El Chingon
Juan Carlos Aparicio spent nearly three decades honing his baking skills in professional kitchens, including creating the bread program at Parc. This will be no surprise when you taste his sourdough tortillas or homemade cemitas layered with adobo-marinated pork or herby mushrooms. Or, for dessert, get the soft concha rellena piped with fluffy Nutella-infused pastry cream and fresh strawberries — and, on special, churros that he proofs overnight to ensure the soft, sugary disks have just the right texture. 1524 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, elchingonphilly.com.
Groomed by True Beauty Marks
There was an era in which men would golf to kill time before the wedding. These days, who has time to play 18 holes when you’ve got a shape-up booked? Yes, Doylestown-based Gina Kay Osborne’s popular beauty collective has relaunched its on-site grooming service. She’s partnered with Mark Shilling — the barber behind Make Your Mark in Ardmore and Willow Grove — to provide cuts, straight-razor shaves and beard trims. Talk about a first look. truebeautymarks.com/groomed.
Avalon Bistro
There are lots and lots of bars on the Main Line, but it’s surprising how few serve a proper cocktail. That’s not the case at Avalon. Whether you’re in the mood for a boulevardier, an old-fashioned, or a Hendrick’s three-to-one martini, extra-cold, served up with three olives and made with Dolin vermouth (one of our staffers is very particular), they always seem to come out perfect here, and both the stemware and the vibe are impeccable. 818 Lancaster Avenue , Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, avalonrestaurant.net.
Cartesian Brewing
For years, we’d walk by this garage just south of Pat’s, press our faces to the windows, and look for signs of progress. Years of thirsty waiting finally paid off last fall when Cartesian rolled up its doors and started pouring pints of tart saisons and malty ambers. We’re partial to the Concrete Picnic, a spring ale that comes in at a this-beer-still-has-flavor-but-won’t-put-you-on-your-ass 5.8 percent ABV. 1326 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19147, cartesianbrewing.com.
Devon Lanes
Though the arcade games and bowling tech have been upgraded since this suburban gem opened in 1959, the place still retains the charm of another era. That may be due in part to the pricing: On some nights, you can play as many games as you want for just $10, including shoe rental. Plus it’s BYO, making this one of the cheapest nights out on the Main Line. 300 West Lancaster Avenue, Devon, PA 19333, devonlanes.com.
Habitat for Humanity Restore
Would you be surprised if we told you that some well-known Philadelphians can be found scavenging for cast-off decor treasures at the new Warminster warehouse? Whether you’re intent on saving the planet or your wallet, ReStore’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it selection of new and gently used furnishings is diverse and eclectic. A single shopping haul could yield a low-slung velvet couch, a Sub-Zero stainless steel refrigerator, and enough decorative baskets to populate Pinterest. 539 Jacksonville Road, Warminster, PA 18974, habitatbucks.org.
Cantina Los Caballitos
Not everything on the menu at the Cantina is cheap, but many of the best basics are, like the giant bowl of citrus-tinged guacamole ($7), the massive, overstuffed Tex-Mex-style burritos ($8 to $11), and the real-deal tacos ($8 to $11), all of which come with a healthy dusting of cilantro and a lime wedge for squeezing. After one bite of the menu stars the crunchy-soft fried plantains with melted cheese ($6), and the tamarind barbecued pork ribs paired with pickled jalapeos ($12) you'll forgive this hipster hang in South Philly for its long waits and too-cool-for-school crowds, and just order another $6 frozen blood-orange margarita. 1651 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, cantinaloscaballitos.com/main.html.
Austrian Village
With its wizened waitresses and circa-1955 decor and heaping helpings of satisfying and delicious schnitzel, spaetzle, knockwurst, and tangy, tart, famous potato salad, the only thing missing at this 37-year-old biergrten are the von Trapp kids singing as you eat. Though the AV does come alive with the sound of music: an oom-pah-pah band plays Saturdays, sending spry polka dancers revolving on the tiny dance floor like dolls on a music box. And the prices dinners around $12, draft beers for $2.50 will have you loath to say Auf wiedersehen. 321 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, PA 19046, austrianvillage.com.
