The 2008 Philly Mag 50

Fuji, Haddonfield NJ click here

I quess you haven't tried Cutillo's Restaurant in Sanatoga, Pa

None of these restaurants are all that great. All hype, and hipster/mainline-new-money buzz. Give me London Grill on Fairmount, or Freehouse in Wayne over these overpriced, over hyped Stephen Starr wannabes.

Standard Tap beats Le Bec Fin by a mile. Brilliant! Vietnam should be higher.

Your list is awesome. Thanks so much.

When's the last time you ate at Striped Bass? Cuz it sucks now. Where are Southwark and Horizons?

Really, Vetri below Osteria? Mark would disagree with that. Positano Cost and Le Castagne above Matyson and Le Bec? Supper above Gayle?? This list is terrible and an insult on many of the restaurants. For those who care, refer to Craig Laban.

My wife and I eat out often. Sometimes just the two of us, sometimes with friends or relatives. We have never eaten in any of the 50 on your list, but we have some favorites we would like to offer. The Sanson St Oyster House,The Plow and Stars in Philly. Baco's in North Wales,Tony's in Warrington, The William {Penn Inn in Lower Gwynedd, I could go on but as I said it's all very subjective. To attempt to select the 50 "Best" is an impossible task

It used to be that Philly Mag could be counted on to publish ridiculous lists based on the amount of advertising dollars a restaurant spent. Now it seems you’ve just slide into a Gordan Ramsey Kitchen List Nightmare scenario where you offer plain bullsh**t. Good job.

Instead of cheap insults, how about offering an favorite of yours for people's consideration? I would offer up Carambola in Dresher. It has been fantastic every time I go.

Feel like Dmitris should have made the cut. Also think Barclay Prime is a tad too low on the list.

Buddakan. Django (still). Tria? Bronzino. Standard Tap is a f*** bar, not a restaurant.

Thanks for the attempt BUT, anytime you try to really rank ANYTHING with this level of precision you will get the types of comments you are seeing. If that was your goal, fine. I would suggest that your goal be to share the "bounty" of great places so, make your list, "200 Restaurants to Try"! Enough, I'm going to go eat.

...at a crummy hole in the wall diner than most of these snooty joints.

I'd quibble, of course: snackbar, Cochon would make it, Bar Ferdinand and Coquette never would. But it strikes me as a well-thought-out list overall, given how impossible the task is. And Jeff: I see you: #43!

I like the list but not in the order its in.

to sell magazines. No more, no less.

It may be new but check out "Cafe Estelle" at the Lofts on N. 4th Street. It is some of the best food that I've had in years.

You must not have tried Kelly's Seafood in the Northeast. Best crabcakes I've had. Excellent food at reasonable prices certainly should have put Kelly's on your list.

White Dog Cafe...

It's hard to take a list like this seriously when it omits one of the top restaurants in the city, hands down the most creative, and the best veg'n restaurant in the country: Horizons.

...so I can still get a seat when I want!

No MEZZA LUNA?

When was the last time you dined at Nectar or even any of these restaurants for that matter? Your review is 3 years old. Nectar has offered valet parking for 3 years now, that sushi chef is long gone, and the best work history you can come up with for Patrick Feury was Susanna Foo?

Predictably irrelevant suburban fodder from the feckless foodies at "your guide to the good life." click here

These are all so predictable. Try some off the beaten path ones like Geryville Publick house in Bucks County. Excellent, warm, and not expensive!

stunned and had no idea you were undertaking this challenge...most importantly as a foodie you guys got it right RIGHT...no quibbles...all the restr listed should be delighted and you didn't miss any of my favorites..so congrats on the effort

Osteria, a pizza joint, even a good pizza joint is No. 1 ?? you should be ashamed. Remember that Philadelphia remains at the forefront of culinary evolution and remember your origins as the official organ of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. You should promote our city, not denigrate it. Your critics with "almost 50 years combined years of eating" (being teenagers... do the math) have the right to their opinion but do not foist their half-baked judgement on people who love real food. To prepare great food is an art form. It aint pizza... no matter how well presented.

