Philly’s Timeless Menus That Keep Us Coming Back for More
Do you ever leave a restaurant already thinking about your return for another dining experience? In the restaurant industry, consistency is key. Restaurants that ensure consistent customer satisfaction usually involve a cohesive menu that is comprehensively appealing and feels safe, no matter the occasion or person. As there are so many Philadelphia restaurants to name, here’s a list of European restaurants that lure us into coming back for more of their timeless menus.
Osteria
Osteria is a modern, Tuscan-Italian restaurant located on North Broad Street in Spring Garden. Since opening in 2007 under Chef Jeff Michaud, they have become one of the top critically acclaimed Italian restaurants in the country. Osteria has a family-style approach to dining, so sharing plates is basically a requirement. The ambiance is modern and aesthetic, with dim lighting, candles, and marble tables. A notable feature is the greenhouse patio with floating plants and string lights, making you feel like you’re in Italian country. This one might just be our favorite of them all.
Fun fact, Jon and I had our first date here! I can’t stress enough how perfect this restaurant is for a date, especially if you both have an appreciation for experimenting new foods. By now, we have tried many dishes from Osteria, but I’ll name our favorites. The Beef Tartare is by far one of the best items on the menu. Trying Beef Tartare for the first time can be intimidating, but doing so at Osteria was the right choice. There is such attention to detail with ingredients, that the thought of eating raw beef for the first time didn’t freak me out. They make changes on the menu throughout the seasons, so each time we’ve had the Beef Tartare it’s slightly different. The first time it had more zesty flavor and was paired with a pita cracker. On the current menu, the Beef Tartare is creamier, with truffle aioli and sourdough. I could go on and on about this particular dish because it was a breakthrough dish that encouraged us to expand our palette more with meat. Onto more of the antipasti, we love the baked ricotta with lemon confit because it’s super light and airy for a cheese dish. As a starter we also like to get either the Parma pizza with prosciutto and argula or the Lombarda pizza with cotechino sausage, bitto cheese, and egg. For the Primi course, we’ve tried the Rigatoni with chicken liver and sage, the Paccheri with braised beef, the Francobolli Ravioli, and the Gnocchi with truffle. All of their pasta dishes are so memorable because of their inclusion of unique meat and spices you don’t see in traditional Italian restaurants.
This restaurant deserves an honorable mention at the top of our list. Osteria holds a special place in our hearts with both sentimental value and appreciation for amazing food. I highly recommend checking it out!
🔗: https://www.osteriaphilly.com/
Oloroso
Oloroso, located on Walnut St. is a Tapas restaurant and bar that celebrates authentic Spanish cuisine and tradition. Chef Townsend Wentz owns Oloroso, an Italian restaurant called A Mano, and French restaurant Townsend. The ambiance feels upscale and romantic, with warm lighting, interesting art work and an open kitchen. We have eaten here a few times and their food never fails to wow us.
Since Tapas are small plates, we always share all of the dishes for either date night or eating out with a group of friends. Our favorite Tapas are the Steak Empanada, Charred Eggplant, Gambas al Ajillo and Patatas Bravas. The Steak Empanada currently has mushrooms, caramelized onions and queso. It’s so creamy it almost tastes like a Philly cheese steak. Gambas are a timeless dish that is always delicious. We especially love the eggplant because it’s prepared with honey, ginger, and tagine spices, so it has the sweetest, candied taste. The Patatas Bravas is a favorite because of the manchego and saffron aoili, as manchego is my (Sophia) all time favorite cheese. We’ve also had the charcuterie board which is great because you can personalize the meat and cheeses. All of these starter plates are light enough to fill you up, but leave some room for an entree.
The Paella Oloroso is a must try, including shrimp, mussels, clams, chicken, chorizo, tomato-shellfish broth, and saffron. It comes in a big bowl, however it’s a sharing plate, so you can pace yourself and not feel like you need to finish the whole thing. We’ve also tried the Crispy Pork Belly which is excellent because it’s super crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I will admit we are creatures of habit when it comes to Oloroso because we know what we like, so we just get the same thing each time. However, we want to branch out and try more of their other entrees.
