More often than not, tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right now? What are the new restaurants? What's everyone talking about? While the Eater 38 is a crucial resource covering old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it is not a chronicle of the 'it' places of the moment.
Thus, we offer the Eater Heat Map, which will change continually to highlight where the crowds are flocking to, rightthisverymoment. Added to the list as of this update are Stock (the new Fishtown pho place from a pair of Zahav alums), modern French Townsend, the new brick-and-mortar home of Rival Bros. coffee in Fitler Square, and of course, the newest Federal Donuts.
Have any suggestions? Any vital omissions? Leave 'em in the comments or send 'em down the tipline.
Brothers Jonathan and Justin Petruce (whose collective experience includes Mémé and Little Fish) built the kitchen for this new New American around a wood-fired oven and an Argentinean-style grill, so expect a little char. (And keep your eyes peeled for pizza, which isn't on the menu but has made a couple of special appearances.) Partner/GM/wine guru Tim Kweeder and beverage director George Costa focus on smart pairings that are always in service of the food.
How does a ten-year-old restaurant land a spot on the Heatmap? By reimagining itself as a totally new restaurant, with a street food focus and a brand new liquor license. Make no mistake: the carne asada and the charm may have survived, but Lolita is brand new again.
Few restaurants have gotten Philadelphians talking — really talking, and debating, and placing wagers — quite like Jose Garces' new showpiece that pulls out all the stops at the Kimmel Center. If you're not prepared to splash out on the full tasting menu experience, you can always duck into Bar Volver for cocktails and small plates to get a look at what everyone's been buzzing about.
Chip Roman's finally got a Center City restaurant to his name, and the menu and revamped interior are both getting high marks from diners so far. And it works as well for a full-on date night as it does an after-work drink, with a menu ranging from bar snacks through high-end entrees, cozy reserved seating in the loft, and ample room for walk-ins by the lower-level bar.
When the owners of Bibou open a swank new restaurant in the Art Alliance building, it's a pretty easy sell. The cuisine is as classic French as it gets, offering selections like pate en croute, lamb pot au feu, and cassoulet.
a.kitchen may be a familiar name, but for a while there, it was crying out for someone to breathe new life into it. And that's exactly what it got when operator David Fields partnered with Ellen Yin and Eli Kulp (who's installed High Street alum Jon Nodler as chef de cuisine) — the new menu is every bit as intriguing and satisfying as you'd expect from the team behind Fork and High Street on Market.
Between their coffee truck and locally roasted beans being brewed at other cafes and restaurants around town, Rival Bros. was already a household name. Now, co-owners Jonathan Adams and Damien Pileggi have a brick-and-mortar shop of their own. In addition to coffee, you can get breads and pastries from High Street on Market. (Bread is available to go, or you can order up toast topped with local butter and jam from Green Aisle Grocery.)
Kevin Sbraga's second restaurant is a tiny U City spot serving Southern food to early raves. The menu nails respectful renditions of comfort classics with just enough cheffy twists and surprises to keep things fresh. In addition to the hot chicken and oyster po'boys, look for a very strong bar program, with barrel-aged bourbon cocktails and draft options that include beer, wine, and sweet tea.
GKT opened in the same month as Le Cheri, meaning things are suddenly looking way up for Philly francophiles. The Good King is decidedly less white-tablecloth, with a lively bar and a classic brasserie menu with some inventive touches from chef Paul Lyons, who worked with George Sabatino for years.
Society Hill Society opened quietly on Headhouse Square, where the Artful Dodger sat for decades. Chef Yun Fuentes, who not too long ago opened Rosa Blanca with longtime employer Jose Garces, has switched gears with an inventive menu that pays homage to classic regional dishes and promises to rely heavily on the farmer's market that takes place just outside its door.
The last restaurant in this prime East Passyunk space, Christopher's Lee's Sophia, was a notable flop. Now, under the care of chef-owner Townsend Wentz, the location seems to have been given the restaurant it deserves: the modern French menu and beverage program overseen by ace GM and sommelier Lauren Harris have earned the restaurant heaps of early praise. Closed on Tuesdays; otherwise: dinner nightly, bar open until 2 a.m.
The fourth storefront for the insanely popular fried chicken and doughnut shop will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, June 7 (with fried chicken donut sandwiches and hot doughnut ice cream bombs, no less), but it's open now. There are tons of new flavors to try, especially in the realm of fancies (there's a new chocolate glazed, blueberry-mascarpone, and more) - and unlike its predecessors, this new shop offers elbow room, parking, bathrooms, and ample seating.
Chef Adan Trinidad worked wonders in the kitchen at Jose Pistola's, and from there it didn't take long for the expansion talk to start. Younger brother Sancho's been kitted out with a more expansive menu that ranges from authentic (e.g. mole as crafted by Trinidad's mother) to the... well, to falafel tacos. Of course, the beer list is major, but the bar also makes great use of mezcal.
