Finally ready to get outside? Here are eight new al fresco options to try, focusing on patios, decks, and more that have come on the local scene in the past year or so, as well as pop-ups and seasonal spots that have reopened with notable changes for 2016.
We'll continually update this map as the season rolls on and even more seasonal operations get underway. For more great open-air options, check out 14 Essential Outdoor Dining Spots in Philly. Note: Entries here are ordered geographically, south to north.
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Michael Schulson's beer garden by the Liberty Bell is back for its third season, and if you're looking for a place fit for group hangs, this is the place to do it. Bring the party, order 30 sliders for the table, play some lawn games, and drink good beer. It's not hard to have a good time here, there's something for everyone, and that's why it's such a hit through the season.
Chef Jim Burke once owned one of the city's best Italian restaurants, and then he left for New York City. Now, Burke is back, and he brought his Italian expertise along with him. Saffron arancini, truffled gnocchi gratin, and prosciutto and melon are all great summertime snacks, but look out for the chef's dinners scheduled for later in the season, that's where he gets gets to show off.
Back for the 2016 season, the colorful park along the Delaware gets some new dining options. Kevin Sbraga's southern restaurant, The Fat Ham, has a small outpost this year called The Little Fat Ham, serving, of course, its famous hot chicken and other handheld seasonally appropriate bites. Jose Garces returns with his Village Burger, Distrito Taco, and new this year, a fry stop called Papas Fritas.
The backyard patio at this Queen Village landmark is a hidden gem. Full of flowers and market lights, dining outdoors at Southwark is downright adorable. Chef Chris D'Ambro is pumping out inventive, creative plates, perfect for a full sit-down meal, or if you'd rather, just snacking with some of the city's best cocktails. Remember, Wednesdays are BYOB (in the dining room), and Thursdays are $20 bottles (in the dining room).
Opa's backyard beer garden is open, and this year, with a day's notice, you can gather a group of friends (six minimum), and take part in a family-style feast by chef Bobby Saritsoglou. For $25 a person, you can throw down on mussels, vegetables and bread, or for $35, you can get a full-on pig roast, complete with focaccia and sides.
Chef Peter Woolsey gave his waterfront brasserie a bit of a rebrand. La Peg, once a French brasserie, is now contemporary American, and the outdoor patio is now a seafood shack serving up fried clams, lobster rolls, and other New England-y roadside favorites.
Go to Root and relax. Get out in the warm air, order a crisp glass of white, maybe some chicken liver toast—actually, definitely some chicken liver toast—kick back, and watch the hustle and bustle of Frankford Avenue until the sun goes down. It's an easy time at Root, nothing about it is complicated, and that's exactly what it should be: a place to unwind, to people-watch, to eat and drink away your daily stresses.
Hip vibes, bocce ball, and hoagies: that's what Martha does best. Owner Jon Medlinsky knows a whole lot of people, too, so there's always a reason to go, whether its for local spirit tastings, happy hours with visiting brewers, or to meet the makers that keep Martha's menu progressive and honest.
Michael Schulson's beer garden by the Liberty Bell is back for its third season, and if you're looking for a place fit for group hangs, this is the place to do it. Bring the party, order 30 sliders for the table, play some lawn games, and drink good beer. It's not hard to have a good time here, there's something for everyone, and that's why it's such a hit through the season.
Chef Jim Burke once owned one of the city's best Italian restaurants, and then he left for New York City. Now, Burke is back, and he brought his Italian expertise along with him. Saffron arancini, truffled gnocchi gratin, and prosciutto and melon are all great summertime snacks, but look out for the chef's dinners scheduled for later in the season, that's where he gets gets to show off.
Back for the 2016 season, the colorful park along the Delaware gets some new dining options. Kevin Sbraga's southern restaurant, The Fat Ham, has a small outpost this year called The Little Fat Ham, serving, of course, its famous hot chicken and other handheld seasonally appropriate bites. Jose Garces returns with his Village Burger, Distrito Taco, and new this year, a fry stop called Papas Fritas.
The backyard patio at this Queen Village landmark is a hidden gem. Full of flowers and market lights, dining outdoors at Southwark is downright adorable. Chef Chris D'Ambro is pumping out inventive, creative plates, perfect for a full sit-down meal, or if you'd rather, just snacking with some of the city's best cocktails. Remember, Wednesdays are BYOB (in the dining room), and Thursdays are $20 bottles (in the dining room).
Opa's backyard beer garden is open, and this year, with a day's notice, you can gather a group of friends (six minimum), and take part in a family-style feast by chef Bobby Saritsoglou. For $25 a person, you can throw down on mussels, vegetables and bread, or for $35, you can get a full-on pig roast, complete with focaccia and sides.
Chef Peter Woolsey gave his waterfront brasserie a bit of a rebrand. La Peg, once a French brasserie, is now contemporary American, and the outdoor patio is now a seafood shack serving up fried clams, lobster rolls, and other New England-y roadside favorites.
Go to Root and relax. Get out in the warm air, order a crisp glass of white, maybe some chicken liver toast—actually, definitely some chicken liver toast—kick back, and watch the hustle and bustle of Frankford Avenue until the sun goes down. It's an easy time at Root, nothing about it is complicated, and that's exactly what it should be: a place to unwind, to people-watch, to eat and drink away your daily stresses.
Hip vibes, bocce ball, and hoagies: that's what Martha does best. Owner Jon Medlinsky knows a whole lot of people, too, so there's always a reason to go, whether its for local spirit tastings, happy hours with visiting brewers, or to meet the makers that keep Martha's menu progressive and honest.
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