Oloroso also has different tasting menus ranging from $55 - $95 per person. Their prices are on the higher end, but it won’t be too expensive if you’re more interested in keeping it simple and tasting a few things.
If you want a dive into Spanish cuisine, check out Oloroso.
🔗: https://www.olorosophl.com/
Parc
Parc, located in Rittenhouse Square, is an all-day traditional French bistro that intends to depict the authenticity of European lifestyle and design. With the classic French patio chairs, marble tables, and European artwork on the walls, Parc truly makes you feel like you’re in Paris. Built in 1925 and owned by Stephen Starr, a well known restaurateur in Philly, Parc has gained popularity, with a story in the Philadelphia Inquirer and many food awards. This restaurant is also the talk amongst college students, where I’ve heard students rave about the food they had on a date night or out to dinner with friends. One of my classmates even wrote a review about their experience in one my writing classes.
On with the menu, to start off, ordering the French Onion Soup is an absolute must. Another first course that was memorable was the Salmon Tartare, a very light, refreshing dish. Usually tartare comes with some sort of cracker or bread, but Parc’s Salmon Tartare came with vegetables, which I thought was an interesting take, and of course healthier. For entrees, Jon and I have had the steak frites, bolognese, pasta primavera, and duck confit, all delightful. I especially remember the Steak Frites being paired with chive butter, an addition that elevated the dish. The Bolognese and Pasta Primavera are not too heavy and flavorful, just right. For dessert, we love the Crème Brûlée and Profiteroles, which are decadent, but not overpowering. We haven’t had a chance to go for brunch yet, so that’s next.
If you want a European-esque restaurant experience in America, Parc is a great option.
🔗: https://parc-restaurant.com/
Gran Caffe L’aquila
Gran Caffe L’aquila is a historic Italian restaurant located on Chestnut St. The original restaurant was located in Piazza Duomo, Italy, but was destroyed in an earthquake in 2009. In 2012, Italian gelato champion Stefano Biasini and restaurateur Riccardo Longo created the same restaurant in Philadelphia. Because of Gran Caffe’s rich history, the restaurant has award winning gelato, a wine shop, and an Italian market. We’ve dined here numerous times, simply because it’s great food for great prices, while being an experience to remember.
Trying the gelato at Gran Caffe is a necessity, as it’s produced daily by Stefano Biasini and is some of the best gelato you can get in the country. Whenever we’re craving gelato, we simply go to Gran Cafe. Sometimes when we’re out to eat at another restaurant nearby and aren’t feeling their dessert menu, we’ll skip dessert, get the check and go to Gran Cafe for gelato instead. When the prices are $4.9 for a small, $6.9 for medium, and $8.9 for a large, quality cup of gelato, the temptation is irresistible. You can also buy pints of their gelato for $12. There are so many flavors, but Vaniglia has been my favorite so far, which is just simple vanilla with a lemon twist.
We’ve ranted about the gelato, so now let’s talk food. For appetizers, I would suggest ordering the Arancini and the Fritto Misto. The arancini is made with veal and pork ragu inside. Our first time dining at Gran Cafe we ordered the Arancini twice because it was so good. The Fritto Misto is fried calamari, along with fried shrimp and zucchini. Their Formaggi tasting section is great because it’s fun trying to guess each cheese. For entrees, our favorites are the Sugo Della Domenica, Pappardelle Al Ragu, and the Carbonara. The Sugo comes with meatballs, veal braciola, sausage, and lamb, along with Pappardelle which comes with pork, veal, lamb, and chicken ragu, and truly tastes like a home cooked meal. The Carbonara is the most unique dish, which has gastronomic Italian bacon gelato on top, which you mix into the pasta, creating rich flavor.
Gran Caffe L’aquila is the perfect restaurant to dine at if you want the traditional and historic Italian eating experience that is more on the affordable end.
🔗: https://grancaffelaquila.com/
Sources:
https://www.opentable.com/r/osteria-philadelphia
https://www.olorosophl.com/
https://www.opentable.com/r/gran-caffe-laquila-philadelphia-italian-restaurant-philadelphia
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/518265869603072937/