This gorgeous new Fishtown spot from Tyler Akin and Nicole Reigle (a husband-and-wife team, both formerly of Zahav) opened fairly quietly this week, serving a succinct menu of (mostly) noodles to a small dining room (18 seats; walk-in only). They're BYO, almost the entire menu falls under $10, and reports on the food from the first few days are very, very strong. NB: Stock is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but opens early for lunch on the weekends. (Full hours and details are on the website.)
Brothers Jonathan and Justin Petruce (whose collective experience includes Mémé and Little Fish) built the kitchen for this new New American around a wood-fired oven and an Argentinean-style grill, so expect a little char. (And keep your eyes peeled for pizza, which isn't on the menu but has made a couple of special appearances.) Partner/GM/wine guru Tim Kweeder and beverage director George Costa focus on smart pairings that are always in service of the food.
How does a ten-year-old restaurant land a spot on the Heatmap? By reimagining itself as a totally new restaurant, with a street food focus and a brand new liquor license. Make no mistake: the carne asada and the charm may have survived, but Lolita is brand new again.
Few restaurants have gotten Philadelphians talking — really talking, and debating, and placing wagers — quite like Jose Garces' new showpiece that pulls out all the stops at the Kimmel Center. If you're not prepared to splash out on the full tasting menu experience, you can always duck into Bar Volver for cocktails and small plates to get a look at what everyone's been buzzing about.
Chip Roman's finally got a Center City restaurant to his name, and the menu and revamped interior are both getting high marks from diners so far. And it works as well for a full-on date night as it does an after-work drink, with a menu ranging from bar snacks through high-end entrees, cozy reserved seating in the loft, and ample room for walk-ins by the lower-level bar.
When the owners of Bibou open a swank new restaurant in the Art Alliance building, it's a pretty easy sell. The cuisine is as classic French as it gets, offering selections like pate en croute, lamb pot au feu, and cassoulet.
a.kitchen may be a familiar name, but for a while there, it was crying out for someone to breathe new life into it. And that's exactly what it got when operator David Fields partnered with Ellen Yin and Eli Kulp (who's installed High Street alum Jon Nodler as chef de cuisine) — the new menu is every bit as intriguing and satisfying as you'd expect from the team behind Fork and High Street on Market.
Between their coffee truck and locally roasted beans being brewed at other cafes and restaurants around town, Rival Bros. was already a household name. Now, co-owners Jonathan Adams and Damien Pileggi have a brick-and-mortar shop of their own. In addition to coffee, you can get breads and pastries from High Street on Market. (Bread is available to go, or you can order up toast topped with local butter and jam from Green Aisle Grocery.)
Kevin Sbraga's second restaurant is a tiny U City spot serving Southern food to early raves. The menu nails respectful renditions of comfort classics with just enough cheffy twists and surprises to keep things fresh. In addition to the hot chicken and oyster po'boys, look for a very strong bar program, with barrel-aged bourbon cocktails and draft options that include beer, wine, and sweet tea.
GKT opened in the same month as Le Cheri, meaning things are suddenly looking way up for Philly francophiles. The Good King is decidedly less white-tablecloth, with a lively bar and a classic brasserie menu with some inventive touches from chef Paul Lyons, who worked with George Sabatino for years.
Society Hill Society opened quietly on Headhouse Square, where the Artful Dodger sat for decades. Chef Yun Fuentes, who not too long ago opened Rosa Blanca with longtime employer Jose Garces, has switched gears with an inventive menu that pays homage to classic regional dishes and promises to rely heavily on the farmer's market that takes place just outside its door.
The last restaurant in this prime East Passyunk space, Christopher's Lee's Sophia, was a notable flop. Now, under the care of chef-owner Townsend Wentz, the location seems to have been given the restaurant it deserves: the modern French menu and beverage program overseen by ace GM and sommelier Lauren Harris have earned the restaurant heaps of early praise. Closed on Tuesdays; otherwise: dinner nightly, bar open until 2 a.m.
The fourth storefront for the insanely popular fried chicken and doughnut shop will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, June 7 (with fried chicken donut sandwiches and hot doughnut ice cream bombs, no less), but it's open now. There are tons of new flavors to try, especially in the realm of fancies (there's a new chocolate glazed, blueberry-mascarpone, and more) - and unlike its predecessors, this new shop offers elbow room, parking, bathrooms, and ample seating.
Chef Adan Trinidad worked wonders in the kitchen at Jose Pistola's, and from there it didn't take long for the expansion talk to start. Younger brother Sancho's been kitted out with a more expansive menu that ranges from authentic (e.g. mole as crafted by Trinidad's mother) to the... well, to falafel tacos. Of course, the beer list is major, but the bar also makes great use of mezcal.
This gorgeous new Fishtown spot from Tyler Akin and Nicole Reigle (a husband-and-wife team, both formerly of Zahav) opened fairly quietly this week, serving a succinct menu of (mostly) noodles to a small dining room (18 seats; walk-in only). They're BYO, almost the entire menu falls under $10, and reports on the food from the first few days are very, very strong. NB: Stock is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but opens early for lunch on the weekends. (Full hours and details are on the website.)
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