Philadelphia Recommendations (2022)

Discussion in 'Mid-Atlantic' started by William_Navidson, Apr 10, 2022.

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  1. William_Navidson

    William_Navidson Pooh-Bah (1,557) May 1, 2015 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Taking a page out of the Portland Recommendations thread, I thought something similarly comprehensive for Philadelphia might be helpful given how many times new threads/comments come up on the topic. I know there’s a pretty robust Philly-area membership here too (and I’m going to forget a million things) so I’m hoping others will chime in with what I’m missing.

    A general note: Philadelphia is a large city with many options. If you’re here for a weekend, you’re probably not going to be able to make your way through the best it has to offer, so I’d recommend choosing a neighborhood or two and basing a trip around that. Second, I’ve always said that Philly is more of a “brewpub” city than a “brewery” city. That’s shifted a little over the past few years, but I wouldn’t recommend sticking solely to the breweries as you’ll miss some of the city’s best offerings.

    Breweries (“I want to stick solely to the city, and am walking or using public transit”):
    Human Robot* (known for: lagers, pilsners, milko tubes, good vibes).
    Love City
    Form Fermentory* (known for: being hidden in a shady alley, great sours, needing to check their Insta for their hours before you go)
    Tired Hands St. Oner’s* (known for: milkshake IPAs, saisons)
    Brewery ARS*
    Other Half:* (known for: large outdoor area good for kids/dogs, decent IPAs, great sports-watching setup)
    Crime & Punishment
    Yards

    Breweries (“I have transportation and want to explore in the ‘burbs”):
    Forest & Main (known for: traditional styles, often with cask ales, side pulls, saisons, traditional pub)
    Tonewood (NJ)
    Free Will
    Imprint (known for: smoothie sours)
    Levante
    Tired Hands Fermentaria

    Bars:
    Monk’s (known for: one of the oldest craft bars in the country, lambic, Russian River)
    Khyber Pass
    Glory (known for: trendier stuff, decent bottle/can list)
    Interstate* (known for: divy-er feels, good sours)
    Memphis* (known for: Russian River, locals)
    Johnny Brenda’s*
    Jose Pistola’s
    Standard Tap (known for: great burger, great upstairs porch)

    Food:
    Reading Terminal Market ($)
    Zahav ($$$)
    Suraya* ($$)
    Pizzeria Beddia* ($)
    Circles & Squares* ($)
    Cheu* ($)
    Laser Wolf* ($$)
    Vedge ($$$)
    South Philly Barbacoa ($)
    Kalaya* ($$)
    Mom Mom’s ($)

    Cheesesteaks:
    (Note: you can throw a stone and hit a great cheesesteak in Philly. Anyone that says there is a single place you have to go that is above all others is wrong. Some will insist that the best steak is the one you get from a corner store after a few beers, and they have a better point. There’s legitimately like 20-30 names I hear cited as peoples’ favorites, but these are some of mine.)
    Dalessandro’s
    Joe’s*
    Ishkabibble’s
    Jim’s
    Cleaver’s
    Steve’s

    "I’ve also heard that Russian River distributes to Philly? Can I find some?"
    You can find their sours and other non-IPAs on the shelf in a wide variety of stores in Philly. The battleshop with the best selection is probably Foodery, although it’s a bit pricey. Other good options include Bell’s Beverage, the Richmond IGA Bottle Shop, and Beer Peddlers. (Also I try not to give anti-recommendations, but I have to suggest staying away from Bottle Bar East).

    *Everything here is within a walkable area in Fishtown, if you'd like to plan your trip around one or two neighborhoods.
     
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  2. stairway2heavn

    stairway2heavn Zealot (746) Aug 17, 2017 New Jersey

    Sandwiches
    Middle child, especially weekends with the breakfast sandwich
    John's roast pork
    Nicks old original roast beef

    Bagels
    Korshak
    Kismet

    Sardine bar, great outdoor space

    Camden (yes that Camden) has a couple things in particular, namely donkeys place for cheesesteak (see Bourdain for the rec if you're a fan) and for people with kids, the aquarium .

    For anyone with a gluten free companion, okie dokie donuts does great gluten free donuts.

    Coffee
    Elixr (esp for pour over), has two locations
    Green Street (get some to go with the middle child Herschel, which I should note, if you, like me, have a gluten free companion their GF bread is almost as good as their regular bread, which is a feat)
    Reanimator, my fishtown favorite

    Elwood in fishtown is a BYOB with a bunch of old school PA dishes and was great when I went.

    Mikes BBQ (my preference)
    ZigZag bbq

    Le virtu
    Italian, big outdoor patio, obv useful with covid always waxing and waning
     
    #2 stairway2heavn, Apr 10, 2022
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2022
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  3. William_Navidson

    William_Navidson Pooh-Bah (1,557) May 1, 2015 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    All great suggestions, based on what I've tried.

    Also, apparently Kismet just opened a new location in Fishtown this weekend. Need to swing by sometime soon.
     
  4. stairway2heavn

    stairway2heavn Zealot (746) Aug 17, 2017 New Jersey

    I edited to add a couple things too.
    Should note zahav I agree is great, though you'll either need to show up early with maybe another person before opening for a bar seat or RSVP way ahead of time. I think for prime weekend a friend pulled the trigger at midnight or something like a month before when the booking opened. I'm too lazy to check but if someone is planning way ahead of time, and must go prime time (esp of you have a larger party and want the lamb) I'd check precisely when the reservations open, at 7am or midnight or what- have- you (60 days out or 30 days, I don't honestly know). But I showed up prepandemic solo on a Tues at like 415/20 and got a bar seat, anecdotally.
     
