Philadelphia, Near the Convention Center

I'm writing for a colleague who needs some recommendations for an upcoming trip. She will be dining with others often, if not always. Do you have some recommendations for dining near the convention center (1201 Market Street)?

Parking is not a concern
All prices and cuisines welcome
A very good wine list is preferred.

Thank you! Much appreciated!

Reading Market is directly below the convention center, but alas not open at dinner time.

Chinatown is just a few blocks away, there's a place I like called Wong Wong at 10th and Race -- a bit of the vibe of the old location of Sun Wah: ducks in the window, great chow fun noodles.

Morimoto is a couple blocks away too (Chestnut & 8th), and Market as you get further east has a lot of cool food. If you're walking through slush in heels, probably none of those are close enough, but it's worth a short cab ride to avoid getting stuck at the hotel or the Hard Rock.

It has been four years since I have been in Philadelphia. However, I do remember eating in a NOODLE HOUSE where they were stretching out the noodles by hand. What was unusual about the place is that when they are busy, they sit you with other people. It is within two blocks of the convention center.

I was there in Nov and stayed close to the convention center. There are lots of good places reasonably close to there. I enjoyed meals at Vedge, Amada and Barbuzzo, all of which I believe take reservations via Open Table. And your friend will need reservations.

A few favorites, most already mentioned here and in other threads:

Reading Terminal Market is a must, for many reasons. Closes at 6 PM.

Chinatown is indeed only a few steps away. Dim Sum Garden for soup dumplings and other doughy things and Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House for the eponymous pasta (both hand-drawn and knife-shaved).

Capogiro makes the best gelato I've ever had.

Elixr for excellent coffee and espresso drinks.

For something more expensive, Rittenhouse Square is nearby with lots of good options like Tinto (Jose Garces's pinxto place) and Lacroix (creative French). Amada is a bit farther, but definitely walkable and always a good time. As is Zahav, my favorite restaurant in Philly. The last two weeks of January are Restaurant Week (sic) in Philadelphia, so these and other popular places may be pretty impossible to get into.

cilantro wrote:As is Zahav, my favorite restaurant in Philly.

Its been a few years and Zahav resonates still. Clean bright flavors, interesting, innovative, thoughtful and delicious. Seamless service, genuinely friendly and a beautiful room. An absolute must if in Philadelphia.

Zahav
237 Saint James Place
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-625-8800
http://www.zahavrestaurant.com/

I had an excellent dinner at High Street on Market about 10 days ago. The food is Italian inspired, refined casual. It's next door to Fork, a slightly more upscale restaurant with the same chef.

High Street on Market
308 MARKET STREET
PHILADELPHIA
http://highstreetonmarket.com/

http://www.forkrestaurant.com/

We're getting a little afield from the Convention Center, but let me put in a word for Farm and Fisherman on Pine Street, which reminded me of several farm-to-table restaurants in Chicago (Nightwood, say); it's a byo (plenty of liquor (state) store options in the area) and it's small, so be sure to reserve. http://www.thefarmandfishermanbyob.com/

Monk's on 16th st is also a good casual, after-work, let-down-your-hair-kind-of-a place to sample some exceptional mussels and Belgian beers, and for a great fish chowder, check out the Oyster House on 1560 Sansome.

Also, if you're around Rittenhouse Sq., visit the original La Colombe on 19th street, and oh yes capogiro as mentioned above. There's one on 20th and one on 13th st. (among others), and it's up there with with some of the best gelati I've ever had, and that includes multiple trips to Italy. (We're not kidding you, it's the best--bring money, tho, it's also perhaps the most expensive).

jlawrence01 wrote:It has been four years since I have been in Philadelphia. However, I do remember eating in a NOODLE HOUSE where they were stretching out the noodles by hand. What was unusual about the place is that when they are busy, they sit you with other people. It is within two blocks of the convention center.

I am cleaning out my desk of 15+ years of worth of restaurant business cards and the like.

The name of the place is:

Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House
917 Race Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 923-1550

Sun - Thurs 11am - 10pm
Fri - Sat 11am - 10:30pm

http://nanzhounoodlehouse.com/


One warning. When they are busy, plan to share a table as they will sit strangers at your table.

^That's the old location. A couple of years ago, they moved to a much bigger, nicer space at 1022 Race.