Oyster House
With lump Maryland meat and no filler, chef Aaron Gottesman has returned some dignity to this clichéd menu item. 1516 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, oysterhousephilly.com/.
Hardena
The chafing dishes at this cigar-box-sized buffet are the closest you can come to Java without leaving the 215. 1754 South Hicks Street, Philadelphia, PA 19145, hardenas.com.
Pinball Gallery
Here, you pay an hourly rate for dozens of machines, including some very cool vintage specimens from the '60s and '70s. 81 Lancaster Avenue (edited), Malvern, PA 19355, pinballgallery.net/.
Resurrection Ale House
Seasons change, plates change, but there are always thoughtful dishes coming out of this tiny and impressive kitchen. 2425 Grays Ferry Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19146, resurrectionalehouse.com.
Curve Conscious
This resale spot with an ever-changing inventory is a wish come true: Imagine the cutest plus looks from every store in the mall, sold for a fraction of full price. 2719 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130, curveconsciousphilly.com.
Bait & Switch
The owners here have the discipline not to meddle. That pile of shrimp, the fish tacos and the fish and chips come just as the Fish Gods intended them to be: simple. 2537 East Somerset Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134, thebestseafood.com.
Penang
The big dining room and friendly staff are perfect for kids, and the menu is full of interesting things for your little Escoffier to shove in his snack hole. 117 North 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, .
Insomnia Cookies
Freezer empty? Order a pint of ice cream (or a quart, no judgment) and some fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies from Insomnia, and get your (homemade) Chipwich on. Multiple locations, insomniacookies.com.
Empanada Mama
They’ve got the great traditional spiced-beef-filled pastries, but come here for more surprising varieties, like cheesesteak, spinach and artichoke dip, or Mexican street corn. 21 Donaldson Street, Doylestown, PA 18901, yoemama.com.
Old Italian at Uncle Oogie’s
Simple, straightforward, perfected — this is pan pizza that doesn’t come with an agenda. No one wants to think too much about dinner on a weekday night anyway. Multiple locations. uncleoogies.com/.
The Corner
There are some dandy deals to be found in this city between the hours of 5 and 7 p.m. But dropping a Hamilton on a plate of fried oysters and a glass of Stanford Brut while relishing the rarefied air of the Corner's elevated terrace is our favorite. 102 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, thephillycorner.com/.
Pocono Modern
If one-of-a-kind pieces are more your leaning, Pocono Modern's furniture has ski-lodge leanings and clean lines, and is made from some of the prettiest woods we've ever seen. 1550 State Route 903, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229, poconomodern.com/.
Philadelphia Sports Network
This mega-network of every-team-sport-under-the-sun is to would-be ballers what karaoke is to American Idol wannabes, making childhood dreams come true one goal at a time. See website for locations, 00000, philadelphiasportsnetwork.com/.
Relentless Fitness
Dont get too attached to the gym here. In nice weather, trainer Roger Dickerman takes his sessions outdoors, which means everythingcurbs, benches, the sidewalkis fair game for banging out some reps. 249 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, relentless-fitness.com/.
Terakawa Ramen
Loyalists go for the noodle soups, but you should get to know this spot for the dumplings, too particularly the addictive tempura-fried shrimp shumai, which come hot and crispy. 204 North 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, terakawaramenphilly.com/.