alum, makes in a three-day process using a sourdough starter and a dash of vanilla and rum. Prefer a savory start? Ask for a breakfast sandwich like the Saltie, an ode to the now-shuttered Brooklyn sandwich shop of the same name, made with scrambled eggs and whipped ricotta layered on house-baked focaccia. For lunch or dinner, try housemade pasta dishes such as fettuccine with green asparagus ragù, or rosy pink mezzaluna with beets. If you can’t squeeze in a second visit, though, you don’t have to miss out — at Fiore, pasta, including cacio e pepe, is for breakfast, too.
2413 Frankford Avenue (East Hagert Street), East Kensington
An all-day affair
Until 2 p.m., Middle Child Clubhouse serves the same fluffy egg sandwiches and impeccable hoagies made at the original Middle Child lunch counter. I love the So Long Sal, an updated riff on a classic Italian number with artichoke relish and arugula, though I ask to hold the balsamic mayo. (I won’t be taking comments, thank you!) In the evening, there’s a vibe shift, as the kids no longer say, from casual hangout to rollicking party, with grown-up comfort food and a cocktail menu that’s equal parts thoughtful and cheeky. My go-to is the Seawater Margarita, which gets a twist from a kombu dilution and celery bitters, but I won’t turn down a fruity, frozen Philly Chilly.
1232 North Front Street (West Thompson Street), Fishtown
Where to eat with the whole family
At Picnic, the laid-back restaurant and natural wine shop housed in a former brewery, don’t be surprised if you spend more time than you’d originally planned. It’s easy to lose track over oysters (order them both ways: freshly shucked, and grilled with ramp butter), wood-fired rotisserie chicken drizzled with fragrant chile oil, and bottles of fizzy pink Lambrusco. Since the restaurant is huge, it’s appropriate for big groups, including my family of five. My daughters love the tropical soft-serve frozen yogurt, sprinkled with coconut and pink peppercorn meringue.
2421 Martha Street (East York Street), East Kensington
For your itinerary
In the heart of Philly’s Chinatown, the Chinese Lantern Festival returns on June 20. On view through Aug. 31, the annual festival fills Franklin Square with illuminated lantern sculptures and displays that include glowing dragons, giant pandas and tropical birds. And all summer and fall, you can visit the Bok Bar, the seasonal rooftop terrace at a repurposed high school. Expect a rotating roster of local food vendors and unparalleled views of South Philly: In July, Gabriella’s Vietnam, also on our list, will take over.
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