Radicchio Café

314 York Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19106

Phone: 215-627-6850

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Fax: 215-627-6801

Seafood gets star billing, but is nearly upstaged by the astonishingly beautiful diced tomatoes, unblemished arugula and smoky grilled mushrooms that appear with so many dishes at this 40-seat gem a few blocks north of Market Street. Raw materials this good need minimal enhancement: a splash of fruity oil, a few drops of balsamic vinegar, a squeeze of lemon or a handful of shaved parmesan. Look to the blackboard for market finds such as sepia, a squid-like mollusk commonly known as cuttlefish, or decadent additions like lobster ravioli in tomato-cream sauce. Dover sole, striped bass and other whole fish are deftly filleted tableside. If New York strip steak is a special, it is likely to be served as a pretty arc of slices, with a pinch of grated Parmigiano Reggiano sprinkled over. Now that’s a cheesesteak.