Tour South Philly’s Restaurant Row

I know what you are thinking.

South Philly’s Restaurant Row includes Pat’s, Geno’s and Tony Luke’s. And why would I escape for a ?

Well, you are so wrong. Along East Passyunk Avenue, nestled among decades-old local shops, is some of the best cuisine Philadelphia has to offer. Ranging from American bistro to Mexican to Japanese to Italian—there are more options than you could ever eat in a week. If you are like me and can never pick just one thing on the menu, you will need a tour guide. And the perfect tour guide is Chef Jacquie Peccina-Kelly, a classically trained chef who's lived in both Philadelphia and Italy. 

Chef Jacquie treats everyone like family, and on her Taste for Travel tour along the Avenue, she becomes your favorite cousin—taking you behind the scenes at award-winning restaurants, sharing her story and learning about yours, and giving you tips on how to eat and enjoy decadent cuisine. 

Your tour starts at The Bottle Stop, a corner beer store turned beer boutique. The Bottle Stop stocks more than 600 different beers. From there, Chef Jacquie gives you a behind-the-scenes tour of six different restaurants, giving you the chance to taste everything from antipasto to homemade gnocchi and eggplant rollentini to homemade red wine. 

The tour includes stops at Le Virtu, an Italian restaurant with grassy lawns, a hanging herb garden and the best antipasto platter this side of Sicily. Le Virtu smokes all their own meats and they even have a small urban farm with goats and chickens.

Later, stop by Chhaya Cafe, a tiny coffeeshop where you can grab a siphon of coffee (so very chic) and sample homemade soups.

At Paradiso Ristorante, delight in homemade gnocchi that taste like pillows of potato goodness.

And since you will work up a big appetite walking, definitely sample the antipasto salad at Chiarella’s. 

Wind down your tour with a stop in DaVinci’s backyard. The walls are covered in a Mona Lisa-themed mosiac by famed mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar. Sip the homemade red wine and savor the simple perfection of homemade Italian sausage with broccoli rabe.

The tour ends at Fond, an American bistro. At Fond, enjoy melt in your mouth desserts—tiny bites of merigune, homemade peanut brittle and madelines. 

The next Taste for Travel tour is Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m. The tour lasts about two-and-a-half hours. Attire is chic casual (comfortable shoes are a must).