30. Alla Spina

A night at Alla Spina can be confusing. What is Marc Vetri, Philadelphia’s don of high-end Italian, doing with this graffiti-tagged bar on North Broad? Where are the delicate pastas? The impeccable wine selection? Why are there Negronis on tap? What is Italian craft beer, and why is it so friggin’ expensive? But come to Vetri’s Italian gastropub simply looking for a good time in a fun bar, and the thrills abound. Is the fried chicken remotely Italian? No. But don’t let that bother you. Poutine isn’t, either, but Alla Spina’s version, with mozzarella cheese curds, a guinea hen bolognese, and spuds fried in beef fat, shows there are geniuses at work in this kitchen. But as fun as it is to snack at Alla Spina, don’t sleep on the mains. The veal cutlet hoagie shows just how high a hoagie can fly, and the beef tenderloin is stunningly supple.

Don’t Miss: The best pretzels anywhere, elevated by a beer-cheese sauce that makes them a worthy addition to any last-night-on-Earth fa ntasy menu.

Visit one of the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia:
Alla Spina, 1410 Mount Vernon Street, 215-600-0017.

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