I'd like to encourage all commenters to help us really get the conversation rolling: Please post your own top five or top 10 lists, along with a brief idea of why they're your favorites. — Tim Haas, online editor

This list is BEAT!

Although these restaurants are quite exquisite, I would probably list my top 5 as follows: 1. Taco Bell 2. Wendy's 3. Burger King 4. McDonald's 5. Arby's Great food at great prices. And there seems to be a couple of these places no matter where you go. Dining at its finest! Cheers!

TPain Pain - how can you say this list is BEAT?! Have you never experienced good food, you must be some sort of uncultured swine...

If someone wants go food, they should go to Gaetano's or Angelo's in Mt Laurel...

Wonder how many people upset with the list are associated with restaurants that did not make it on or fair too well in the list. My only beef with the article is that they should have listed it in reverse order...to build the suspense. And for the person who claims Osteria is only a pizza place, I suggest you try something...anything for that matter from their menu. The meals I have had at Osteria have been consistently good (and consistency is a huge factor in the ultimate score). Cheers

This list seems like the definition of ADD or ADHD. It has no common thread which hold these "restaurants" on your list together, asside from the fact that they all serve food. But then i listened to your interview on kyw and everything made sense. You have no clue, you speak of our changing habits toward smaller plates, then you rank Standard Tap, home of the worst service, at 11 and put N. Third on the list. Have you ever eaten at these places ?? I wonder, because one meal at either of these "bars" will feed you for two days. I do agree that their food is quite good, but they are bars. Maybe you should break up your list into categories, instead of listing 1 - 50 with no rythme or reason.

This list is great and I know that it had to be very difficult to compile since there are a lot of great restaurants in Philly. My husband and I love Philly and we like to try a new restaurant each time and we've tried 5 out of the top 10 and we agree.

XIX is one of the best restaurant experience that I ever had. I don't understant how can Chef Marc Plessis is the Top 10 Chef in Philly and his restaurant is not in this list?

Rae is overpriced, pretentious and completely hit or miss.

La Viola is still one of the best BYOBs in a city full of them, and if bar food gets to make the list, Ten Stone has some great options!

interesting list. i also agree with most of the elite 50 (except snack bar, el vez--a magazine has to pay it's staff so i understand) and thank you guys for some great new suggestions. keep em comin

Funny that in one article, the mag (obviously a local celebrity maker) can ham-handedly deal with the Alycia Lane fiasco by claiming that the city is celebrity starved and then shove these superlatives down our throat like these chefs are balancing the budget, curing diseases or taking guns off the street. I can see the scene now: Stop you (expletive deleted), I'm a Philadelphia chef!!

Lists like this are stupid, c'mon "foodies" It's like rating music or movies. It's just opinion! Nobody knows what the best restaurants are that's just dumb. The list should be broken down into categories first of all. Standard Crap and N.3rd. are greasy bars with mice in the kitchens. And these writers have to be smoking crack for putting James ahead of Vetri! What...If there is a "best restaurant" it is Vetri (my opinion) No one delivers a dining experience like that in Phila. Nobody! This dumb list should be called "Our 50 Favorite Restaurants". Get a grip. You are nobody to say who the BEST restaurants are. Please. Vietnam should be higher by the way. Positano Coast ahead of LBF? you are embarrassing yourselves! And Marigold is better than 30 of these places. Oh but Honey's Sit N' Eat is on there. Shwoo! Thank god. Ugghhhh.

You should crowned the best, Mom's Bake at Home. Also, how do two of the most difficult to get a table not make the list in Budakan and The waterworks?

I have no idea who that brain trust was but it is comparing apples to oranges~ They are not even inthe same league! once again the "burbs' get dissed GREAT PHILLY MAG!

