Ari Miller
Ari Miller. Photograph by Colin Lenton Musi, Miller’s neighborhood BYO, has all the expected trappings: It’s charming and delicious, and it offers a menu that changes often and relies heavily on what his purveyors have available. But the food is never too serious, and neither is Miller. And that’s what sets it — and him — apart. 100 Morris Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148, musiphilly.com.
Musi
Musi’s menu ventures somewhere in between the familiar and the unknown, with dishes like kreplach stuffed with kale-purslane-cabbage kraut. The restaurant — which chef/owner Ari Miller calls “not totally Jewish, not quite Israeli” — is stretching the imagination of Philly’s fine-dining scene. Come here to be taken out of your culinary comfort zone or possibly just eat some pasta that the menu says has nothing to do with Italy. 100 Morris Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148, musiphilly.com.
Warehouse on Watts
This warehouse feels like it could be busted by the cops at any moment, but rest assured: The once-illicit spot, with its rave-tastic rooms, killer beats and mesmerizing lighting, is now totally legit. 923 North Watts Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123, wowphilly.com.
The Bakery House
Never show up to a holiday dinner with supermarket pie again. Yes, you’ll spend quadruple the money at Bakery House, but the pies are worth it. Try the delightfully decadent apple-pecan-caramel option, any of the year-round fruit pies (how they pull off a killer blueberry pie in winter is beyond us), or the seasonal offerings, like peach and strawberry rhubarb. Plus, they’re pretty as can be. 604 West Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, thebakeryhouse.net.