Fave Local Jawns

Vernick gives all the Alice Waters simple, clean local vibes you could ever imagine. The dishes are just perfection and can make you fall in love with simplicity. Make reservations in advance!

Olea is a fantastic BYOB in Old City that just knocks every dish out of the park. The menu is small, but excellent. The stars of the show for me were the octopus, bucatini, and pork chop. However, there are no bad dishes. Reservations are absolutely necessary because they book up quickly.

As well know, I am pasta obsessed and Fiorella is one of the all-time best to ever do it. The menu changes frequently, but cacio e pepe and sausage ragu are staples that are worth trying. the secret is out on them so make reservations very early in advance.

North Third has been one of favorite places in Philly since college. This is not your fancy shamncy white table dinner. It is a down and dirty bar with decor as diverse as the crowd. I’ve lost track of how many times I have been here, but I do know I have never been disappointed.

E Mei is one of the most underrated restaurants in the city. This is the most authentic Szechuan in Philly by a landslide, which also means authentic spice. So beware and ask your server about spice levels. You can’t go wrong with anything, but I dream about those Dan Dan Noodles

In a city with no shortage of Italian BYOBs, this one is my favorite. The menu has something for everyone and every dish is carefully crafted. The pastas are perfect and the flavors are balanced. They really just do everything right. This place is something special and deserves to be talked about more.

Laser Wolf is the newest restaurant from Michael Solomonov, of Zahav fame. While Zahav will always have a special place in my heart, Laser Wolf is its fun cousin who moved to city and found themselves. You can and should get the amazing salatim to start and leave no stone unturned on their entrees.

South Philly Barbacoa started out with humble beginnings and has grown to become a staple of the city. Amazing food. It is worth the wait in line.

Your never-ending quest to find the best Italian hoagie can stop now. I have found it for you. Farina DiVita does everything well… and they are so much more than a deli - they also serve up some amazing pasta and host some of the most interesting collaborations in the city. Keep an eye on them!