A Taste of Philadelphia - restaurants in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Brief Article

Information Outlook, May, 2000

Surprisingly, cuisine in Philadelphia is not only soft pretzels and cheesesteaks! The selection of restaurants in different areas of the city reflect a variety of tastes, cultures, and lifestyles. Although economic factors proved unable to sustain the Restaurant Renaissance of the '70s, the '90s have fostered a strong revival that shows no signs of ceasing. In response to the revitalization of several areas downtown (known locally as "Center City"), there has been a tremendous growth in local dining experiences.

A major indication of the significance of the culinary arts in Philadelphia is the fact that for sixteen years, the City of Brotherly Love has hosted the one and only "Book and The Cook Festival and Fair." The B&C event brings more than one-hundred cookbook authors into town, where they host specially prepared meals at local restaurants during a ten day period.

Okay, we've established Philadelphia as a worthy culinary destination. So, where to begin? First stop, and most convenient to the convention center, is the Reading Terminal, the ultimate in Food Courts, offering fresh goods from the Amish countryside, traditional Philly fastfood (Bassett's Ice Cream and to-die-for hoagies), ethnic treats from around the globe, fresh pastas and salads, and a cozy Down Home Diner, which is its name! A few steps away is "Chinatown," a compact area with a variety of restaurants featuring Asian cuisines.

Toward the Delaware River in an easterly direction is the "Olde City" or "Historic" section, where several unique dining spots are clustered. These range from ultra-trendy fusion cuisine restaurant/clubs to eclectic cafes, serving Mediterranean cuisine downstairs and folk music upstairs, to the historic City Tavern.

The South Philly area has numerous unique restaurants offering memorable dining experiences. The predominate cuisine is Italian, and not surprisingly, notable entertainment accompaniments are from Puccini and Verdi operas! And, there are the traditional not-to-be-missed diners, as well as Pat's and Geno's famous cheesesteak rivalry, to whet the appetite!

The city has its share of microbreweries spread among Center City area and well into the surrounding regions. Many originated as ale houses, evolved into pubs and brewhouses, and continue to find new life in their newest incarnations. Speaking of brewing, the usual smorgasbord of coffee bars within a short walk of the convention center will assure you never run out of caffeine during the conference!

Heading westward from the convention center on Walnut Street are several notable establishments, including those of the internationally renown Georges Perrier and former librarian, Susanna Foo. Walk a few more blocks and you will encounter Rittenhouse Square, one of William Penn's original Greene Parks," where several new dining hot spots feature sidewalk seating on the Square itself. Continue west to University City, which also offers innovative Asian cuisine, several well-established nouvelle cuisine favorites (White Dog Caf[acute{e}] and La Terrasse), and the innovative restaurant school in the shadow of the University of Pennsylvania.

Recent hotel renovations, re-locations, and expansions have also fostered numerous restaurant openings. The hotels themselves offer some of the best dining facilities in the entire nation--the Fountain Restaurant of the Four Seasons has been aptly called "a temple of luxury dining" and is well worth the cost. The venerable Bellevue Hotel location on the Avenue of the Arts (South Broad Street) has always housed upscale dining facilities. The Ritz-Carlton empire is putting the finishing touches on a restoration of the magnificent Girard Bank Building at Broad and Chestnut Streets and will feature two new restaurants. (Unfortunately, the hotel will open June 29, too late for SLA's visit.)

Among Philadelphia's many faces is that of a "City of Neighborhoods." One of the most popular is the Art Museum area, stretching northwest of Center City slightly beyond the Paris-inspired and French-designed Benjamin Franklin Parkway. This area offers several local dining venues, within easy reach of the bicycle paths of Fairmount Park along the banks of the Schuylkill River. Many are combination bars and sidewalk cafes, with reasonable prices and cozy confines. And the Art Museum itself has a restaurant and wellknown chef who has upgraded the menu to rival that of other worthy establishments.

Finally, just a short trip by public transportation or cab from Center City is the Manayunk neighborhood, replete with a variety of exceptional restaurants and clubs. Atmospheres range from cute and cozy cafes to boisterous happy hour bars to swing dancing clubs to casual restaurant dining al fresco on the decks.

Please be sure to peruse the Convention Restaurant Guide, featuring personal recommendations from the Philadelphia SLA Chapter. With so many dining possibilities, we're looking forward to your visit.