The Philly Mag 5041. Honey’sHoney’s gets props for taking a funky idea and pulling it off well. The result is a NoLibs mishmash of a dining room whose menu items are born from the odd place where Southern and Jewish genres intersect. While the food on occasion is diner-like messy, it’s never sloppy: The turkey on that Reuben is house-roasted and juicy, and the side slaws are more vinegar than mayo-based. For more information42. PumpkinEvery neighborhood craves a restaurant that’s a perfect reflection of itself, and few do that better than Pumpkin in Graduate Hospital. The BYOB was a pioneer on the block, and Ian Moroney’s rustic, mostly French flavors are familiar and comfortable, a match for this we-don’t-want-to-be-Rittenhouse ’hood. The Sunday-night $30 prix fixe is another neighborhood pleaser — except among those who can’t get a table thanks to carpetbagger crowds. For more information
43. Han DynastyHan Dynasty looks ordinary. It’s an unassuming restaurant in a strip mall in Exton, with beef-and-broccoli on the menu. Behind the facade, however, is a treasure trove of authentic Chinese cooking and a friendly staff happy to guide anyone through the menu. The chef specializes in spicy Szechuan — lamb with cumin, Dan Dan Mien noodles — but also offers milder Taiwanese favorites, such as lion’s head meatballs and three cup chicken. For more information44. Tequila’sBack when it opened in ’86, this Center City restaurant could have been considered haute-Mexican. Since then, newcomers have surpassed the edginess of Tequila’s menu, but the quality and consistency haven’t budged an inch. It’s those deeply layered Mexican flavors and tender meats, along with a clever trendy-meets-classic aesthetic, that solidly place it on this list. For more information45. Bar FerdinandWhen Bar Ferdinand arrived on the scene, it faced stiff tapas competition from darling Amada. But putting its polished and trendy dining room in naturally easygoing Northern Liberties was one of many wise moves. A similar non-compete approach was taken with the food. It manages to have all the fun and flavors we crave, but with rustic authenticity: Dishes aren’t delicate or precious, and the menu is peppered with plenty of crave-able fried- and cheese-filled options. For more informationUser comments
|