The Infatuation

1 day ago | theinfatuation.com | Gabe Guarente

We love this manga-themed dessert joint all year long for its cascading peaks of soft serve in crispy cones—but a visit is vital, especially during flip-flop weather. The matcha-ube swirl is an unbeatable combo, but don’t skip the vegan dole whip and mango taiyaki, with tang that instantly cools you by five degrees. The shop has fun artwork, including white tiles behind the counter that look like fish scales, making a long line more tolerable.

1 day ago | theinfatuation.com | Jonathan Deutsch

Carina Sorella, which translates to “cute sister,” is the perfect name for the Bryn Mawr sibling of Fitler Square’s charming Trattoria Carina. Visually, she is darling. A sprawling L-shaped dining room with green tile, blonde wood and marble patterned tables transports you out of the neighborhood and straight to an Italian Pinterest board. But this group, which also operates the beloved Pub & Kitchen in Rittenhouse and The Diving Horse in Avalon, treats the suburbs with less care.

2 days ago | theinfatuation.com | Jonathan Deutsch

Don’t let the name fool you–this is not a funeral home or law firm. This Haverford bar has been a reliable place to slink in for a shot, a beer, and a burger since 1933. Well-worn woodwork, historic photos and taxidermied local wildlife (which doubles as the restaurant’s racoon mascot) gives you the sense that this kitsch is the real deal, not the phony flair of a chain restaurant. The food and service confirm the authenticity.

2 days ago | theinfatuation.com | Candice Woo |Ligaya Malones

The Rat Pack used to unwind here after a day at the racetrack in the 1950s, and this Golden Hill haunt hasn’t changed much since. Slip into a well-worn booth for a late-night dinner—the kitchen is one of the few in San Diego open until 1am. But there’s a twist: The menu, focused around steaks and slabs of garlic bread, is a cook-it-yourself situation. So put some Sinatra on the jukebox and belly up to the communal BBQ with a cold martini in hand and get those perfect grill marks in.

2 days ago | theinfatuation.com | Candice Woo

Hongyuan Kebab is Korean BBQ for people too lazy to move meat around with tongs. Skewers of spicy lamb, beef, and pork belly sizzle on an automated tabletop grill where they turn until ready to eat, so you’ve only got yourself to blame if they overcook. The $120 combo includes a grip of skewers and two larger dishes (choose the juicy dumplings and the refreshing cold noodles) that easily feeds four, so you can also budget in a few rounds of somaek—AKA Korean soju bomb—if you want to get loose.