10 Philadelphia food spots for cheesesteaks, pasta, pizza and pie
Plan ten Philadelphia food stops across Roxborough, Old City, Rittenhouse, South Philly and Fishtown, with options for vegan dining, pasta, pizza and burgers.
10 picks · By Extro editorial · Checked 2026-11-05
DaMo Pasta Lab / official website
Philadelphia’s food choices work better when you match the neighborhood to the meal. This shortlist balances a destination cheesesteak, Italian dinners, a small vegan dining experience, pizza and casual breaks. It is a selection for several different outings, not a challenge to eat ten meals or cross the city between every course. How to plan your meals Dalessandro’s belongs to a Roxborough trip. Forsythia works with Old City plans; DaMo and Borromini sit around Rittenhouse. Miss Rachel’s is a dedicated South Philadelphia booking. Emilia, Beddia, Little Susie’s selected branch and 7th Street Burger give you different east-side choices rather than one continuous dinner crawl. How we selected these places This is an editorial shortlist informed by our recommendation research and checked against current venue information. It is not a claim of firsthand visits, a paid partnership or a scientific taste ranking. The order balances different neighborhoods, meals and formats. Each entry names the selected location rather than assuming every branch is identical. Questions before you go Which pick is plant-based? Miss Rachel’s Pantry offers a vegan dining experience with specific released dinner dates. Which burger branch is selected? The open 1215 Frankford Avenue shop in Fishtown, rather than an address still advertised as opening soon. Do these links reserve a table? No. Use the venue’s current booking or ordering channel to arrange your visit. Can I rely on fixed prices and dietary availability? Menus change. Check the selected restaurant directly for current prices, ingredients and preparation needs.
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Dalessandro’s Steaks
600 Wendover Street, PhiladelphiaBest for a Roxborough cheesesteak stop
Image: Dalessandro’s Steaks / official website
Dalessandro’s is a Roxborough destination for a classic cheesesteak outing. Make the sandwich the point of the visit and allow time for demand. It is a purposeful trip from Center City, so pair it with nearby plans rather than calling every pick walkable.
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Forsythia
233 Chestnut Street, PhiladelphiaBest for a French-inspired dinner in Old City
Image: Forsythia / official website
Forsythia brings contemporary French bistro cooking to Old City. Choose it for a seated dinner when you want seasonal dishes and a cocktail rather than another sandwich stop. Its Chestnut Street location works naturally with an afternoon around the historic district.
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Miss Rachel’s Pantry
1938 S Chadwick Street, PhiladelphiaBest for a reserved vegan dinner
Image: Miss Rachel’s Pantry / official website
Miss Rachel’s Pantry offers a small, vegan dining experience in South Philadelphia. Plan around its released dinner dates and booking format rather than expecting a large walk-in restaurant. It is a focused choice for a complete plant-based meal with an intimate setting.
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DaMo Pasta Lab
100½ S 21st Street, PhiladelphiaBest for fresh pasta in Center CityImage: DaMo Pasta Lab / official website
DaMo Pasta Lab is a Rittenhouse option for freshly made pasta and a straightforward Italian meal. Choose it when a bowl of pasta fits your day better than a long tasting menu. Keep the current South 21st Street address in your navigation.
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Emilia
2406 Frankford Avenue, PhiladelphiaBest for Italian cooking in the Kensington area
Image: Photo via theinfatuation.com
Emilia brings seasonal Italian cooking and wood-fire grilling to Fishtown–East Kensington. Choose it for a neighborhood dinner with more range than a pizza-only visit. Its Frankford Avenue location belongs in an east-side evening rather than a rushed trip between Center City reservations.
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Borromini
1805 Walnut Street, PhiladelphiaBest for an Italian meal by Rittenhouse SquareImage: Photo via theinfatuation.com
Borromini offers an Italian dining room facing Rittenhouse Square, with a sense of occasion in both the setting and service. Choose it when the room and a leisurely dinner matter together. Lunch, brunch and dinner are separate services; reserve the one that matches your plans.
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Corte
1175 Ludlow Street, PhiladelphiaBest for a neighborhood Italian dinner
Image: Corte / official website
Corte is a central option for a restaurant evening in a richly designed room. Its Ludlow Street address works for a dinner near Center City plans. Choose it as a seated meal rather than treating it as another quick counter-service stop in a food crawl.
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Pizzeria Beddia
1313 N Lee Street, PhiladelphiaBest for a pizza dinner in Fishtown
Image: Pizzeria Beddia / official website
Pizzeria Beddia makes a pizza-focused dinner in Fishtown feel like a complete occasion, with natural wine and a restaurant setting. Share a pie and leave time to enjoy the meal. Use the restaurant’s current booking options rather than expecting the old tiny takeout format.
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Little Susie’s Coffee & Pie — Lehigh Avenue
2532 E Lehigh Avenue, PhiladelphiaBest for hand pies and a coffee break
Image: Little Susie’s Coffee & Pie / official website
Little Susie’s Lehigh Avenue shop is a useful stop for coffee and a hand pie, with sweet and savory choices depending on the counter selection. It is a lighter break between larger meals. The original shop sits at Lehigh and Belgrade; other Philadelphia branches are separate locations.
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7th Street Burger — Fishtown
1215 Frankford Avenue, PhiladelphiaBest for a straightforward Fishtown smash-burger meal
Image: Photo via inquirer.com
7th Street Burger’s Fishtown shop is a casual option for a smashed burger and fries. Choose it when you want a quick, substantial meal without a dinner reservation. This entry uses the open Frankford Avenue branch, not a location still advertised as opening soon.
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