Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Hotels and City Guide

Philadelphia - Restaurants

Dining - Local Cuisine & Customs in Philadelphia

Synthesizing from the broad base of international cultures, food in Philly has received an extreme makeover during the last 30 years. Just about every kind and type of food you can think of can be found in one of the city’s neighborhoods. South Philadelphia is known for its Italian population, which brings much significance in the way of food culture to its famous market area as well as its renowned restaurants. The Philadelphia cheesesteak sandwich was first created and tasted on the south side of the city.

From home-style cooking to fine dining fare, to foods of nearly every ethnic persuasion, the food in a city tells a story about its people, its communities, and its past. It is essential to research a variety of different foods while staying in a city to experience the core and the spirit of the place. Philadelphia is a map of the culinary journey to a splendid array of international diversity. If you haven’t experienced the foods of its neighborhoods, your visit to the City of Brotherly Love will not be complete.

The latest developments in dining have occurred in the areas of the Old City and the Northern Liberties neighborhoods. A notable lack of available liquor licenses has caused a new revolution of sorts in the eating establishments: BYOB. The cost of obtaining a liquor license in the city can be astronomical.

The Rittenhouse Square area offers travelers many fine dining choices. Chinatown provides a variety of Asian cuisine, including choices among Thai and Vietnamese, as well as Chinese food dishes. The area around the University of Pennsylvania presents more ethnic food choices, including Indian, Mexican, and Japanese. Cuisine from Cuba, Jamaica, and Malaysia can be found as well.

One of the national trends recently has seen more hotel dining and many fine establishments are available in those service markets. The number of steakhouses is still growing, despite the economy and concerns over one’s cholesterol count. After all, it is the Philadelphia cheese “steak” that began its popularity here.

Founders

Le Bec Fin

Striped Bass

The Fountain

Susanna Foo

Brasserie Perrier

Ciboulette

Monte Carlo Living Room

Deux Cheminées

Jake's

White Dog Café

The Garden

Founders

Ocean Harbor

Tipping at Restaurants in Philadelphia

Tipping is pretty much the same in Philadelphia as the rest of the nation, generally speaking. The normal tip rate is between 15 and 20 percent for waiters and taxi drivers. It has been suggested that a handy guide for tipping in restaurants would be to double the tax rate. Bartenders typically receive $1 per drink, while parking valets receive $1 to $2.

Hotels in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania