5 New Philadelphia Restaurants to Check Out

Philadelphia isn’t just about cheesesteaks. The city has a thriving, well-respected restaurant scene and new Philadelphia restaurants are opening all the time. Make sure you check out some recent additions to the city’s dining scene.

Philly is a great city for dining, so much so that the Washington Post included it at number six on its 2015 list of the top 10 food cities in the U.S. While older, more established eateries still draw in the crowds, new Philadelphia restaurants have diners buzzing. Here are just a few to check out before the end of 2016.

The Dutch

When Fourth and Cross opened in 2015, residents of the Pennsport neighborhood were thrilled to have a spot that served breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But for a variety of reasons, the restaurant closed after just six months. Luckily that space wasn’t empty for long, as The Dutch opened its doors in April of 2016. A breakfast and lunch spot, the Dutch is open until 3 p.m. six days a week. Since then it’s gotten plenty of positive press and rave reviews from diners.

True to its name, the menu features a variety of dishes inspired by Dutch cuisine, both of the European and Pennsylvania Dutch variety. Specialties include uitsmijter, which is an open faced sandwich, a bologna eggs Benedict, and sweet and savory Dutch babies, a sort of pancake.

Sate Kampar

Given East Passyunk Avenue’s status as Philly’s hottest restaurant scene, it’s little surprise that several must-try spots are on the avenue. Sate Kampar opened in the space that once held the Bottle Shop earlier this year. The highlight of the BYOB’s menu is sate, a type of Malaysian street food that consists primarily of meat on a skewer. The restaurant also serves a vegetarian version, made with tofu.

ITV

Chef Nick Elmi’s restaurant Laurel has been such a hit on Passyunk Avenue that it makes perfect sense for him to open a new spot. ITV, which opened in early July, is right next door to its sister restaurant. While Laurel offers a prix fixe tasting menu, ITV is more of a wine and cocktail bar. Its food menu features 14 items, mainly small plates.

The petite spot doesn’t take reservations, and if the restaurant proves to be anywhere as popular as Laurel, you’ll want to get there early (it opens at 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday) to get a seat at the bar or a table in the back.

Double Knot

Located in Midtown Village, on 13th Street, another bustling restaurant street, Double Knot has a creative concept. Its ground floor is a coffee shop and cafe, while its basement is a Japanese-style pub, serving sushi and sashimi along with cocktails and beer. At lunch, the concept shifts again, and the spot serves assemble-your-own noodle or rice bowls, banhi mi or salads. Whether you’re looking to enjoy coffee with friends (the upstairs coffee shop serves Elixir), a quick lunch, or a night out, Double Knot is proving to be Center City’s one-stop shop.

The Hungry Pigeon

Over on Fabric Row, the Hungry Pigeon is another restaurant with multiple faces. During breakfast and lunch on weekdays, it’s a counter service cafe that offers a rotating menu of pastries, sandwiches, and soups. At dinner time and during weekend brunch, the restaurant changes gears and becomes a sit-down spot with waiter service. So far, the biggest hits off of the menu have been the namesake bird (squab) as well as the selection of croissants and sticky buns available for breakfast.

Whether you’ve recently bought a home in Philly or have lived here for ages, these five new Philadelphia restaurants can give a taste of what’s going on in the city. Drop in and give one or all of them a try.

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