Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Philadelphia County

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Philadelphia County? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The House of William & Merry

4.9

4.9 (2243)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Hockessin

About the restaurant

The House of William and Merry serves contemporary American cuisine prepared from the freshest seasonal ingredients procured from local farms, providing casual fine dining at a reasonable price. Chef-owned by the husband and wife team, Merry Catanuto and William Hoffman, who live on the property, the restaurant is a remodeled farmhouse on the edge of central Hockessin. Dine in a comfortable home atmosphere in one of the two dining rooms, the porch, or the bar. When you arrive, you can see right into the all new, modern kitchen. Full bar service is available including wines by the glass, microbrews on tap, and specialty drinks. Or, take a walk around back to see the herb and vegetable gardens.

Tuesday through Saturday we serve lunch and dinner. On Sunday, we serve brunch followed by a prix fix supper in the evening.

Top review

Eileen

Dined on Aug 27, 2024

Always an amazing dining experience here. Food is delicious and everyone is helpful and friendly. Once of a kind!!

La Fia

4.9

4.9 (2043)

$30 and under

Farm-to-table

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Travel down historic Market Street towards the Riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware and you will find La Fia Bistro. La Fia is an intimate dinner destination in a historic building located on the corner of 5th and Market. Chef Dwain Kalup's menu utlizes carefully sourced ingredients reflecting the seasons, local region and local farms. The menu at La Fia features small plates, pastas and creative entrees. Our cheese and charcuterie is one of a kind and not to be missed!

Due to the small size of our restaurant we allow 2 hours for guests to enjoy their dining experience. If you feel you need more time please reach out to us directly.

Top review

Jamesvip

Dined 3 days ago

We celebrated a birthday and had a brilliant diner. We ordered from the Wednesday nite Prix Fixe menu. Delicious! Highlights included the Tuna Credo Appetizer, Grilled Pork Coppa, and the German Sekt to go with the appetizers. Our server was excellent and very attentive to our questions about the wine list as well paying superb attention to us on what was a busy midweek night. This was our second visit to La Fía and we definitely will be back.

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Popular dish

Grilled Spanish Octopus

Popular dish

Squid Ink Spaghetti

Popular dish

Crispy Duck Leg Confit

Philadelphia Distilling

4.9

4.9 (270)

$31 to $50

American

Fishtown

About the restaurant

At Philadelphia Distilling, our distilling team combines craftsmanship, science and skill to create a unique portfolio of premium spirits that rely on the agricultural integrity of authentically sourced grains and botanicals and the finest heritage equipment.

Hand-hammered copper pot stills from the fifth-generation Forsyth family and wooden fermentation vessels from Hall-Woodford, an iconic Philadelphia-based family business, are key points of difference for us—both in their construction value as well as the integrity of the spirits they help us to produce. We continue our batch-by-batch process, creating spirits that celebrate big, bold flavor.

Top review

cherlyl

Dined on Aug 4, 2024

We went on the tour with Val who was knowledgeable and made tasting so much fun. We got to try new gins and vodka. Food and service was excellent. Recommend going with a group of friends.

a.kitchen

4.8

4.8 (2027)

$31 to $50

French American

Center City

About the restaurant

a.kitchen is an all-day French-inspired American restaurant under Executive Chef Eli Collins. His new bistro-style menu allows guests to stop by for a few small plates or enjoy a more traditional dinner or lunch. The restaurant continues to be a top wine destination in the country with its innovative natural and terroir driven list representing regions throughout the world. Reservations are available for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. a.bar, at 1737 Walnut Street, is the sibling to a.kitchen and has a cocktail focus. It also serves snacks, burgers, salads and other seasonal selections.

Top review

Chelsea Annevip

Dined 2 days ago

Exceptional as always - kudos to Emily, Anna, and Alejandro for their exemplary service

Bastia

4.7

4.7 (16)

$50 and over

Mediterranean

Fishtown

About the restaurant

Leisurely cafe by day and coastal Mediterranean restaurant by night, Bastia draws inspiration from the sun-drenched shores of Corsica and Sardinia. Located at Fishtown’s Hotel Anna & Bel and helmed by Chef Tyler Akin, Bastia delivers bright, Mediterranean flavors through the lens of seasonally driven menus that celebrate the bounty of the Mid-Atlantic. The beverage program offers breezy and playful riffs on classic aperitivos and cocktails alongside a thoughtfully sourced natural wine list. Bastia is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner.

