Philadelphia Restaurant Tips by Ewingjr98

Jones Restaurant - Center City

A friend of our who has lived in the city a few years was raving about Jones Restaurant, particularly their meatloaf, so we were exciting to try this modern American cuisine in a hip, urban setting with many retro design elements. The food was outstanding and the service great; the only drawback was the tiny little airplane-style bathrooms.

Our visit began in Manayunk, and we didn't arrive until nearly 10pm since we took the SEPTA train. We were quickly seated near the open kitchen, and the waiter also filled us in on the day's drink specials. The girls had the special watermelon spritzers ($9 each), a fruity cocktail that would probably get you too drunk too fast if you drank too many. The guys had local beers: the Yards Brawler for me and a Walt Wit Belgian White for my friend ($6.50 per beer). For our meals we had two of the meatloaf entrees ($15 each), one of their pesto scallop specials ($22) and the brisket dinner ($19). My scallops were delicious--pesto being one of my favorite sauces certainly helped; they were served with a tasty garden salad, but pretty expensive for just four large sea scallops. The brisket was tender and juicy, but their sauce wasn't the best I've had. The meatloaf was very tender, flavorful, and a good value for the price.

I returned a few years later, and it was still exactly as I remembered--same good service, good food, and tiny bathrooms. On this visit I had the seared sesame ahi tuna over white coconut rice with a snow pea salad. It was delicious, but a disappointingly small portion with only 5-6 small slices of tender tuna.

Reservations are not accepted, and they claim the dress is casual, but it might be just a hair fancier than that!

Address: 700 Chestnut St Philadelphia, PA 19106

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Just 1.5 blocks west of Independence Hall in downtown Philadelphia

Phone: (215) 223-5663

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 5

Theme: American

Website: http://www.jones-restaurant.com

Larry's Steaks and Hoagies Philly Cheese Steaks Review

Larry's opened in 1956 and since then it has enjoyed a reputation for offering some of the best cheese steaks in a city known for its cheese steaks! Right across the street from St Joseph's University, it is a favorite among college students and other locals. The steak is ground perfectly and they don't use cheez whiz like some of the other famous Philly cheese steak joints.

If you are really hungry or just want to share, try their famous bellyfiller.

Other famous cheese steak places in town include Pat's and Geno's, but many locals will claim these are overrated tourist attractions... stick to Larry's!

Address: 54th Street

Comparison: about average

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 5

Theme: Local

Manayunk Brewery

Located in the trendy Manayunk district of Philadelphia, the simply named Manayunk Brewery is a great spot for food and beer. In addition to a nice, open interior, they have a fantastic outdoor dining area with two bars, all overlooking the Schuylkill River. On a beautiful August day, we sat along the wall overlooking the still, green water, and enjoyed lunch and a few beers. I had the Vienna-Style Lager, while my friends tried the Blueberry Lager and American-Style Pilsner. I was impressed by the beer, but somehow I enjoyed the food even more (maybe because it was 2pm and I hadn't eaten all day?). Fun lunch I enjoyed their basic Pub Burger with American cheese (about $10), and my companions had the Classic Margarita Pizza, Smoked Turkey Griller, and the Grilled Reuben Sandwich. The sandwiches and pizza were all very good and less than $10 per meal.

Good food, quality beer, and a unique spot in a great neighborhood combine to make this restaurant an outstanding choice.

Address: 4120 Main Street, Philadelphia, PA 19127

Comparison: more expensive than average

Other Contact: Email: info@manayunkbrewery.com

Phone: 215.482.8220

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 5

Theme: Pub/Brewery

Ritz-Carleton's 10 Arts Lounge

10 Arts Lounge and Restaurant in the Philadelphia Ritz Carleton is a fancy place made for impressing people. It occupies the lobby of what used to be a bank, in an amazing domed marble building that was constructed 100 years ago or so. When you dine here you are surrounded by natural sunlight, tall pillars, interesting statues, and historic paintings.

We had drinks and a few appetizers at the lounge one day after a visit to the nearby Academy of Music building. A group of about 10 of us sat at a long counter next to the bar, where we enjoyed a variety of wines, beers, and specialty drinks for several hours. Towards the end of our stay, we got a few appetizers, namely the calamari and their french fries. The calamari was tender and tasty, and the fries were perfectly fried and seasoned with a tasty blend of rosemary and thyme.

Of course every restaurant has its problems. Here I had a skunky beer. Also the prices are very, very steep, the calamari was about $16 and the fries over $10.

Address: 10 Avenue of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Comparison: most expensive

Directions: Just a block south of City Hall

Phone: 215-523-8273

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: American

Website: http://www.10arts.com/

Good Dog Bar - Rittenhouse Square Area

We stayed at a hotel just a block away from the Good Dog, so it was an easy choice for a quick lunch with family. It is a small, unassuming place from the outside, but the interior is surprisingly clean, modern and well decorated throughout the three-story bar. We sat upstairs next to one of the bars and the kitchen, but we had to go up or down a floor to find the restrooms.

