8 hours ago
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- New York Times
Where to Eat: When you're in Philly
Destination Dining
A weekly guide to dining in a different U.S. city, just in time for the summer travel season.
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.
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
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