For a genuine gourmand, very few things are as pleasing as a nicely cooked meal – the moment every part comes together flawlessly, it’s almost enchanting. In the mean time, a lousy dish can wreck an otherwise enjoyable experience, so it’s smart to do some checking and browse around for suggestions before making a decision about where to eat.
As if that does not make circumstances complex enough, there’s a lot more to contemplate about a restaurant than only the menu! The atmosphere of a place really can make an impact in your entire experience, whether it is supercilious and rude staff or a badly behaved baby the next table over. However it’s not all bad, of course – an amazing atmosphere is capable of turning a fine meal into a great dinner!
We’ve lived within Philadelphia for many years at this point, and we have amassed a pretty good collection of eateries we really like, covering anything from tiny mom-and-pop establishments to magnificent fine dining, and listed below are several of our all-time favorites (though it was so hard to pick!). This is what folks on Yelp.com are saying with regards to our choices:
#1. Chima Brazilian Steakhouse
1901 John F Kennedy Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19176
Neighborhoods: Penn Center, Logan Square
(215) 525-3233
www.chimasteakhouse.com
http://www.chimasteakhouse.com/contact.cfm
This was SO good. I kept hearing about it, and thought alright I get it there’s a lot of meat what’s the big deal. Well, it’s delicious. The service is great. There’s a huge selection of appetizer-type food, calling it a salad bar is just wrong because it is far from that. There’s a ton of fresh interesting stuff to choose from. Everything I tried was amazing. The meat is so juicy and tender. MMM! Of course, the cocktails are just as good as the food. Our waiter heard it was a special occasion and brought us two glasses of champagne! If that doesn’t make you smile, I don’t know what will.
- Yelena Y.
Philadelphia, PA
#2. City Food Tours
2219 Locust St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse Square
(215) 360-1996
www.cityfoodtours.com
events@cityfoodtours.com
My fiance and I went back (with my parents) for their Taste of Philly tour, and again we were totally impressed. The Taste of Philly tour literally gives you a taste of every food that Philly is famous for – from the cheesesteak to the tomato pie to the soft pretzel, with a final stop at the Reading Terminal Market for a hoagie and chocolate chip cookie. The tour was delicious, and our tour guide (Judy) was informative and entertaining. You could tell she really enjoys her job and wants the group to love Philly as much as she does! Definitely plan to do another one of their tours in the future!
- Erin M.
Roslyn, PA
#3. Alma de Cuba
1623 Walnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Neighborhoods: Rittenhouse Square, Penn Center
(215) 988-1799
www.almadecubarestaurant.com
Atmosphere, Food, Drinks and Rosa’s service were excellent! It was our second visit from California and is a must on our next visit. Love this place!
- Ron S.
Vallejo, CA
If you’re searching for more stuff to see in Philadelphia, head over and look at our other posts about our gorgeous city, and prepare a day of it! I am sure you will discover something which may help turn your dining adventure into part of a special day!