....white people shouldn't be doing Chinese restaurant reviews. dsfd

Lacroix was the biggest disappointment of all the many Restaurant Week places we've tried over the past several years. That was 2 years ago but would not go back it was such a bad experience. Food was below par and miniscule. Server was pretentious and condescending.

I definitely think there was a major mis-step ranking the Fountain lower than Lacroix....Lacroix's service and menu pails in comparison to that of the Fountain's. Also...Lolita should have been much higher on the list...and while Sagami is good...Mikado in on Rt 70 in Jersey has just as high quality fish, a wider variety, and amazingly creative sushi rolls...

You I am a littel shocked that Mercato Restaurant didn't even make the list considering it just got Best of Philly for Best BYOB 2 years agao and BEST BYOB for Mainline Today last year--who at the magazine did the voting for this survey??

Don't get me wrong, I love Standard Tap, but its inclusion on anything but a best bar list is simple pandering to the hipster contignient

This compilation lacks professionalism and shows the limited experience of the writers! The magazine is really sliding. First they out LaBan...now this list compiled by people who have probably only been exposed to "real" restaurants in the last five years.

wow, so many cranky philly diners...i think the list was great..why don't the rest of you go to tgi fridays, or chilis...

I enjoyed reading your Top 50 and find the resuts interesting... one top 10 pick that was right on was Gilmore's. Peter and Susan earned it! Next effort should include the top 200 so as to lessen the flack from the other "anonymous" posters!

WEGMENS/CHERRY HILL HAS THE BEST FOOD AND SUSHI,FREE PARKING/NO RESO/PLENTY OF TABLES/AND DOES NOT HURT THE WALLET!

I have been frequenting a restaurant that I happened to stumble upon several weeks ago. It is Gigi Restaurant & Lounge at 319 Market Street. The food is amazing and the staff is wonderful. Matt and Jen have been my servers and they are fabulous. Excellent food, fun and courteous staff and by the way...I have seen tons of celebs there too. Keep your eyes open for Stephenie LaGrossa also known as Survivor Stephenie from the reality tv show...some how she is involved. Check it out and you will not be dissappointed

1. THIS LIST SUX! 2. TRY MY RESTAURANT! FREE PARKING!

This is a list determined by *3* people from Philly mag. Its not a poll! A factor to consider when they do their "Best of..." What restaurants are the main advertisers in Phillymag?

It was clear that the reviewers have zero experience with food when they placed Osteria in the number one spot. At best, it is adequate for pizza and a salad. Your reviewers would probably place Balthazar in New York before Babbo, if you have any idea what these restaurants are. Well, since they are both trendy, one of course actually having good food, you probably do know what they are. I suggest that before you write one more sentence reviewing a restaurant, you eat at Daniel in New York. Maybe then, you will understand what fine cuisine is. You only showed your complete lack of experience and knowledge of gourmet food. Sad.

I'd like to thank those who have contributed to this discussion already and to encourage people to continue posting; many of us find the bulk of the comments here quite hilarious, and it would be sad if comments like these ceased. The previous comment is perhaps the funniest so far; this subtle balance of snobbery and cluelessness is what to aim for, folks. (BTW, I've eaten at Daniel numerous times and most of my meals at Osteria have been at least as, if not more, enjoyable.)

Relax people, it's a magazine list, not the word of God - there are obviously some angry eaters out there. This is a good list, i'm not so sure about the order of things, but there some great spots in there. S.Tap is a little too "bary" for a list like this, and I don't know if Osteria is the number one in the city, but there good places. I would add a few favorites: Tangerine has always been great to me, and i agree XIX at the Bellvue has a great atmosphere, cool bar, and great view. And Triumph is a great place for a cheap a bite. Maybe next time a list of "Philly Favorites"

