Alison Kessler

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Articles

Where To See & Be Seen In Philly

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

Almyra could very well be the vaguely Mediterranean restaurant in an adults-only all-inclusive resort. Hot pink floral arrangements drape down from the ceiling, the DJ plays house music at “I’m sorry, I can’t hear you” volumes, and you can’t get to the bathroom mirror without interrupting an Instagram live. Come here to see people with modest Internet followings eat salmon and tuna tartare.
You Don’t Really Like That Restaurant. You Just Like Burgers

3 weeks ago | theinfatuation.com | Bryan Kim |Molly Fitzpatrick |Alison Kessler |Veda Kilaru

The chef at this hot Brooklyn spot previously worked for the group behind 4 Charles Prime Rib, and the two restaurant’s burgers have a lot in common: a pair of nicely seared patties smothered in creamy cheese, with absurdly thin mandolined pickles. The Snail’s version is great. But it's not great enough to justify the two-hour wait for a table, especially given how inconsistent the rest of the paint-by-numbers trendy menu (steak frites, shrimp cocktail, house martini) tends to be.
The Philly BYOBs That Get The Job Done

3 weeks 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.
20 Classic Restaurants In Philly

2 months 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.
The Most Iconic Dishes In Philadelphia - Philadelphia - The Infatuation

2 months 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.
The 15 Best Mediterranean Restaurants in Philly

Jan 30, 2025 | 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.
The Best Coffee Shops In Philly

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.
The 10 Best Birria Tacos in Philly, Ranked

Dec 24, 2024 | theinfatuation.com | Alison Kessler

photo credit: EMILY SCHINDLERPhilly has more Mexican restaurants than greased-up light poles after an Eagles win. But only a select few have unbelievably tender, slow-cooked meat topped with deliciously salty, stretchy cheese, all packed into pan-fried corn tortillas. And don’t even get us started on the consomme, which we would gleefully slurp sans tacos if it were socially acceptable. The next time your birria craving hits, start with this list of the best birria tacos in town.
Dear Daphni - Review - Rittenhouse - Philadelphia - The Infatuation

Dec 13, 2024 | theinfatuation.com | Alison Kessler

In a town rife with outstanding hummus, grilled kebabs, and salatim platters, it takes nerve to open a restaurant with much of the same menu—especially when you’re serving it all with dry, cardboard-like pita. But that’s exactly what Dear Daphni in Rittenhouse is doing.
Scampi - Review - Queen Village - Philadelphia - The Infatuation

Dec 4, 2024 | theinfatuation.com | Alison Kessler

In true restaurant coming-of-age fashion, the beloved pop-up Couch Cafe has blossomed into a Queen Village BYOB of its own. Scampi is still doing the dinner party thing: the self-effacing chef comes out to talk about each course, plants and family photos fill out the room, and the $115 tasting menu changes frequently.