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It’s baaack: One of the best meal deals in town returns with Center City District Restaurant Week.
The twice-annual, two-week dining event features mouthwatering bites and limited-time menus — all at discounted price points — from more than 100 restaurants and eateries in Philadelphia.
This year, enjoy $40 to $60 three-course dinners and $20 two-course lunches at dozens of participating spots in Center City.
Seats at popular restaurants fill up quickly (sometimes weeks ahead) so reservations are strongly recommended.
Center City District Restaurant Week runs from January 19 through February 1, 2025. Bon appétit!
With well over 100 restaurants participating in Center City District Restaurant Week, it’s impossible to try them all. So why not let us take out the guesswork?
Below are just five Restaurant Week faves from your pals at Visit Philadelphia.
Greek
Go Greek or go home. This stylish, multi-room restaurant — located right across the street from the Academy of Music — is known for its Mediterranean whole-fish entrees, its authentic and perfectly balanced ingredients, and its selection of over 300 (!) wines. On its $60 Restaurant Week dinner menu, look forward to items like housemade spanakopita; marinated lamb chops with roasted potatoes and tzatziki; char-grilled halibut with vegetable souvlaki; and more. For dessert? Don’t skimp on the baklava rolls with vanilla gelato.
Marinated lamb chops — Photo by G. Bonghi
The elements of a great dinner — awesome food, impeccable vibes and amazing company — collided during my first trip to Estia. It was Restaurant Week (not unlike this one), and after combing through the list, my friend (shoutout to Deaysha) and I landed on Estia. Why? I’m not sure. What did we talk about? No clue. What do I remember? The lamb chop (also, the baklava, but I’ll save that for another article). Flavorful and tender, it was love at first bite. Five-plus years later, it’s still a go-to.
American
If year-round Halloween is your aesthetic, then Monster Vegan is the place to be. Dishing out comfort foods and creepy cocktails, this vegan monster mash compliments its spooky decor with a neon-lit bar and classic black-and-white horror movies on-screen. The restaurant’s $40 Restaurant Week dinner menu includes crowd-pleasers like vegan crab bisque, vegan General Tso’s chicken, vegan linguine and clams, and vegan Oreo beignet sundaes.
— Photo courtesy Monster Vegan
Disclaimer: I’m not vegan, tofu is just OK and there is no substitute for moo-cow cheese. Yet I absolutely love this place. Imagine a cozy restaurant fused with a cyberpunk bar, and then add in old-school horror flicks — as a treat. The drinks are fun, the food is tasty and the vibes are immaculate. But don’t get it twisted: The menu really is completely vegan. The ricotta? Vegan. The calamari? Vegan. The chicken cutlets? Believe it or not: vegan.
Italian
Like its Chester and Montco counterparts, Pizzeria Vetri in Rittenhouse Square goes all out with wood-fired ovens, Neapolitan crusts (that require a four-day rise!) and ingredients that are as high-quality as they are fresh. The restaurant features both a $20 Restaurant Week lunch menu and a $40 Restaurant Week dinner menu, with standouts like meatballs topped with parmesan; a spinach pizza with garlic, chili flakes and ricotta fonduta; and a marshmallow-Nutella dessert pizza that sounds like a slice of heaven.
Hot take: Lunch is an underrated meal. When I was looking to catch up with a former professor, I recommended Pizzeria Vetri, and the Rittenhouse Square location of the local chain offered just the right mood for a quick catch up and a delicious pie. And for just $20 a person during Restaurant Week, it’s legitimately a steal. (But if you want that Nutella pizza dessert, you’ll have to come back for dinner. It’s worth it.)
Mediterranean
A modern Mediterranean spot by entrepreneur and Top Chef finalist Jennifer Carroll, this Rittenhouse Square restaurant and bar sports a light, airy, Art Deco-inspired interior and distinctive dishes that celebrate the flavors of Morocco and Greece. On its $40 Restaurant Week dinner menu, guests can dig into dishes including peri-peri shrimp with lemon and harissa; Moroccan steak frites with cucumbers and spiced cashews; and a chef’s selection of savory mezze small plates to start.
— Photo courtesy Spice Finch
This gem was an unexpected surprise discovery a few years ago, and I’ve been back countless times with friends and family or just for happy hour. It’s perfect for people who like to share meals — and you’ll always leave full. Some favorites are the Moroccan steak frites (packed with flavor), the broccoli tabbouleh (so good I’ve tried to recreate it) and the warm tahini brownie — with melted vanilla ice cream and halva to top it off. Sidenote: Come back after Restaurant Week for brunch. The pancakes with orange blossom and maple syrup deserve a shoutout. Pancakes may be an underrated Philly food …
New American
A gorgeous three-story restaurant and bar, Wilder leans into seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, and the establishment’s full bar is stocked with wine, fun spirits, beer and cider drafts, and plenty of zero-proof cocktail options. Wilder’s $40 Restaurant Week dinner menu offers flavor bombs like red beet carpaccio with smoked salmon; smoked brisket and scamorza lasagna; and pineapple shortcake with a caramelized pineapple and hibiscus sorbet.
I first discovered Wilder last winter while looking for a spot to grab dinner before catching a show at nearby Helium Comedy Club. The vibey ambiance, cozy bar and top-notch cocktails set the stage for a memorable meal. The Mafaldine alla Vodka topped with jumbo lump crab, breadcrumbs and chili instantly won me over. It’s a wildly comforting choice – perfect for a cold winter evening.
Note for Restaurant Week diners: The fixed prices do not include alcoholic beverages, tax or gratuity, so plan on the bill amounting to a bit more than the per-person cost.
This year, don’t miss each restaurant’s specialty Restaurant Week cocktails, each featuring either Jim Beam Black whiskey or Roku Gin.
Throughout the promotion, patrons can also park for $10 or less at participating BexPark by Brandywine, Philadelphia Parking Authority and LAZ Parking facilities between 4:45 p.m. and 1 a.m.
Important tip: Check the official Center City District Restaurant Week website in advance for a list of participating parking facilities and specific instructions for receiving the parking discount.
For more information on Center City District Restaurant Week, including the full list of participating restaurants, click the button below.
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