Philadelphia gals....

slgbreeden

I'm heading to Philly this Friday through next Wednesday for a business trip, I'll be working five 10 hour days designing the daily newspaper for the AATS convention. Any recommendations on places to eat around the convention center and Loews Hotel? Also where can I get the best Philly cheesesteak? All I'll have time to do is eat, so I might as well take advantage while my company is paying Thanks in advance!

DowagerCountessofNJ

Cheesesteak:  Tony Luke's (it's on Oregon Avenue in South Philly; you can take the Broad Street line down there)

There's a Capitol Grille on Broad Street for an actual sit down dinner.  You'll have to check out the Reading Terminal Market right next to the convention center for lunch.

DowagerCountessofNJ

Oh!  And if you have a sweet tooth check out Naked Chocolate at 13th and Walnut.  I highly recommend the peanut butter & dark chocolate bites.

Gummybear

Oh yay!

There are a lot of places to eat around there. Def. check out the Reading Terminal Market, that is RIGHT nearby on 12th. There is a ton to eat there, anything you can imagine (DiNics is really good). There is fresh produce and meats and cheese from the Amish, it's very cool.

As for restaurants, what kind of food do you like? My fave is that area is Amada -- it's Spanish Tapas. On the weekend it would probably be hard to get in but maybe on a weekday or for lunch you could snag a  table.  It is AMAZING. And they make homemade sangria, ehh, well, not much good now. Jose Garces also has another tapas place, Tinto up at th 20th and Sansom which is just as good and a little more relaxed. That's at 2nd and Chestnut (Amada that is), a bit of a walk but not too bad. If you want steak, Capital Grille is right there on Broad and Chestnut. Not exciting but always a good bet.

Our favorite for Italian is La Castagne, up at 19th and Chestnut.  Buddakhan in Old City for asian, sushi and fish.

Cheesesteaks, hmm. If you want the tourist experience you can go down to Genos and Pats, they are across the street from each other. They are OK. You'd need to cab it there. Jim's is better IMO, that is on South Street (also need to cab it or take public transit). Tony Lukes is awesome, cheesesteaks and roast pork -- the center city location around on 18th near Chestnut is called Tony Jrs. You can also try Campos which is 2nd and Market. For hoagies I LOVE Primos, there are a bunch of them now, but it is so good -- there is one on 11th which is right near you.

DowagerCountessofNJ

If you like Indian food check out the Palace at the Ben, I believe it's 9th and Walnut.

Fogo de Chao is a Brazilian Steakhouse (all you can eat) at 13th and Chestnut.  I've never been but everyone raves about it.

Marathon Grill is good for breakfast and lunch.  Also at 13th and Chestnut.

Now I wish I was back working in the City.  Damnit!

Gummybear

Also, if you like falafel, Mamas Vegetarian on 20th is so, so, so so good. They observe the Sabbath so it shuts down at sundown PM and is closed Sunday.

Mexican -- the overwhelming favorite here is Tequilas at 16th and Locust. It is very good (though a tiny bit overrated IMO)

babes12

Sgt M's Wife:

Cheesesteak:  Tony Luke's (it's on Oregon Avenue in South Philly; you can take the Broad Street line down there)

There's a Capitol Grille on Broad Street for an actual sit down dinner.  You'll have to check out the Reading Terminal Market right next to the convention center for lunch.

i second capitol grille.  YUM!  Mortons steak house is also amazing. 

Froggy76

I'll second the recommendations for Amada and Tequila.  Although, you do have to be a little bit of an adventurous eater to eat at Amada... but it's amazing.

I have no opinion on cheesesteaks because I'm too impatient to stand in line to get one in the city.

slgbreeden

ohhh yummy! This all sounds great! Thanks so much for all your input. I have no preference and love everything so they are all going on my 'must hit list'

Mom2Cinderella

Now I am going to print out all of your responses so I can head into the city and try some of them out! haha.  I live in Jersey but very close to Philly.

psumel13

You have to go to LaViola! It is this little BYOB Italian resturant in the heart of the city. (253 S 16th St) Their Lobster Ravioli is to die for and I cant get enough of their other pasta dishes!

haziedaze

Late to the party, but as a Philly ex-pat I wanted to toss my choices in there.

There are some great new restaurants on 13th street just walk on 13th south from Market and you'll find them. I love Lolita (it's a bring your own tequilla place), there is also Bindi an Indian place, and Barbuzzo which is mediterranean. I love the atmosphere there.

I totally second the Reading Terminal suggestion. I LOVE the soft pretzels there and the Hope's  cookies they are at the Pennsylvania General Store stand. YUM!

Enjoy! I miss Philly (grew up there and went to med school there).

Gummybear

psumel13:

You have to go to LaViola! It is this little BYOB Italian resturant in the heart of the city. (253 S 16th St) Their Lobster Ravioli is to die for and I cant get enough of their other pasta dishes!

LaViola

Mom2Cinderella

lissasue3:

Gummybear:

Oh yay!

There are a lot of places to eat around there. Def. check out the Reading Terminal Market, that is RIGHT nearby on 12th. There is a ton to eat there, anything you can imagine (DiNics is really good). There is fresh produce and meats and cheese from the Amish, it's very cool.

As for restaurants, what kind of food do you like? My fave is that area is Amada -- it's Spanish Tapas. On the weekend it would probably be hard to get in but maybe on a weekday or for lunch you could snag a  table.  It is AMAZING. And they make homemade sangria, ehh, well, not much good now. Jose Garces also has another tapas place, Tinto up at th 20th and Sansom which is just as good and a little more relaxed. That's at 2nd and Chestnut (Amada that is), a bit of a walk but not too bad. If you want steak, Capital Grille is right there on Broad and Chestnut. Not exciting but always a good bet.

Our favorite for Italian is La Castagne, up at 19th and Chestnut.  Buddakhan in Old City for asian, sushi and fish.

Cheesesteaks, hmm. If you want the tourist experience you can go down to Genos and Pats, they are across the street from each other. They are OK. You'd need to cab it there. Jim's is better IMO, that is on South Street (also need to cab it or take public transit). Tony Lukes is awesome, cheesesteaks and roast pork -- the center city location around on 18th near Chestnut is called Tony Jrs. You can also try Campos which is 2nd and Market. For hoagies I LOVE Primos, there are a bunch of them now, but it is so good -- there is one on 11th which is right near you.

Primo's -   I love that they're popping up everywhere in the suburbs.

 

I have a Primos literally 2 minutes from my house.  I love their hoagies, especially eggplant cutlet, but I was really disappointed in their tuna.  It was like canned tuna on the roll-not a salad.  

You could catch a Phillies game one night and sample some Tony Luke's, Bull's BBQ, a Shmitter, and some Chickie's and Pete's crab fries all in one place! haha

ellebelle2384

There are so many great options on here already!  I second Amada and Lolita.  In addition, any of the Jose Garces (https://www.grg-mgmt.com/) or Stephen Starr (https://www.starr-restaurant.com/) restaurants are fantastic!  They're two of the bigger names in restaurants here so take a cuisine you like and try it.

Also, I second the recommendation for Tony Luke's for cheesesteaks, although it's a little far from where you are.  And you'll be right next to Reading Terminal Market, which is awesome but closes early, around 7:30 I think.  HTH!