The entire experience led by my Bartender Jesse was exceptional. 10/10 service!!…read more Came for happy hour but ended up staying for a full meal and was pleasantly surprised by everything that I was recommended to me by Jesse via the catch of the day deal. $40 for an app, entree and dessert was an amazing deal. Everything was fresh and filling, I left happy as a clam!

Wow wow wow. This place was SO good. We actually only came because we saw it on TikTok and wanted…read moreto give it a try, and it completely lived up to the hype. Jaffa Bar is a two-story oyster bar located inside a restored 19th century firehouse in Olde Kensington. The restaurant takes inspiration from the coastal Israeli city of Jaffa, and you can definitely feel that influence throughout both the menu and the space itself. The menu mixes oyster bar classics with Israeli-inspired seafood dishes and elevated comfort food, which made the whole experience feel really unique compared to a typical seafood spot. It's a little farther than the usual Center City restaurants we go to, but the area has so many great spots around it (shoutout to The International, which we went to afterwards). Appetizers -- We started with the shrimp cocktail and it was delicious. A regular order comes with 6 shrimp and their Jaffa cocktail sauce, but we somehow lucked out and got 7. Not a single one was left behind. The shrimp were huge, fresh, and perfectly chilled, and the sauce paired so well with them. Food -- The steak frites were BOMB. They didn't ask for a steak temperature, but it came out around medium and was cooked perfectly for us. It comes with fries that are seasoned to absolute perfection and some kind of chimichurri/pastrami steak sauce situation that was insanely good. I also had to get the Jaffa Burger since that's what originally brought me here from TikTok -- and honestly? I think it was even better than the steak frites. It's a smash burger served on a big sesame martini roll with green chiles and American cheese. The burger had that perfect crispy smash on the outside while still being super juicy and flavorful. The green chiles weren't spicy at all, but added a really nice depth to the burger overall. And the fries deserve another mention because they were fried PERFECTLY -- crispy outside, soft inside, and seasoned so well. Drinks -- Trust me and just order "Today's the Night." I originally got it because I love a good Shirley Temple and saw grenadine listed in it, but it ended up being such a good drink. Kind of like a sweet lemonade and definitely perfect if you like sweeter cocktails. Ambiance -- I'd highly recommend making a reservation online before coming. We went on a Wednesday evening and the place was packed, so we ended up sitting at the bar. Still had a great experience, but I would've loved to see more of the restaurant itself because the space looked really nice. We'll definitely be back!

such a gorgeous restaurant with amazing food, honestly underhyped!…read more came here for dinner with two of my coworkers and wow, tesiny has exceeded my expectations. highlights of the meal included the hamachi crudo, the gem lettuce salad, and the hanger steak. the other things we ordered (crab, chicken lollipops, mighty bread sourdough) were good, but not exceptionally impressive. the hamachi crudo was so good; it was fresh, bright, and flavorful, definitely one of the best hamachi crudos i have had. i would honestly come back to tesiny just for the crudo. the gem lettuce salad was fantastic as well. the peaches were a lovely seasonal addition, and the portion size was generous. the final highlight of the meal was the hanger steak. the steak was cooked a perfect medium rare and the brown butter sauce was life-changing. it was so rich and flavorful, the steak is an absolute must-order that i would return for as well. overall, we had an amazing experience. our waitress was super sweet and the courses were timed out nicely. the restaurant was emptying out by the time we left ~930p on a wednesday night, but we didn't feel rushed at all. absolutely would recommend! this is a fantastic restaurant for a nice date night, dinner with the girlies, or something to impress the parents.

It has been a while since I have written a restaurant experience, and I think there's no better…read moretime to start than sharing my wonderful experience at Tesiny. Must get: rainbow trout, crudos, wagyu, cocktails (any of them), coconut icecream w/almond oil and caviar Meh: nothing Missed out: the rest of the menu The best way I'd describe Tesiny is the must belly-filling small-plate experience with complex (sweet forward) cocktails, impressive wine list and a Michelin/James Beard vibe. It is really the perfect date night! I made a reservation for a weeknight at 6pm, and it really felt like we were front and center the entire night. Our staff was incredibly attentive to our needs, paced our meals, and made us feel cared for. I think sitting at the chef's counter was (and always is) the best place to watch the action, and it was a thrill watching the food prepared, plated, and grilled in real time. Of all of the dishes that I had, the one that exceeded my expectation was the coconut sorbet, and I would not ruin the surprise on how perfectly each of the ingredients synergistically sang praises for the almond oil. In short, Tesiny is about to be one of the hottest places in the region and I'm glad I got to experience it. Food/service/price: 5 stars

Really loved my dinner experience at Mish Mish. The restaurant is beautiful and very modern. I was…read morereally impressed by their dishes, especially the raw yellowtail with peaches, which is an interesting combo I hadn't had before. The charred broccoli was also a standout -- it had a great smoky flavor with good acid. Service was great and our waitress was knowledgeable about allergies on the menu. The servings felt small but honestly left very full after sharing four plates (one protein) between two people.