Top review

Paula

Dined 7 days ago

A wonderful menu across the board, from first plates through dessert. We enjoyed a mix of fish and pasta dishes. All were beautifully prepared and presented with high-quality ingredients. Cocktails were really excellent - flavorful without being overdone. Excellent service with an impressively large staff. Room was beautiful but loud in a Saturday night. Still, we were able to converse without raising our voices.

Scarpetta

4.6

4.6 (366)

$31 to $50

Italian

Rittenhouse Square

About the restaurant

The philosophy of Scarpetta’s kitchen is to create bold flavors by amplifying the essence of seasonal ingredients. The signature pastas are made in-house daily and are paired with the highest quality, locally sourced ingredients. The understated-yet-elegant approach to design creates an environment that is simultaneously stylish, welcoming, and inspiring.

Top review

Catherine

Dined 3 days ago

There was a beautiful view of the park. The servers were very professional and friendly. The food was delicious and abundant. Highly recommended for a going out to dinner.

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Popular dish

Basil Gnocchi

Experience

Live La Dolce Vita at Scarpetta's Happy Hour

Sushi by Bou - Philly PA @ Izakaya Fishtown

4.6

4.6 (69)

$50 and over

Sushi

Fishtown

About the restaurant

Welcome to Sushi By Bou Fishtown, Philly's Only hip-hop style Omakase Experience! Our curated Omakase, meaning "Chef's Choice," 'promises a tantalizing journey through fantastic flavors and bass heavy beats. Choose from our classic 12-course offering at $65 or indulge in the opulent 'Bougie' Omakase, $125 for 17 pieces, seated hourly. At our Fishtown Bou, groove to Classic 90s Hip Hop and taste the thrill of sushi exploration. Elevate your experience with exotic cocktails and premium sake, perfect for sushi pairing. Date Nights, Birthdays, or intimate private seatings, let us whisk you away on a journey of urban mystique. Visit all of our unique locations, each with its own culture-inspired vibe! Reserve now to secure a coveted seat at Sushi By Bou.

Top review

Brandon

Dined on Aug 20, 2024

Chef Mitsu is a great host for omakase! I've had the opportunity to attend a few omakases at this point, and Chef Mitsu's menu and his energy never disappoints. It is always a fun time and the sushi is absolutely delicious.

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Experience

1 HOUR, 12-COURSE SIGNATURE OMAKASE EXPERIENCE $65

Experience

1 HOUR, 17-COURSE BOU-GIE OMAKASE EXPERIENCE $125

Local Wine & Kitchen

4.5

4.5 (406)

$30 and under

American

Ardmore

About the restaurant

Good Food is a Local Thing!

Local Wine & Kitchen is the Main Line's newest wine bar and restaurant. Located in the heart Ardmore and opened in August 2014, Local offers a laid-back atmosphere with a passion for good food, wine and cocktails!

Our free flow kitchen focuses on utilizing the best local ingredients, while making dishes that are creative & innovative. In addition, our bar focuses on our love for wine, and strong craft cocktails. On your next visit- dine family style with us, and enjoy everything that Local has to offer!

We are open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner only.

Top review

Jessicavip

Dined on Aug 30, 2024

We were delighted with our first visit to Local. There were special daily options for many items. We loved the cheese board, the lamb lollipops, the BBQ tofu and the brussels sprouts salad (which was cold- we did not expect, but well done and very tasty). Good service and nice space, bigger than I expected from outside, with a back patio (though train goes by occasionally). Recommend and we will return.

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Experience

Wine Wednesday Tasting Series: California Dreamin’

Izakaya by Yanaga

4.5

4.5 (185)

$30 and under

Izakaya

Fishtown

About the restaurant

Izakaya by Yanaga

Experience by yanaga for yourself!

Top review

Christine

Dined on Aug 25, 2024

5 Star experience all the way! Would definitely recommend!

The Garden at Bardea

4.4

4.4 (23)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Located in downtown Wilmington, The Garden at Bardea is the fifth restaurant concept from the James Beard-nominated Bardea Restaurant group. This outdoor space promises to become the city's go-to destination for alfresco dining and a good time. Guests can expect a dynamic outdoor dining room, with a mix of lounge and traditional seating surrounded by lush planters and fountains. Retractable awnings provide shade during the day, while fire pits and heaters keep guests cozy after dark. It will be the perfect spot to relax and unwind after a long day at work or groove into the evening over cocktails with friends

Top review

Liz

Dined 3 days ago

This place is literally the in-between for Bardea and Bardea Steak. Limited, more casual menu. Good food for a nice night out. Calamari has an Asian twist - almost Teriyaki. Shrimp cocktail has nice big shrimp. Burger was good. Pasta was surprisingly just okay.

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