The sprawling Suraya is a restaurant, daytime cafe, and market all rolled into one, with a long bar inside and a spacious garden out back for outdoor dining. Diners head to this attractive Lebanese destination for man’oushe in the morning, kebabs, grilled fish, and arak cocktails at night, and rose-pistachio crullers anytime. 

At Cheu Fishtown, set in a former horse stable on Frankford Avenue, diners settle in under a mural of an octopus slurping up noodles and dig into inventive Asian-Jewish fare: brisket ramen with matzo balls, Bubbie Chow’s sliced beef, and, for the vegetarians at the table, a top-notch coconut curry ramen. It’s unlike anything else in Philly (except across town at the original, Cheu Noodle Bar, where the food is just as good but the space and menu are smaller).

Don't get too attached to any one dish at this laid-back farm-to-table BYOB in Kensington: The short menu changes all the time. But diners can always expect creative combinations of locally sourced vegetables, meat, and fish.

The sleekly industrial Kensington Quarters in Fishtown works directly with local farms to oversee the animal-to-table process from beginning to end. The result is not-to-miss charcuterie, burgers, sausages, and other meaty offerings. But skipping over the non-meat plates — like the mushroom toast— would be a mistake.

Three stars from restaurateur Ellen Yin’s orbit struck out on their own with Cadence, a tiny, modern BYOB in South Kensington. Chefs Michael Fry and husband-and-wife Jon Nodler and Samantha Kincaid are making inventive new American fare like bison tartare with beet rye bread and delicate cheese-filled dumplings. Order a la carte or select three courses plus dessert for $65. There’s a liquor store across the street for those who want to pick up a bottle of wine before dinner.

High Street on Market in Old City is one of the city's most versatile restaurants. Duck in wearing pajamas for a cup of Rival Bros. coffee and a bacon, egg, and cheese on brioche, or bring out-of-towners here for a dinner of seasonal dishes — like a beef carpaccio that’s a playful take on the Philly cheesesteak — that will explain why everyone's talking about Philadelphia’s restaurant scene.

Top Chef winner Nicholas Elmi teamed up with the veteran bar owners behind several Philly hotspots for Royal Boucherie, a lively French brasserie in Old City with dark wood, exposed brick walls, and antique touches. To eat: Champagne-braised escargot, outstanding charcuterie, and steak au poivre. But this isn’t just a dinner and drinks spot. Royal Boucherie is open for lunch and brunch, and also serves a late-night menu.

Considered by many to be the city’s very best restaurant, and named one of Eater’s essential 38 nationwide, Israeli restaurant Zahav is worth planning a trip to Philly for. The menu of grilled skewers, mezze, and laffa from James Beard Award winner Michael Solomonov — capped off with desserts from another James Beard winner, Camille Cogswell — is creative and easy to fall in love with. The real showstopper is the pomegranate lamb shoulder, but even something as simple — and now ubiquitous — as hummus is genuinely eye-opening here. Book well in advance.

Marc Vetri’s original destination spot is 20 years old, and it shows its age like a fine wine. The Washington Square West restaurant is as intimate and tastefully decorated as ever. There’s nothing flashy here to distract from the tasting menu-only meal ($165). Every course — the almond tortellini, the smoked goat, the panna cotta —provides an example of what modern Italian food aspires to be.

During the day, Michael Schulson's Double Knot is a street-level Center City coffee shop that serves a lunch menu of build-your-own Vietnamese-inspired sandwiches and bowls. But it’s at night when things get interesting. The main floor transforms into a bar, while below ground low-lit rooms beckon with a Japanese menu of expertly prepared sushi, dumplings, and skewers.

The short Cypriot menu at Washington Square West’s small, bright Kanella Grill appears simple, but the flavors of Konstantinos Pitsillides’ grilled pork, chicken, and halloumi kebabs, lamb shawarma, and falafel are addictive. Go for a platter or a pita sandwich and a sage-infused lemonade, or bring along a bottle of wine — adding to the value here, the restaurant is BYOB. 

Many years have gone by, many restaurants have come and gone, and Oyster House is better than ever in its Sansom Street digs. The seafood and raw oyster king has been part of the Philly tradition since 1947 and in its present location since 1969. A revamp in the 2000s gave the space a glossy new look, with white-tile walls, a marble bar, and wooden tables.

Vernick Food & Drink is a critical darling from James Beard Award winner Greg Vernick, putting out beautifully prepared and presented new American dishes in a lively, bi-level space in Rittenhouse. Start with one of the toasts, like the scallop with black truffle butter or the cheese and apple chutney.

Stepping inside Serpico, incongruously set in a former Foot Locker on South Street, feels like stepping out of Philly. Peter Serpico, previously the head of David Chang’s restaurant empire, brings a New York vibe (in a good way) to his eponymous restaurant, which he owns with acclaimed restaurateur Stephen Starr. Try to get a seat at the chef’s counter circling the open kitchen for a view of the cooks making gorgeous Asian-influenced plates like dry-aged sirloin tataki and Japanese eggplant with pistachio and feta mousse.

