Char
Photograph by K.C. Tinari Feuds have started over this. Block parties have ended in fistfights. Entire neighborhoods have become divided. We understand that coming right out and naming a best meatball in a city like Philly — which takes its meatballs as seriously as religion — is one of the most dangerous things anyone can do. But we are not afraid. Because the impossibly light, almost fluffy, ricotta-shot beef and pork meatballs at Viraj Thomas’s Char are the best meatballs in the entire city right now. This is our hill, and we’re fully prepared to die on it. 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, char.pizza.
Al-Baik Shawarma & Grill
New heights of chicken over rice are being reached at this halal haven in Northeast Philly. The menu is full of hits — soft, pliable laffa bread made fresh every morning, silky-smooth hummus, plush and perfectly browned falafel. Don’t miss the impossibly thin manakeesh or the mashawi platters piled with yellow rice, grilled meats, and ever so slightly charred veg. 3217 Willits Road, Philadelphia, PA 19114, albaikshawarma.com.
Osteria
Of all the things to love about Marc Vetri's casual Italian hot spot, the pizza lightly charred, with thoughtful, harmonious toppings is the real superstar. 640 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130, osteriaphilly.com.
Treemont
You'll want to order chef Rob Sidor's "Fish for Two" from the menu at Treemont be it his double fillet of daurade with a minty green tea sauce that's so fresh you'll want to swig it, or whole-roasted skate wing with charred lovage. Just try to play nice and share. 231 South 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, thetreemont.com.
Wm. Mulherin's Sons
Philly's pizza scene has become an embarrassment of riches, and nowhere is this more apparent than at Wm. Mulherin's Sons. The Spicy Jawn pie, with its piquant pepperoni, hot coppa and long hots, is feast-worthy, but it's the caciocavallo and sharp provolone cheeses (plus a perfect doughy-to-crunchy ratio and just the right amount of char on the crust) that move Mulherin's to the top of the heap. 1355 North Front Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, wmmulherinssons.com.
Pineville Tavern
Most restaurants have a loss leader — a product that's sold at a loss in order to get customers in the door. We're guessing it's the porterhouse for two at Bucks County's comfy Pineville Tavern. For $59, you get a two-inch-thick porterhouse freshly cut by the butcher down the street, perfectly char-grilled by the chef, and served with a few comfort-food side dishes. 1098 Durham Road, Pineville, PA 18946, pinevilletavern.com.
Division IV
This sweet shop ups the ante on otherwise pedestrian hostess gifts. Do you usually present a jar of fruit preserves? Try the bacon jam! Typically exchange fine spirits? Pair a bottle with a charred grapefruit tonic! Even humdrum candles — like a basil-and-cucumber eco-candle in an upcycled wine bottle — earn an upgrade. (Note: Division IV was absorbed into Ali’s Wagon, from the same owners, in 2018.) 2017 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130, aliswagon.com.
Res Ipsa
Three Fishtown operators—Mark Corpus and Mark Capriotti from ReAnimator Coffee and Tyler Akin of Stock—decided to open an all-day cafe in Center City, because that’s what you do in 2017. And while its daytime thing is all well and good, what really matters is what happens after dark, when it morphs into one of the most innovative and honest Italian BYOs in the city. Don’t miss the pasta specials and charred octopus. 2218 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, resipsaphilly.com.
Sally
Best New Restaurant Sally. Photograph by Ted Nghiem Every so often, a restaurant summons all its confidence, swings open its doors, and absolutely nails every single thing it sets out to do. In Sally’s case, Anna D’Isidoro, D’Onna Stubblefield and Rob Marzinsky set out to do pizza, wine and small plates — which, well, feels so very … common these days. But the menu here is deceivingly special, a treasure trove of perfect, deeply considered vegetables (the charred cabbage drenched in a spicy, tangy “who knew?” sauce is so confoundingly good, you’ll be wondering about it for weeks), sourdough pizzas that range from margherita to clam and leek to South Philly-style pizzazz, and a thoughtfully curated wine list the whole staff seems excited to chat about. The servers are having fun, the music’s always bumping, and every time we go, we leave feeling happy, full, even a little bit resentful that there aren’t a hundred more restaurants in Philly like Sally, bringing that same kind of youthful, future-thinking vibrancy to our dining scene. 2229 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, sallyphl.com.
Chelsea Prime
No offense to the spectacular in-casino eateries (we love you, Izakaya!), but its about time we got a trendy, atmospheric, high-end restaurant that overlooks Atlantic Citys best asset: the ocean. And at Chelsea Prime the crisp black-and-white supper-club-like steakhouse from Stephen Starr, in the Chelsea all of the tiered, oversized booths face the blue Atlantic. Which is why we suggest you have a few drinks while the sun sets before you turn all of your attention to the steak, which is perfectly charred, buttery, and matched only by the close-your-eyes-and-moan loaded potato skins. 111 S Chelsea Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, thechelsea-ac.com/dining.php.
Han Dynasty
At some Chinese restaurants, there are two separate menus the one given to American diners, and the secret one reserved for Chinese-speaking patrons. Not here: All diners get the same menu, which has both Americanized kung pao and lo mein and bona fide dishes you'd actually find in China. While you may find comfort in ordering your tried-and-true dishes (and they're great here), good things happen when you leap over that Great Wall to the other side of the menu. Cases in point: perfectly snappy shrimp in a hot pepper sauce, sizzling beef with charred scallion, and tea-smoked duck that'll have your taste buds on the road to Shanghai. 260 North Pottstown Pike, Exton, PA 19341, handynasty.net.
Black Horse Auto Body Shop
Owner Johnny DiMino is made for reality TV a jovial car nut who treats dinged-up Mercedeses and Corvettes with love, and who charged hundreds of dollars less than another repair shop quoted to fix a dented SUV. We also like the t-shirts he gives to customers, embossed with his logo: "U Reckem. We Fixem. U Payum." 1502 Ridge Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, blackhorseautobody.com.
Charming Garlands
In 2022, balloon installations are just as ubiquitous as floral arrangements. Demand for these larger-than-life creations has been so keen in the region that Ali Kahan was able to turn her pandemic side hustle into a successful business. Her two-year-old company uses biodegradable organic balloons for Insta-worthy garland installations that float like colorful clouds around chuppahs. Charminggarlands.com.
Minimal Chaos
On family trips to the Middle East, Sarah Naji’s father spent hours scouring the souks for the perfect rug. The Point Breeze-based entrepreneur is following in his footsteps with her pandemic-born business. Naji sources hand-knotted works from Turkey and at local antique shops, prizing age (some are 100 years old) and clever colors. She even walks the walk: Her shoes are made from salvaged kilim rugs. minimalchaos.pink.
Chad Williams
Friday Saturday Sunday’s Chad Williams turns out plates that are often daring (blue cheese and corn pasta?), and always fantastic. Friday Saturday Sunday: 261 South 21st Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, facebook.com/FriSatSunday/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel.