Best Places to Eat in Philly
By: Jamie Marinelli
Regardless of what people say, I stand by the belief that Villanova is a PHILLY SCHOOL! Sometimes it’s difficult to get a group of friends to dedicate a whole day to traveling to Philadelphia, but trust me, it’s worth it. Philly is such a unique city filled with history, diversity, beauty, authenticity, and most of all, bangin’ food. As a local, I’ve racked up a list of some of the best food places to go to in different areas of the city. While you’re at Villanova, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to explore an amazing city and try some awesome food.
Center City:
Reading Terminal Market- Okay, if you haven’t been to Reading Terminal yet, what are you even doing? When I think of Philly, I think of this place. It’s an indoor market that features over 80 vendors. As soon as you enter the doors, you can sense the authenticity. It’s also not only home to Pennsylvania’s best donuts at Beiler’s, but my personal favorite pulled pork sandwich at DiNic’s as well. The market is a 10 minute walk from Suburban Station and is an affordable and delish way to experience Philly.
Harp & Crown- This place reminds me of White Dog Café on steroids. The rustic décor is a staple of a Philly restaurant and makes you feel at home. They serve everything from lamb meatballs to pizza and steak. They even serve up waffles and fried chicken! It’s debated to be the best restaurant in Philly, so why not give it a try?
Old City:
Revolution House- There’s nothing I love more than walking around Penn’s Landing and Old City. There’s so much to do in the area and, not to mention, it’s beautiful. After walking by the water, I love to walk around the shops above on Market Street. Right on the corner is Revolution House which has the cutest outdoor seating and the BEST cheesesteak egg rolls. I always order the Chicken & Pineapple sandwich that is to die for. This place has cute décor that highlights that historic-Philly vibe.
Franklin Fountain- Another place you can’t not try in Philly. Right down the block from Revolution House is this cute little ice cream shop, and you guessed it, has a retro and historic feel. There’s constantly a line at this place, but it moves quickly. They serve their ice cream in Chinese food inspired boxes that are perfect for your Instagram stories.
Spring Garden:
Christie’s Deli- If you’re ever near the Art Museum, stop by this tiny shop. It’s nothing short of authentic and delicious. For my art class final, we had to make a trip to the museum (another place that you should go to… I mean the Rocky stairs? What’s more Philly than that!?) and my friends and I were starving after. I pulled up my Yelp app and found Christie’s. When we got there, it was a quaint little shop and we ordered “Mike’s Special” which they told us was requested by one of their regular customers. It was a sausage, egg and cheese sandwich with hash browns and chipotle mayo on a croissant. Yeah. It was as amazing as it sounds.
Northern Liberties:
Talula’s Garden- If you feel like ballin’ out and being artsy, this is the place to go. It is super hipster with their outdoor and indoor seating, and filled with plants. Their food is organic and locally grown, and you can tell-- it’s so fresh and amazing. Other than the ambiance and food, this place is very well known in general. The weekend after I went here, Beyonce and Jay-Z had a casual dinner date there. And I’m still mad about it.
Rittenhouse Square:
Cleavers- Great spot for late night or for pigging out. I went here after Center City Sips and it’s everything I needed in that moment. Although it wasn’t my top spot for cheesesteaks in Philly, they were very impressive. It is also filled with fun and sporty décor giving you another classic Philly experience.
Gayborhood:
Green Eggs Café- This is such a popular place for brunch in Philly, so check out the hype! I’ve never been disappointed by anything I’ve ever ordered there. And, not to mention, they have amazing specialty coffee drinks. Try the Oreo Latte, you will not regret it!
Fishtown:
Kraftwork- If you’re feeling hipster, fishtown is the place to go. Everything they have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner tastes homemade. It’s also a great place for Instagram pictures since the décor is so rustic and cool. Kraftwork also has a great selection of beers!
South Philly:
Chickie’s and Pete’s- I can’t mention Philly food without mentioning Crab Fries. If you have been to any tailgate, basketball game at Wells Fargo, or football game at the Linc, then you’ve seen a Chickie’s and Pete’s. It’s great to grab some crab fries in the stadiums, but their restaurant in South Philly has even more great stuff. Stop by after the next tailgate!
Society Hill:
Positano Coast- I’ve walked past this place so many times and have always been wowed at how fancy it looked. Once I finally ate there, I was wowed once again. This is definitely a place to go for very special occasions or if you want to impress a girl on the first date (my boyfriend actually did this and it worked well for him so…). Great seafood, wine, and ambiance, just pretty pricey.