Bella Vista's Good King Tavern is appropriate for any occasion with fantastic wines, friendly service, and expertly prepared French bistro fare, all in a relaxed neighborhood spot that's effortlessly cool enough to draw diners in from far and wide. Grab a seat at the bar for an after-work cocktail, or settle into a booth and peruse the chalkboard for the day’s specials.

Graduate Hospital, barely recognizable from what it was less than a decade ago, has plenty of shiny new townhomes and condos, but a lack of eating options. Enter the lively and loud L’anima from Rose Tran and Roman-born chef Gianluca Demontis, the couple behind Melograno in Center City and Fraschetta in Bryn Mawr. This version of an Italian BYOB — that Philly neighborhood staple — highlights seafood, though diners in the mood for amatriciana sauce made with cured pork belly or a pizza-like “pinsa” will find it here too. 

Everything at morning-to-night operation Hungry Pigeon is spot on, from the breakfast pastries to the oft-changing, eclectic dinnertime dishes that emphasize seasonal and local ingredients. Big windows at this Queen Village corner let light shine in during the day. At night, the bar switches from coffee to easygoing cocktails, a stacked wine list, and of-the-moment beers.

Bibou, with its white tablecloth service and artfully presented plates, has long been regarded as one of Philly's top French restaurants. Chef Pierre Calmels is peerless when it comes to creating sophisticated versions of classics rooted in French peasant cuisine. And even better, he'll pick out every plate: The BYOB is tasting menu-only, at $115 a head.

After a couple of moves, Cristina Martinez’s nationally praised lamb tacos are safely ensconced in their sunny new Italian Market home. But be warned that the casual, counter-service Mexican eatery is only open Saturday, Sunday, and Monday and thanks to Netflix shows Chef’s Table and Ugly Delicious featuring Martinez and her husband/co-owner Ben Miller, a lunch crowd is pretty much guaranteed.

Husband-and-wife chefs Lee Styer and Jessie Prawlucki serve new American fare at their small, sophisticated corner spot on East Passyunk Avenue. Sidle up to the bar for a plate of oysters and a glass of bubbly or sit down to a meal of grilled duck hearts with tahini yogurt, chicken with goat cheese risotto, and decadent tiramisu.

It can be hard to snag a reservation at Nicholas Elmi's petite East Passyunk eatery, with its plush seats, candlelit glow, and charming service, but make it a mission. Elmi's French-influenced cooking is intricate, refined, and inventive, with each dish a graceful balance of flavors. The tasting menu is the only option: Six courses for $85 or nine for $125.

It's worth going to this simply decorated East Passyunk BYOB just for the novelty of Philly native Joncarl Lachman's Dutch-Scandinavian menu. The house-made breads and smoked and cured seafood — not to mention the hearty brunch dishes — are good enough to keep diners coming back again and again. New to Noord? Bite into a bitterballen (a nutmeg-tinged fried pork croquette) to see what the fuss is about.

Set in a converted rowhouse on East Passyunk Avenue, chef Tod Wentz’s romantic Townsend serves elegant French fare, excellent cocktails, and always-interesting wines in two cozy dining rooms with white tablecloths and a fine-dining vibe. Start, or end, with a drink at the inviting front bar.

Hardena is that no-frills, family-run restaurant everyone loves to know — including the James Beard Foundation, which put it on its list of semifinalists in 2018. Choose from beef rendang, oseng tempeh, peanut-y gado gado, collard greens cooked in coconut milk, and other Indonesian dishes served on styrofoam plates in this snug eatery, and always say yes to a dollop of sambal — it’s easily one of the best hot sauces in town.

A warning: Once you try the saté, grilled over coconut shell charcoal at this Malaysian BYOB, you'll be craving it for days afterward. At $12-$15 for five meaty skewers served with a healthy dose of peanut sauce, there’s no reason not to make it a habit. Round out the meal at Saté Kampar with a side of pickled veggies and nasi lemak bungkus (coconut cream-soaked rice, egg, and spicy sambal snuggled together in a banana leaf), and always try whatever specials chef-owner Ange Branca is offering.

Christopher Kearse’s French-influenced menu at Will, his small East Passyunk BYOB, changes constantly so the chef can make the most of local, seasonal ingredients. A good time to get a feel for Kearse’s cooking is on a Sunday evening at the weekly prix fixe dinner, which is always innovative and impressive, with dishes like red wine-braised short rib and Barnegat Light scallops — and a steal at $45.

East Passyunk Avenue’s warm, inviting Le Virtu draws from the flavors of southern Italy’s Abruzzo region — and uses ingredients imported from Abruzzo — for pasta, fish, and meat dishes that change with the seasons. The pastas, like the maccheroni alla chitarra with braised lamb ragu, are available in half sizes, so it’s easy to try more than one (and you should). When the weather cooperates, dine on Le Virtu’s roomy outdoor patio. 

The chair cushions are worn through, the floor sags, and the service is leisurely, but it all adds to the comfortable charm at Abyssinia, which cooks up some of the best Ethiopian food in Philly. In place of utensils, diners scoop up the stew-like dishes — including several vegetarian and vegan options — with perfectly thin, spongy, slightly sour injera bread. Up a narrow staircase from the dining room is Fiume, a thimble-sized dive bar with a surprisingly thorough whiskey list.