Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

Philadelphia is a serious restaurant town, but that doesn’t mean eating here has to cost a fortune. While there are plenty of high-end eateries to choose from, visitors can also opt for an equally satisfying, less expensive dining experience in the region. With menu options running the gamut from a $2.50 plate of dumplings to a $100 cheesesteak, the delicious choices are infinite. The following are just a few suggestions for high-, moderate- and low-priced dining options in the city and countryside:

Price-Is-No-Object Options ($40 and up per person):

• Its $100 Kobe cheesesteak with foie gras put Barclay Prime on the map, making this chic steakhouse a destination for expense account splurges. 237 S. 18^th Street, (215) 732-7560, barclayprime.com
• The epitome of white tablecloth sophistication, the Four Seasons Hotel’s Fountain Restaurant has been a special occasion hotspot since it opened in 1983. 1 Logan Square, (215) 963-1500, fourseasons.com/philadelphia
• With its updated French country fare served in a rustic plank-floored dining room, Marshalton Inn melds the traditional with the unexpected. 1300 W. Strasburg Road, West Chester, (610) 692-4367
• The elegant, finely crafted cuisine at Newtown bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) Rouget has won the cozy farmhouse restaurant a growing fan base. 2 Swamp Road, Newtown, (215) 860-4480
• Lacroix has redefined upscale eating in Philadelphia with its highly original design-your-own tasting menus. 210 W. Rittenhouse Square, (215) 790-2533, rittenhousehotel.com
• Philadelphia’s first claim to culinary greatness, Le Bec-Fin continues to win accolades for its haute French cuisine. 1523 Walnut Street, (215) 567-1000, lebecfin.com
• Inspired by the French and Italian Riviera, Savona’s Chef Andrew Masciangelo features seasonally changing dishes and an extensive wine list. 100 Old Gulph Road, Gulph Mills, (610) 520-1200, savonarestaurant.com
• Manned by celebrity chefs Georges Perrier and Chris Scarduzio, Table 31 is a steakhouse with all the luxury trimmings, housed in the stunning Comcast Center. 1701 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, (215) 567-7111, table-31.com
• Widely lauded for its daily changing menu of Northern Italian delicacies, Vetri offers unparalleled dining in an intimate setting. 1312 Spruce Street, (215) 732-3478, vetriristorante.com

Moderately Priced Options ($20-$40 per person):

• Alison Barshak’s eclectic, sure-handed fare is matched by the list of stylish cocktails and a warm, inviting atmosphere at Alison Two. 424 S. Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, (215) 591-0200, alisontwo.com
• A tiny BYOB housed in an old country store, Birchrunville Store Café offers up daily menus of seasonal cooking. 1403 Hollow Road, Birchrunville, (610) 827-9002, birchrunvillestorecafe.com
• The understated but smart dining room at the Blue Horse takes neighborhood eating up a few notches. 602 Skippack Pike, Blue Bell, (215) 641-9100, thebluehorse.net
• University City’s Distrito is a lively, bustling nightspot with exquisite cocktails and Mexican small plates. 3945 Chestnut Street, (215) 222-1657, distritorestaurant.com
• Its consistent output of ingredient conscious, globally influenced cuisine has made Old City’s Fork an ongoing favorite for local diners. 306 Market Street, (215) 625-9425, forkrestaurant.com
• The fine Cajun-inflected cooking at Carversville Inn brings a comfy Southern sensibility to rural Bucks County. 6205 Fleecydale Road, Carversville, (215) 297-0900
• Tasty pan-Asian fare, freshly rolled sushi, a dramatic interior and a well-heeled bar scene make Nectar one of the Main Line’s top places to see and be seen. 1091 Lancaster Avenue, Berwyn, (610) 725-9000, tastenectar.com
• The casual sibling to Manayunk’s high-end eatery Jake’s, Cooper’s Brick Oven Wine Bar features brick-oven pizza, wines by the glass and meticulously prepared small plates. 4367 Main Street, (215) 483-2750, jakesrestaurant.com
• Blending Thai and Indian cuisines, Delaware County BYO Spice Indian Thai Bistro boasts an expansive chile-spiked menu with plenty of vegetarian selections. 4843 W. Chester Pike, Newtown Square, (610) 356-5262

Lower-priced Options ($10-$20 per person):

• The best-kept secret of Fairmount, Bridgid’s offers bargain lunches and dinners with a homey flair as well as an expansive beer list. 726 N. 24^th Street, (215) 232-3232, bridgids.com
• Authentic Jewish deli food is served in large portions at Pumpernick’s, a bustling family restaurant in Montgomeryville. 917 Bethlehem Pike, Montgomeryville, (215) 393-5800
• A slab of ribs, a quart of pulled pork and a host of filling sides can be had for a pittance at Pig Daddy’s, Drexel Hill’s authentic barbecue takeout. 693 Burmont Road, Drexel Hill, (610) 622-6441, pigdaddysbarbecue.com
• Ultra crispy thin pizza with creative toppings and gluten-free options are the draw at Jules Thin Crust, which fairly draws long lines for its fresh-tasting pies. 78 S. Main Street, Doylestown, (215) 345-8565; 300 Sycamore Street, Newtown, (215) 579-0111, julesthincrust.com
• The Olive Tree Grill serves up generous, Mediterranean platters in a kid-friendly setting. 379 W. Uwchlan Avenue, Downingtown, (610) 873-7911, olivetreegrill.com
• The rustic Northbrook Marketplace is housed in a historic barn and offers inexpensive daytime eats in its café as well as gourmet to-go items, including fresh-baked goods. 1805 Unionville-Wawaset Road, West Chester, (610) 793-1210, northbrookmarketplace.com
• The first American outpost of a Dutch chain, Maoz cooks up falafel and all the fixings at a staggeringly low price. 248 South Street, (215) 625-3500; 1115 Walnut Street, (215) 625-2607, maozusa.com
• The bacon and cinnamon buns are homemade at Northern Liberties’ cheery Café Estelle, one of the most appealing spots for early and mid-day meals in town. 444 N. 4^th Street, (215) 925-5080, cafeestelle.com/
• One of the first authentic taco restaurants in the city, Taqueria La Veracruzana is still one of the cheapest and best. 908 Washington Avenue, (215) 465-1440
• The cheesesteaks at Tony Luke’s are famous, and the roast pork Italiano is legendary. 39 E. Oregon Avenue, (215) 551-5725, tonylukes.com
• One of the cheapest and fastest places to eat in Chinatown, Dim Sum Garden serves top- quality dumplings and hand-pulled noodles. 59 N. 11^th Street, (215) 627-0218

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) makes Philadelphia and The Countryside® a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region’s vitality.

For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit gophila.com or uwishunu.com, where you can build itineraries; search event calendars; see photos and videos; view interactive maps; sign up for newsletters; listen to HearPhilly, an online radio station about what to see and do in the region; book hotel reservations and more. Or, call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Historic Philadelphia, at (800) 537-7676.

Contact(s):

• Donna Schorr, (215) 599-0782
• Caroline Bean, (215) 599-7433