Blue Mountain Resort

Look out for the neon green peace sign on this narrow lane in Fishtown. It might look you’re in front of a disused auto repair shop but step inside and it’s all light wood and clean lines, looking something like a Scandinavian chapel. There are booths, individual or communal tables and seating at a horseshoe-shaped counter in front of the kitchen. Get your tastebuds going by starting with a few snacks before your pie, like Judion beans or Calabrian salami, and there’s an interesting selection of natural wines too. Behind – or beneath – every great pizza is great dough, made here using quality

In a city where cheesesteak traditions are everything, this restaurant in Northern Liberties goes above and beyond the norm by baking their own bread. Sporting a crackly crust, sesame-seeded sourdough arrives with finely seared and salted chopped steak tossed with fried onions, bound with creamy Cooper Sharp American cheese, and, ideally, topped with a long hot pepper for requisite heat. The kitchen also stretches dough into thin pizzas. Consider the Brooklyn-style grandma pie with its buttery, crisp crust, bright tomato sauce and fresh basil. Simple tables in the back provide a fair amount of

First established in South Philly and now blossoming in Fishtown, Kalaya is the creation of Chutatip "Nok" Suntaranon. Named after her mother, the restaurant is a celebration of Southern Thai cuisine and of her formative years spent in the coastal province of Trang. You can expect authentic levels of heat, homemade pastes and quality ingredients, in dishes whose flavors are deep and satisfying. Start with Gui chai – a crispy rice cake with sweet soy sauce that shows the Chinese influence in the south. Turmeric features in dishes like pla tod kamin (wok-fried barramundi), while prawns and pork

The bustling, colorful and inclusive Suraya found its ideal neighborhood in the creative hub that is Fishtown. Named after their grandmother in Beirut, the owners created a vast space to celebrate the cuisine of the Middle East and Levant. The first section is a bakery and shop selling produce and homewares; an open kitchen forms the centerpiece of the main restaurant; and this leads out into a charming and equally capacious rear garden. Nothing’s more classic than man’oushe and the lunch menu offers a variety; at dinner the menu is more extensive, with a full choice from mezza to mashawi. You

Kyoto-born Executive Chef Hiroki Fujiyama was inspired by the machiya of his hometown when creating this stylish and discreet Fishtown spot. From the understated façade to the custom-designed furnishings, it feels authentic but also contemporary; just be sure to book a place at the 12-seater counter rather than at one of the tables. The omakase is also a blend of the modern and the traditional. You can expect around 20 courses, starting with delicate snacks like firefly squid and Japanese snow crab, followed by grilled black cod and red miso wagyu. The nigiri is sized quite small, which means

There is no exact right way to experience Omar and Cybille St. Aude-Tate’s darling restaurant on North Broad. You could post up at the big bar or hold court on a large communal table or ease into the couches. In this airy, industrial space, you have choices, just as you do with their wonderful, Afro-centric prix fixe. Hush puppies come crowned with country ham and paired with smoked bacon aioli. You’ve never seen a potato salad like this one or had fried fish with crème fraîche and chive-dill sauce. How about wagyu beef cheek and oxtail tamales? Course after course, find refinement and imagina

This Philadelphia skewer shop is the original (there's a sister spot in Brooklyn). This hipster chic spot, where industrial design elements are softened by lush greenery and lanterns suspended from the ceiling, is perfect for a group. The vibe is buzzy with a menu built around charcoal-grilled meat, fish and vegetable skewers sided by a generous spread of salatim, a variety of mezze and warm pita. It's a place that begs for sharing, with everything from hummus and muhammara to tabouleh, Moroccan carrots, Yemenite pickles and more. As if that's not enough, fries and grilled halloumi are on offe