We had received a great recommendation from our daughter and her husband. They are our front line…read morediscoverers of new dining options in Philadelphia and had recently had dinner at Mish Mish. They raved. We dined last Saturday and had an outstanding experience. From Andrew's warm greeting, Kai's terrific service, the amazing food and wine, and a very inviting ambiance, Mish Mish hits on all levels. What a place! We will be back.

I was craving some calamari and pasta for lunch and saw that La Roma is a sister restaurant of Nemi…read morewhich is a neighborhood favorite. Calamari was on par with expectations and the short rib ragu tagliatelle was great. I liked how balanced the savory and sweetness were between the short rib and the red sauce. Now that I see photos of their other dishes on Yelp, I'm looking forward to trying the rest of the menu.

Always great food, nice Happy Hour. $9 full fill wines, $4 drafts of Dos Equis. Service is always…read morespot on. It was a warm day, so we ordered some lighter dishes and they did not disappoint. The burrata spread was perfect. Creamy mozzarella, Peppery arugula on a lightly toasted bread, drizzled with oil and balsamic. The Bronzino was perfectly cooked on the grill, easy to debone and had an aromatic light flavor of herbs. Ask for the side of chimichurri sauce. It goes well on everything they prepare here. Nice neighborhood joint, so glad we live near here.

Popped into Jerry's with some girlfriends for a bite to eat. Right they have a really outdoor beer…read moregarden across the street playing Halloween movies. We opted to go inside where it was warmer. We found some seats at the bar and enjoyed some yummy cocktails and appetizers. Everything looked and tasted great. Cool atmosphere.

I was so pleasantly surprised with Jerry's Bar's brunch selection. Even arriving toward the end of…read morebrunch, they were packed. I split a mimosa carafe and had the salmon eggs Benny. The eggs Benny was great but the star of the show were the home fries!! I was blown away by how flavorful they are. Amazing!! The bathrooms were clean and outdoor seating is available too. I'll definitely be back.

Irwin's feels like the more intimate expression of everything that makes the Bok Building so…read morecompelling. We started with a drink at Bok Bar around 5:30, then walked a few steps across the eighth floor into a former vocational school classroom now home to a Sicilian restaurant. Enormous school windows, worn cream walls, exposed conduit, old tile, flashes of graffiti, palms, and Persian rugs make the room feel sophisticated and faintly exotic without ever seeming contrived. Visually, the room rewards looking around. The graffiti especially caught me; I have no idea which marks predate the restaurant and which may have been added later, but the smaller tags feel completely at home against the aging school surfaces. In the early days of home internet, I was obsessed with Art Crimes, the graffiti site founded in 1994 that still exists in its wonderfully utilitarian form, so those marks immediately pulled me in. Dinner tasted like summer. My wife and I started with focaccia, crudo, and a salad, then moved into clam pasta and pesto pasta before sharing the whole fish. The cooking stayed clean and light while still leaving us full, and our server was excellent. I had a glass of rosé, the huge doors stood open to the evening air, and either the dining room or terrace would have been wonderful. Sicily gave the meal more personal resonance than I expected. I visited years ago during a very different chapter, and my memories of the island remain beautiful but disjointed, fitting for a place shaped by centuries of conflict beneath a repeatedly erupting Mount Etna. I'm grateful I saw it, but I'm even more grateful for the steadier life that followed: marriage, entrepreneurship, 3 young children, a dog, and the chance to slow down enough to notice what actually makes me happy. Earlier, walking through Bok had already explained why Irwin's belongs here. We passed inMovement's enormous gymnastics facility beneath the surviving "Girls Gym" sign, and a fit guy inside happened to be wearing a perfectly worn vintage Venice Beach T-shirt; that tiny image captured the bridge between old South Philadelphia and Southern California running through the building. Bok has the scale and architectural freedom that make this kind of creative reuse feel plausible in Philadelphia or Los Angeles, where an enormous older structure can hold gymnastics, restaurants, and a rooftop bar while retaining its grain. Around us, families, couples, and groups of friends filled the room, with an easy mix of ages and personalities that felt stylish without becoming socially precious. There is something of the brilliant, slightly edgy cousin's apartment in the scene, the place people might once have regarded with mild suspicion before Condé Nast Traveler arrives years later with a photographer and a beautifully edited weekend itinerary. I say that with affection: at its best, broader attention and capital give overlooked buildings and neighborhoods the resources to survive and evolve while preserving enough texture to remain themselves. Walking home to our place near Rittenhouse Square was the perfect final act. I can still remember the New York finance version of myself arriving in Philadelphia because the woman who became my wife was training here, carrying more big city snobbery than I realized and assuming a smaller city meant a smaller life. Years later, pleasantly tired and full after Irwin's, I felt the opposite: I'm happier trying to build something of my own, walking home through a city I love, and heading toward 3 sleeping children and a dog who have made rootedness feel far richer than constant motion ever did.