To the guy that posted about how great Daniel is and how dumb the list maker are. Let me just start by saying your so cool you know a few good spots in New York to eat at and you felt the need to let us all know it. Will so do I and most of the readers of Philly mag. Osteria is a great restaurant, it is on par with Babbo or even Del Posto for that matter. You must be a New Yorker or worst a wannabe New Yorker telling us how everything in NYC is better then in Philly. I bet you would tell us the cheesesteaks in NYC are better then here. Your cool.

this list is incomplete. almost all of these restaurants are on the list because they paid for the PR. where's the diversity? too subjective, and not enough investigating. here's an idea- why not dine at these restaurants again before deciding what you thought of them when they first opened? for starters, not one greek restaurant is listed in top 50 when estia offers a superb ambience, uses the freshest ingredients, and has the best greek food in town. is philly mag showing favoritism, or the desire to provoke public response? you decide, i'd spend my money on other local fare...food for thought...

Philadelphia Magazine is, in my opinion, mostly advertising separated by a few stories that are reshuffled and recycled every year. The list strikes me more as advertising than as a credible review....

Per the online editors request I broke these down a little since you cant compare Japanese to Italian, etc. Japanese: - Makiman (7324 Oxford Ave, NE Philly) - Excellent sushi, fantastic service, often busy but never crowded to the point where you have a long wait. They have the most creative rolls I've ever tried and I eat a LOT of sushi. - Ooka (1109 Easton Road, Willow Grove) - I've watched this branch grow from a nice busy restaurant with incredible sushi and hibachi to an insanely busy spot where you'd better make reservations if you don't want a 15-20min wait. People don't wait that long for bad food. This used to be my favorite. They have creative rolls (the Non-Raw Roll Dinner is great, as is the Sakura roll) and there are plenty of tasty appetizers (I recommend Black cod in Miso). The downside is the absolute need for reservations on weekends. Italian - Maggianos (1201 Filbert Street, Center City) - I've tasted way too much food in one night. This place is gr

The Rib Crib on Germantown Ave if you like semi-spicy ribs and chicken to take out. It's like the soup Nazi almost. You take a number, make the order, wait, get it and go. Sweet Lucy's Smoke House on State Road in NE Philly - Eat in or take out. Ribs are less spicy and almost a little sweet. The pulled pork is great. Their cornbread is the best.

Visited Philadelphia, ironically for a cholesterol management course. Lacroix: simply splendid. Service, decor, customer-friendliness. Braised lamb and lentils unbelieveably good. Never had better. August: attractive, friendly BYOB, interesting fettucini/shrimp/white bean combo. Excellent evening, superb value for dollar. Vetri: so much anticipation, less delight. Good gnocchi and sweetbread ravioli; roasted baby goat somewhat ordinary. An excellent restaurant, of course, but not the heavenly experience that Lacroix was, and overpriced. I'd recc. Lacroix and August over Vetri's.

I would never eat at any of George Perrier's restaurants for the simple fact he is the world's biggest pompus as*. Get over yourself dude.

What about Fork???

For several years now I have avoided all Perrier's establishments because I have found him to be the most arrogant restauranteur I have ever encountered. Given the number of excellent places in the Greater Philadelphia area, I can see no reason to feed the ego of a person who apparently considers himself superior to his customers.

The fact of the matter is true, genuine, what one would call fancy, restaurants in Philadelphia exist, but are not that good and are certainly more expensive than they are worth. I ask you to venture to Passyunk Ave., hop inside the Royal Tavern, have the burger and fries (the best in the city and the best I've ever had), spend nine bucks on that, have plenty of money left over for good drink, and then tell me you would rather have gone to Osteria, while good, overpriced. I'm happy Standard Tap gets some recognition on this list because I don't care if trendy dimly lit places aren't your "thing", but when the food hits your palate, you are much happier (and your wallet is too) that you went to a gastropub that isn't trying to be anything it's not and not a pretentious "normal" restaurant that trying to be everything it isn't.

SAVONA in Gulph Mills SOLA (BYOB) and BLUSH in Bryn Mawr JASPER in Downingtown FELLINI CAFE in Paoli/Berwyn