  5. stairway2heavn

    stairway2heavn Zealot (746) Aug 17, 2017 New Jersey

    Middle child also opened a dinner place, the clubhouse. Have heard good things but have not been since I'm not down in South NJ anymore.
     
  6. William_Navidson

    William_Navidson Pooh-Bah (1,557) May 1, 2015 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yeah, good call to note that. Same situation for Laser Wolf and Suraya as well. Reservations go quickly, especially if you're in a party of more than 2. Haven't been to Vedge in a few years, but I imagine it's similar.
     
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  7. stairway2heavn

    stairway2heavn Zealot (746) Aug 17, 2017 New Jersey

    One other thing.
    For those staying in south NJ, Collingswood has some nice restaurants, but the star is Hearthside. BYOB, upscale American. Reservations much like Zahav require setting that alarm. Though they have first come first serve two tops outside. Amazing place, also easily accessible by PATCO.
     
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  8. jts211

    jts211 Savant (1,109) Aug 5, 2018 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    @William_Navidson

    definitely cool idea. What would be nice is if you had permission/ability to edit your initial post as updates pour in.
     
  9. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    To leverage the neighborhood theme: you can visit the Callowhill neighborhood and visit a number of breweries/taprooms. Starting from one end you can visit:

    · Love City

    · Roy Pitz

    · Tripel Bottom

    · Yards

    I have done this brewery crawl a number of times and I have always enjoyed it.

    If you travel further west you enter the Fairmont neighborhood and I am a fan of Bar Hygge (a brewery/taproom).

    You could construct similar brewery crawls in other neighborhoods (e.g., Fishtown, etc.)

    Cheers!
     
  10. jts211

    jts211 Savant (1,109) Aug 5, 2018 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    May be worth noting Forest & Main sells cans at Rittenhouse Market every Saturday 10am-2pm

    City Taphouse in University City is a decent spot to grab a meal and drink a variety of locals and domestics

    https://www.citytap.com/menus-ucity/#beer-5
     
  11. Hayesbro

    Hayesbro Pundit (852) Oct 16, 2019 Pennsylvania

    Brauhaus Schmitz has great German food and German beers that you will rarely see on tap anywhere else.

    As far as cheesesteaks, I always say that the best one I've ever had wasn't as good as the worst roast pork I've ever had.
     
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  12. stairway2heavn

    stairway2heavn Zealot (746) Aug 17, 2017 New Jersey

    Definitely of the classics in Philly, John's roast pork was tops for me. But honestly, given only one to pick, I'm going Middle Child all the way.
     
  13. stairway2heavn

    stairway2heavn Zealot (746) Aug 17, 2017 New Jersey

    I don't at this point buy Tired Hands stuff, but for completeness, by St. Oners, in the summer previous years, they have had a nice outdoor beer garden, with portable toilets and sinks, and historically bring your own food, though maybe they'd only get you St. Oners stuff? In any case if and when it opens, I did think it was fairly well run and had cans to go with some decent sun coverage. Again, good if you have concerns about Covid and want an option with outdoor.
     
  14. William_Navidson

    William_Navidson Pooh-Bah (1,557) May 1, 2015 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    The biergarten is no longer open, but there's plans to both open it up again sometime in the future and Brewery ARS (who moved in across the street) will have an outdoor area right there sometime as well.
     
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  15. stairway2heavn

    stairway2heavn Zealot (746) Aug 17, 2017 New Jersey

    For the "I want to blow some money"

    Vernick and Fri/Sat/Sun (new American, cocktails, etc). All that jazz about reservations above used to apply, probably does now.

    Vernick coffee bar I'll mention is actually great for pastries, especially the carrot cake pie. It's expensive relatively but it was good and funny mix of commuters, office workers, and tourists when I was there.

    One I have to mention, but never been, is Juana's tamales in South Philly.
    So it seems to be controversial. It's very expensive, limited hrs, and the owner/head chef seems like they have their heart in the right place, paying a living wage, etc, but there's a lot of vitriol in some reviews, mostly over cost. I guess if anyone goes give a review! I think it's BYOB too. Heck hit it one day and Barbacoa the next, theoretical BA'er. You probably won't regret it from a taste standpoint. Can't speak to your wallet.
     
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  16. stairway2heavn

    stairway2heavn Zealot (746) Aug 17, 2017 New Jersey

    Last rec that comes to mind. For those looking to get some brown liquor to break things up, Lloyd's in fishtown is great, if you hate having a full wallet.
     
  17. idhaveabeer

    idhaveabeer Initiate (0) Jan 24, 2022

    Best brewery for a solid hazy IPA?
     
  18. William_Navidson

    William_Navidson Pooh-Bah (1,557) May 1, 2015 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Definitely either Other Half or Tired Hands.
     
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  19. Chroma914

    Chroma914 Zealot (623) Oct 13, 2006 Pennsylvania

    Easy answer - Other Half. Quality at Tired Hands has fallen off of a cliff over the past couple of months.
     
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  20. William_Navidson

    William_Navidson Pooh-Bah (1,557) May 1, 2015 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Really? Any standouts (in a bad way)? I haven't picked up many cans from them recently in the past few months but I stopped in Oner's a little bit ago and the LLC Mindfulness and DDH Paper Moon on tap were pretty good.
     
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