These 3 New Restaurants Will Make South Philly a Dining Destination in 2021
For years, South Philly has been one of Philly’s most promising neighborhoods for dining out, featuring everything from James-Beard nominees to influential favorites and cultural touchstones. Now, with a light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to fully and safely reopening the city, South Philly is set to resume its continued surge upward—and top talent from across the region (and even the nation) is heading south to get ahead of the curve. Here, we take a closer look at three top new restaurants opening in South Philly.
A Center City-Favorite Finds a New Home
For more than 20 years, The Prime Rib was a beloved feature of Center City. Fortunately, diners won’t have to go too long without experiencing the top Zagat-rated steakhouse, when it reopens this year at its new location with the same award-winning menu and a revamped design.
The restaurant is set to become the definitive steakhouse experience in South Philly. Classically comfortable, the space is defined by wood, marble and leather and elevated with smoked mirrors and brass fixtures. Elegant drapery provides privacy and a touch of luxury to your meal, and two private dining rooms—with cherry wood tables, velvet dining chairs, a wine wall and floor-to-ceiling windows—elevate the ambience for groups. At the same time, the restaurant’s vibe is upbeat, driven by live music and a bar and lounge area with cocktails crafted with showmanship, while table-side service gives guests an entertaining demonstration of the culinary team’s skills.
The food definitely earns the attention. Head Chef Theodore Iwachiw has trained in top international kitchens, and he’s bringing the craft necessary to make steakhouse standards sing. Prime rib, filet mignon, ribeye, porterhouse and New York strip make for a steak lover’s dream, while veal chops, lamb and seabass, along with other seafood specialties, showcase an impressively subtle and refined talent in the kitchen.
Inspiration from Philly’s Celebrated Asian Food Scene
An authentically inspired Asian fusion restaurant, Luk Fu, will celebrate what Philadelphians have always known—it’s a great city for Asian cuisine. Excitingly, the menu is a collaboration between Sang Kee Peking Duck House owner Mike Chow and head chef Wei C. (Sam) Wu, uniting Chinatown favorites with Philly’s world-renowned pho and more. The entrees range boldly from authentic specialties like Hong Kong style clams and lemongrass pork to American-style General Tso’s chicken and popular appetizers like shrimp and pork dumplings. The fat beef pho and oxtail soup are standouts.
It all takes place in a chic, modern atmosphere that feels perfectly Philly, the city’s reputation for the arts celebrated with graffiti-filled walls and given a flashy edge with large doses of neon in the décor. Diners are fully immersed in the creative design play and transporting flavor, thanks to semi-private dining with screens around each table built from thousands of chopsticks. If diners feel like putting on a show, however, a highlight of the restaurant is its dedicated karaoke room.
A Sports-Fan Favorite Brings the Stadium Experience to Everyone
The NFL playoffs are underway, the Sixers are looking up, and all in all it’s not a bad time to be a sports fan in South Philly (certain QB controversies notwithstanding). Thanks to the new Sports and Social in South Philly, things just got a little better.
The restaurant has locations at major stadiums across the country, including Busch Stadium, Truist Park, Globe Life Park, Globe Life Field and AT&T Stadium, so it’s about time it arrived at the center of Philly’s sports world. Sports and Social promises to “raise the sports bar” in the city by pairing a classic Philly tavern environment with a FanDuel Sportsbook and Lounge for the best sports betting experience you can get. On the menu, you’ll find trendy dishes like tuna poke tacos and chicken and waffles, as well as Philly classics in the form of a short rib cheesesteak, local beers and well-constructed cocktails.
Of course, the most important thing is the game, and you can tell Sports and Social gets that. The space includes 24 televisions tuned to sports round the clock, including a massive state-of-the-art 52-foot LED display. Self-service betting windows and betting terminals make it easy to place bets on all major sporting events, while you check the odds on nine TV screens, including a large 16-footer. We highly recommend you reserve some prime seating for the best game-day experience.
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