Irwin's at the Bok is easily one of the most breathtaking restaurants I've ever visited. Perched on…read morea stunning rooftop setting with gorgeous views of the sunset, the ambience alone is worth the trip. The food matched the view completely--we tried the eggplant caponata, heirloom tomato, gnocchi sardi, and trofie, and every single dish was absolutely delicious. To drink, the melopepo highball and figonacci ratio were both amazing, and our phenomenal, highly attentive server truly topped off an already perfect night. An absolute must-visit!

Juneteenth Celebration Review…read more What an absolutely amazing experience! From the moment you walk through the doors, you're greeted with warmth, hospitality, and a welcoming atmosphere. The dim lighting, great music, and overall vibe create the perfect setting for an enjoyable dining experience. The food was outstanding--every dish was flavorful and beautifully prepared. The service was equally impressive. A special thank you to our server, Danah, bartender Evan, and Chef Shadee for making our visit so memorable. Their professionalism, attentiveness, and genuine hospitality truly stood out. The restaurant did a fantastic job celebrating Juneteenth, and it made the experience even more special. If you're looking for great food, exceptional service, and an inviting atmosphere, this is definitely a place to visit. The next time I'm in Philadelphia, I will absolutely be back. Much love from Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Florida! 5/5 Stars

I recently visited this place to celebrate a friends birthday…read more The location is not ideal as parking cost (paid metered street parking and parking lots). Our party of 6 went on a Sunday with a reservation and were quickly seated upon arrival. What I didn't care for was the lighting. It's on the darker side and in my experience, when it's dark, it's a way to try and high imperfections. Upon walking up to our table that included a cushioned bench seat and clear chairs, I noticed the stains on the cushions which looks terribly disgusting. My mind immediately thinks about what was spilled, dropped, and leaked onto the seat so I snatched up a chair instead. Our server (I forgot her name) was fantastic. She was very pleasant and checked on us periodically without being overbearing or us being annoyed that we couldn't get her attention. Thank you! We placed our drink and food orders together and everything came out in a timely fashion. The music was really good and not so loud where we could not converse with each other. While sitting at the table I looked up at the ceiling and noticed what appeared to be a mold stain. i took a picture of it and zoomed in and it was not mold. It looks like some liquid splatter. It just reminds me why I don't like places with "poor" "mood" lighting. We had a good time dancing and I enjoyed the shrimp and grits that included a piece of salmon but I have no plans to return to this place.

Oloroso has slowly become one of our favorite spots in the city for Spanish tapas. The food is…read morealways terrific, the cocktails are excellent, and the whole place just has such a warm atmosphere. This visit we had a Gin Mare martini, a lovely Spanish garnacha, jamón y queso croquetas, scallop brochette, tajín de pollo, and an incredible traditional paella loaded with shellfish, chicken, and chorizo. We finished with churros and chocolate sauce for dessert, which were absolutely worth it. Such a fun, delicious evening, and we're already looking forward to going back.

Snagged a reservation on a Saturday night and was pleasantly surprised with almost everything we…read moreordered. First, the vibe is great. Cozy and romantic and we were seated with a great view of the open kitchen, which compared to some other open kitchens, was humming away and directed by the head chef/owner. We first ordered several dishes from the tapas menu: Eggplant, Albondigas, Bacalao, and Roasted Beets. The eggplant was custardy on the outside and perfectly charred on the inside and its savory yet sweet profile would convert any eggplant hater. The beets were nicely steamed and sprinkled with a flavorful pistachio dukkah, though the coconut kefir swoosh on the bottom wasn't super flavorful. The albondigas were good, the pork/beef mix a bit overworked but the tomato sauce they were in was bright and perfectly spiced and made a perfect sauce to dip the abbbbsolutely DELICIOUS housemade sourdough slices this course came with. Last of these was the bacalao fritters, perfectly fried and topped with a citrus aioli. ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. Order these. Next was the raciones course, which is basically just tapas but just more meat-centric. We ordered the chicken leg with berbere and saffron couscous (came with housemade pita bread squares) and the Spanish sausage with roasted long hots. The chicken was our least favorite of the night. Overcooked and lacking much flavor, though the couscous made up for it with its saffron essence and sweet and soft dates and apricots. The pita bread, just like the sourdough was DELICIOUS. (Can you tell I like bread?) The sausage was salty and perfectly charred and another favorite of the night. They have a tapas/raciones tasting menu for $55 and the above cost two of us about $100 so we might try the tasting menu the next time though, we left full satisfied. Definitely will be back!