Philadelphia Restaurants

Philadelphia, while known as the City of Brotherly Love, also has fantastic restaurants that offer a varied selection of cuisine sure to please even the most finicky of diners. The city of known for it's history, but it should be noted that many Philadelphia restaurants are award winning treasures waiting to be discovered. The following are just a sampling of some of the best Philadelphia restaurants:

Philadelphia Restaurants #1
Smith & Wollensky is the restaurant to go to for a high-quality steak in Philadelphia. It is located inside the Rittenhouse Hotel and the Executive Chef Patrick Dwyer, hand-butchers and dry ages the USDA Prime beef on site. There are wonderful views of Rittenhouse square while you enjoy a classical and extravagant dining experience. Dinner can be had for $35 - $40 but if you have drinks it could run substantially higher.

Philadelphia Restaurant #2
At 325 Chestnut Street in Old City is the fabulous Asian cuisine restaurant Buddakan. Buddakan has been designated by Travel& Leisure as one of "America's Top 50 Restaurants". There is a huge, ten foot tall Buddha that stands sentry over the dining room and a lovely sparkling waterfall that sets the ambiance with the Japanese river stones. The exotic Asian dishes offered include Steamed Sea Bass Rolls, Pad Thai, Australian Tajima "Kobe" New York Strip and Japanese Black Cod. Lunch hours are 11:30 to 2:00, dinner is 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 through the week; Saturday dinner is 5:00 - 12:00; Sunday dinner is 4:00 - 12:00. The cost of dinner at Buddakan will run about $40 - $50 per person, plus drinks.

Philadelphia Restaurant #3
In mid-town Philadelphia is a dining treasure named Upstares & Sotto Varalli , located on 231 South Broad Street. You can dine while overlooking the floor to ceiling windows at the corner of Broad and Locust streets. While the menu is heavily seafood there are also a wide variety of other palate pleasers such as fresh vegetables, steak, chicken and pastas. There is a full bar and live entertainment offered. Hours for Upstares & Sotto Varalli are 4:30 - 11:00 pm Tuesday through Saturday.

Philadelphia Restaurant #4
In the Washington Square District is the Union Trust Steakhouse . A warning, it is not cheap to dine here, dinner will cost over $75 per person, while it is well worth it be prepared for the check when it arrives. It is located in a former back, which is fitting, and it boasts walls that are 65 feet high with incredible ceiling. It's all very Art Deco for the diner and dazzling. The service is top-notch and the steaks impeccable. The valet parking is convenient and you can dine indoors or outdoors. You can catch lunch from 11 to 3 Monday through Friday and dinner is 5 to 11 pm. On Saturday dinner is 5 - 12 pm and Sunday 4 to 9 pm.

Philadelphia Restaurant #5
A long time favorite on Walnut Street in Restaurant Row is Le Bec-Fin , an elegant French restaurant with crystal chandeliers and beige suede walls. Service is the name of the game at Le Bec-Fin and it will be perfect every single time you visit. Not to be outdone by the service the food is also amazing. There is the Sauteed Foie Gras, Escargots Cassolette, Roasted Bone-In Turbot with Truffles and Olive Oil Poached Scottish Salmon with Caramelized Fennel. Dinner will cost approximately $60 per person and they are open Monday through Thursday 5:30 - 10 pm and Friday and Saturday 5:30 to 11 pm.

Whether you live in Philadelphia or are just visiting, enjoy the cuisine of these great Philadelphia restaurants.