Date Ideas | My Site

Places I'd Love to Go

Now that Philly's scrappy restaurant scene has had a come-up— in the last year, it has gotten its first Michelin stars and some local restaurateurs have received James Beard awards— what better occasion to compile a list of Madeline-approved restaurants? Here is a carefully curated list of Philly restaurants that includes tried-and-true favorites and highly recommended places I would love to try. Besides the quality of the food, discretion and ambiance are major factors in this list. For indoor dining, I've taken care to select quiet, dimly lit places with enough space between the tables so that we can flirt as shamelessly as we want. I've also listed some excellent places for outdoor dining, now that we're into patio season. This is by no means an exhaustive list— I love trying new places and welcome your suggestions!

A bite of sashimi garnished with purple edible flowers

Royal Sushi & Izakaya

Reputed to be the best omakase in Philadelphia and rated Michelin bib gourmand. Scrupulously sourced seafood. An unforgettable meal with a sense of ceremony, each morsel meticulously crafted and presented. Exclusively for you, there will be one more dish served after the tamago, prepared especially to your tastes. ;)
*Note: This is a meal made with intention, with only two seatings per evening, so it must be planned with intention. If you're lucky enough to be able to snag a reservation for the omakase a month in advance via Resy, we will have a night to remember. I would not recommend planning on getting a walk-in seat at the Izakaya as it can be crowded and noisy, with patrons jostling for a seat.

A blue plate of hamachi sashimi with wasabi and ginger

Hiroki

Michelin-mentioned omakase prepared in the tradition of the chef's native Kyoto. Discreetly tucked away in Fishtown, with a sleek, modern interior with a nod toward traditional Japanese design, this is the perfect, quiet, dimly lit spot for us to abscond to. According to the Michelin review, the flavor profile of each plate becomes bolder as the meal progresses. I have a feeling our evening will progress in the same way. ;)

Lox with what appears to be slices of guava and fresh dill

Provenance

Michelin-starred, French-Korean fusion. From Michelin: "Chef Nicholas Bazik and his team know exactly what they’re doing in this historic row house. In full view of the counter, they deliver a high-wire, high-stakes performance defined by precision, harmony and, of course, taste. Korean and French influences come and go with this elaborate tasting menu where special soys, vibrant oils and glossy sauces give wonderful dimension to pristine seafood and dry-aged proteins. Think Japanese tuna with whipped tofu, puffed sorghum and chili oil or brown butter hollandaise with country ham, caviar and cauliflower. The ideas are original, the flavors bold. Such creativity hews closely to the seasons, and even a salad can arrive as a revelation. All the while, service is seamless and warmly choreographed."

Barclay Prime

Best A5 waygu steaks in the city, hands down, in my opinion. The olive striploin from Kagawa prefecture melts in your mouth and carries the umami flavor of the olives the cattle are fed on. It's almost obscene. A perfect cut of meat that will linger in your memories long afterwards.
The dim lighting, quiet atmosphere, capacious dining room, and opulent, clubby decor, make this the perfect place for us to flirt shamelessly.

A former bank building with massive, stone pillars, converted into a restaurant

Del Frisco's

Located in a former bank building with stone pillars, a grand balcony and a three-story wine tower, this is the stateliest of the steakhouses in Philly. If you are a wine aficionado, I'm told the extensive wine menu will satisfy you. With its lofty ceilings, this is the kind of building where individual voices don't carry and we can say whatever we want. The steaks are excellent, of course.