Every year people get incredibly excited for Center City Restaurant Week, frantically refreshing Open Table for reservations to Barbuzzo, Little Nonnas, or any Stephen Starr restaurant. However, many people forget that throughout the rest of the semester, other areas in Philly offer the same, if not better, restaurant week deals at delicious and lesser–known restaurants. From February 25 to March 8, many restaurants on East Passyunk Avenue are offering three–course lunch and dinner deals for prices ranging from $15–30. Make sure to read below for the places that you cannot miss this upcoming Restaurant Week, categorized based on how big a hole you want to burn in your wallet.
$15 Price Range
Make sure to check out Noir for a three–course lunch and choose among a variety of creative and classic dishes, ranging from cheese steak potstickers and the Montreal Burger to Penne a la Vodka. You'll get an appetizer, main course, and dessert for the low price of $15. P’unk Burger is offering $15 deals as well for both lunch and dinner. Don't miss out on the fried mozzarella, the variety of delicious burgers, and the decadent milkshakes.
$25 Price Range
Barcelona will be serving dinner for $25, offering diners a choice of four tapas ranging from classic croquettes and patatas bravas to more adventurous choices like clams and mussels. This vibrant and jovial wine bar won't disappoint both in terms of food and atmosphere. The next can’t–miss choice under the $25 price range is Bing Bing Dim Sum. Opened by Shawn Darragh and Ben Puchowitz, this creative, kitschy locale redefines dim sum as the chef continually adds new East Coast inspired flavors—think delis and anything smoked—in a spin on traditional pan–Asian cuisine.
$35 Price Range
If you’re willing to spend a little bit more on a Restaurant Week deal, there are a variety of restaurants worth exploring, including Noord, Fond, Townsend, and Perla. Noord serves Northern European style food (so this is definitely a meal for the more adventurous eaters among us), Fond focuses on contemporary American fare, offering dishes like butternut squash soup, coconut creme brûlée, and mushroom risotto. Townsend concentrates on fancy French food, with an extensive drink selection (an amazing deal if you’re looking for a more fine–dining experience, but not willing to pay the price). Last but certainly not least, Perla, reviewed by Street last semester, offers innovative and unique Filipino food. While many of the dishes have names or ingredients that seem unfamiliar, I promise you can't go wrong with the delicious food, flavorful cuisine, and the adventurous experience.
So if you missed out on Center City Restaurant Week, or felt like a $35 priced meal was too expensive, make sure to keep your eyes open for these delicious, off–the–beaten–path restaurants for a more accessible and exciting Restaurant Week deal. Pull up Opentable and book away!