Th burgers here are huge, and have even been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, so we knew what we wanted after a quick scan of the menu. Our group had a few "Good Dog Burgers" ($12.50) which feature a half pound of beef stuffed with roquefort cheese & topped with caramelized onions, served on a toasted brioche bun. We also had their traditional burger ($11), also with a half pound of ground sirloin, cooked to order, and topped with lettuce & tomato, on a toasted bun. Both burgers were served with a side of thin, hand-cut yukon & sweet potatoes and homemade aioli for dipping.

Good Dog also has a good beer list, featuring many local brews.

Address: 224 South 15th Street Philadelphia, PA 19102

Comparison: about average

Other Contact: info@gooddogbar.com

Phone: 215.985.9600

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: American

Website: http://www.gooddogbar.com/

Kildare's Irish Pub - Manayunk

Kildare's is a great Irish pub on Manayunk's Main Street--one of the liveliest areas of town. The bar itself was imported from Ireland, the staff is very friendly, the beer selection very nice, and the food is good, too!

I visited Kildare's in the summer of 2009 with a small group of friends. We sat outside along Main Street Manayunk at their busy sidewalk patio area. We had lots of beer and some wine, along with their "Craic Nachos" with chicken ($13) and the tower of pretzels ($7).

I didn't even know what Craic meant, I thought maybe a place in Ireland, so I had to look it up. The Oxford English Dictionary says craic means "fun, enjoyment, abandonment, or lighthearted mischief; often in the context of drinking or music." Their nachos were full of lighthearted mischief, but no music. Rather, they had house-made potato chips topped with melted cheese, salsa, guacamole and sour cream, along with chicken or beef. They were great, particularly the chips.

The tower of pretzels was served with three large, soft pretzels alongside tasty pub mustard, nasty cheese whiz, and whiskey honey mustard.

Address: 4417 Main Street, Manayunk, PA 19127

Comparison: about average

Phone: 215-482-7242

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Pub/Brewery

Website: http://www.kildarespub.com

The Irish Pub - Walnut and 12th St, Center City The Irish Pub Review

The Irish Pub in Philadelphia is a cross between a traditional Irish Pub and a neighborhood bar. Their prices a re pretty low for Philadelphia, but they keep them down by offering a generic "pub stout" rather than a Guinness, for example.

We sat in the back next to one of their big TVs, so we could watch college football while we enjoyed our early afternoon lunch. I had their "Old Original Cheese Steak," a Philly cheese steak served on a Steak Roll with melted American cheese and sautéed onions for $7.50, along with a few pints of Sam Adams Oktoberfest.

The original Irish Pub opened in Atlantic City in 1972, and the Walnut and 12th location was established in an old clothing shop in 1980. A third location opened near Rittenhouse Square in 1983.

Address: 1123 Walnut St. Philadelphia

Comparison: less expensive than average

Phone: (215) 925-3311

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Pub/Brewery

Website: http://www.irishpubphilly.com/12thstreet/home.php

Tavern 17 - Radisson Hotel, Rittenhouse Square

Tavern 17 is about what you would expect from a hotel restaurant: expensive, poor service, average food, yet--somehow--always busy despite dozens of nearby restaurants that offer much better fare.

For some reason, I have been here twice. The first was late in the evening, and we grabbed a few beers and watched the Phillies lose in the first round of the playoffs. The beer selection is pretty good, and the prices affordable (maybe $4.50 for a micro brew draft).

My second visit was for breakfast, and it was a disappointment. Since the menu was seriously lacking basic breakfast foods, I settled for the eggs Benedict (about $10 or $12) with coffee. The muffins on the Benedict was a cheap-o Thomas' English muffin or a generic equivalent, the eggs bland, the hollandaise almost without taste. At least the potatoes were good, and the coffee had free refills.

Also, the service was terrible, especially when our waiter disappeared for 15 minutes just as we were trying to check out. I guess his smoke break was more important than his tip.

Address: 220 South 17th Street Philadelphia, Pa 19103

Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: 215-790-1799

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 2

Theme: American

Website: http://www.tavern17restaurant.com/

Twenty Manning - Rittenhouse Square Area 20 Mannings Review

Twenty Manning, creatively named after its street address, is one of the best restaurants I've tried in Philadelphia. Located just a block or two southwest of Rittenhouse Square, it offers fine dining at high but fair prices.

We attending a wedding rehearsal here, and the group menu was excellent. It offered six or eight appetizers, as many entrees, and a desert sampler for a fixed price (this same selection on the regular menu would have cost $40 to $45, depending on your appetizer and entree selection). We also enjoyed lots of beer and wine. Large groups are seated at a big L-shaped area behind the bar, which can seat about 30.

I started my meal with a beer, then I had the cab cake appetizer (normally $12); this great dish was served with apple slaw, micro greens, and Old Bay-seasoned tartar sauce. For my meal, I selected the steak frites ($25), an absolutely perfectly cooked and seasoned 14 ounce rib eye served with french fries. The desert was a combination of three or four dishes, including the cheesecake, chocolate cake, and a strawberry drizzled in sweet glaze.

The food was top notch, the service awesome, and the restaurant perfect for a classy get together or a nice date.

Address: 261 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Comparison: most expensive

Phone: 215-731-0900

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 5

Theme: American

Website: http://twentymanning.com/home.html