Alison Kessler

2 days ago | theinfatuation.com | Candis McLean |Alison Kessler |Sydney McElwee

Adoro is an Italian spot in Queen Village with the requisite chicken parm that's too big for its plate and oil paintings of the old country on the walls. There may be white tablecloths and daily desserts displayed on a silver platter, but this place is easy to walk into for a casual date night, seven days a week. You'll see couples maneuvering their bottles of red around giant homemade pastas and families passing bowls of garlicky mussels in white wine sauce.

1 month ago | theinfatuation.com | Alison Kessler |Candis McLean

If we could eat at one old-school Italian restaurant for the rest of our lives, it'd be Dante & Luigi’s. Open since 1899, the South Philly spot uses that century-plus of experience to perfect their penne a la vodka, osso bucco, and the best baked lasagna in town. (Though we swear it's gotten even better over the last few years.) Servers wear suits and tell ghost stories, and the converted rowhome dining rooms are decked out with ornate chandeliers and black and white photos.

1 month ago | theinfatuation.com | Alison Kessler |Candis McLean

If you’ve lived in Philadelphia for more than 10 minutes, you’ve likely eaten this soup or dined beside someone who has. It’s the most popular dish at Rittenhouse’s most popular restaurant, and for good reason. The combination of rich broth, silky onions, crusty-sopping bread, and a shocking amount of gratinéed gruyere is often replicated, but never quite as technically excellent as it is here.  RESERVE A TABLEThe tacos at South Philly Barbacoa are our emergency contacts.

2 months ago | theinfatuation.com | Alison Kessler |Candis McLean

This Israeli spot in Old City has had nonstop hype since opening in 2008 thanks to its diverse and expansive tasting menu. The flow of the meal is upscale but never stiff, and the experience feels special whether it’s a random Tuesday at the bar or a big deal date night. From the phyllo-wrapped haloumi and layered salatim to the silky hummus and unbelievably tender pomegranate lamb shoulder, it’s all worth the struggle for the reservation.

Dec 24, 2024 | theinfatuation.com | Alison Kessler

photo credit: Nicole GuglielmoAh, Philly coffee shops. Where would we be without you? You can find pretty solid caffeine and a place to sit on every fourth block in this town, but you deserve better than pretty solid. From tiny takeout counters and espresso institutions to places serving standout sandwiches and pastries, these are the 15 coffee shops we're sending you to first. No rating: This is a restaurant we want to re-visit before rating, or it’s a coffee shop, bar, or dessert shop.