The Triyo Fitness Triplets
The enthusiasm and joyfulness of 24-year-old Black identical triplet brothers Malik, Ahmad and Khalil Jones is infectious — they just love working out and helping you work out. (They’re also steeped in Philly’s boutique workout scene: In addition to running their own fledgling fitness company, Malik teaches at Unite Fitness, Ahmad teaches at Barry’s, and Khalil is an instructor at Rumble.) Their classes are some of the hardest in the city, and in the wake of Philly’s Black Lives Matter protests, the three seamlessly shifted their Instagram feed from playful synchronized dance videos to serious snippets on practicing meaningful allyship and becoming anti-racist. triyofitness.com.
Michael Vincent Ferreri at Res Ipsa
He comes from good roots, having cut his teeth at Zeppoli, Aldine and Zahav. He’s smart enough to understand modern tricks and techniques without letting them cloud his vision of what people actually want to eat. And at Res Ipsa, he’s done what seems almost impossible: created menus that work for quick-serve breakfasts, low-key lunches and upscale dinners that will knock your socks off. (They did ours; see our pick for Best New Italian Restaurant on page 96.) 2218 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, resipsaphilly.com.
Hudson Table
Whether your offspring aspire to be the next Top Chef or can’t even make a PB&J, they’ll have fun learning their way around the kitchen at Hudson Table. From parent-and-kiddo classes to after-school workshops (think: holiday treats and Disney-inspired menus) to week-long summer camps structured like a mini culinary school, your kids will pick up some cooking skills (including — gulp — knife work) and confidence. Heck, maybe they’ll cook you dinner for once. 1001 North 2nd Street, unit 1, Philadelphia, PA 19123, hudsontable.com/philadelphia/kids-classes.
Room Shop
Take the fantastical vibe of Willy Wonka, mix in some wild Alice in Wonderland-type proportions, add a dose of Y2K nostalgia, and you’ll get something like Shelly Horst’s small-batch accessories brand. Her appointment-only Bok-based company whips up statement-making satin bags and whimsical hair accessories like huge satin scrunchies, clips with supersize bows or sweet rosettes, and giant “cloud” scrunchies made from puffs of billowing organza, each one a delightful piece of fashion magic. 1901 South 9th Street, room 315B, Philadelphia, PA 19148, roomshop.us.
Heavy Metal Sausage Co.
At this South Philly specialty deli, you can stock up on homemade pork sausages or stop by for lunch and listen to owners Patrick Alfiero and Melissa Pellegrino talk about local sourcing while you eat zungenblutwurst sausage and pickled vegetables stacked on rye. Or you can snag a ticket to the weekly family-style dinners, where you’ll be treated to pork liver pâté and veal-stuffed pasta made from local grains. No matter how you Heavy Metal, Alfiero and Pellegrino’s approach to whole-animal butchery will keep you coming back again and again. 1527 West Porter Street, Philadelphia, PA 19145, heavymetalsausage.com.
Paesano's Philly Style
We've been waiting for someone to come along and give all the best parts of a sandwich good bread, melty cheese, that bitter/spicy/meaty contrast a face-lift. Which is why Paesano's stole our hearts (and stomachs). There's the Arista, for which a whole suckling pig is house-roasted, pulled, and served on Liscio's bread with broccoli rabe; the Gustaio, in which house-made lamb sausage is slathered with a sweet-cherry mostarda, gorgonzola and roasted fennel before being wrapped up in a buttery pita; and the namesake Paesano: slow-roasted beef layered on a substantial hoagie roll with gorgonzola, roasted tomatoes, pepperoncinis and house-made cole slaw. 1017 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, paesanosphillystyle.com.
Katie Dubree Designs
Take one look at the portfolio of this Philly-based artist, and you’ll see why she’s the go-to pro for some of the area’s top interior designers. Dubree specializes in decorative finishes, meaning she’ll take your empty interior walls and transform them with her arsenal of artistry: real (or faux) Venetian plaster and Roman clay applications, pearlized strié, all-over stencils, faux finishes like copper or antique brass, and sweeping hand-painted murals. Who says wall art needs to fit in a frame? katiedubreedesigns.com.