PHLGuide
The Best Restaurants In Fairmount
photo credit: KERRY MCINTYRE
Some neighborhoods, like Olde Kensington, feel like they just acquired their names last week. Then there’s Fairmount, which is unquestionably a part of the city's historical archive. After all, it's home to the Eastern State Penitentiary, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and of course, the zoo (R.I.P. Zoo Balloon). If you’re heading to any of those places and get ravenous (or just happen to be in the neighborhood), there’s Nepali momo, carb-heavy Italian, and a few bars that you should know about.
The Spots
photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO
Philly has fewer places to get momo than Dollar Dog nights, but this isn’t our favorite place by default. It’s because these crisp-edged, doughy pouches are packed with the perfect combination of flavor and spice. The Spring Garden corner spot has a few tables for ordering the Himalayan veggie chili “hotter than hot,” while the rest is counter space for ordering takeout. It has a massive lineup of momo—we’re talking over 30—including fantastic vegetarian options. The must haves are the tandoori (either shrimp or chicken), which are smoky and delicious. Whether you walk-in for a casual dinner with friends or take a few to go, you’ll be muttering "momo" in your sleep by tomorrow.
photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO
Osteria is a spacious Italian spot on North Broad that has a beautiful covered greenhouse. It's packed with flowers and a long bar, making it an easy and impressive place to drop in before a show at The Met. The cocktails, pizzas, and handmade pasta are all excellent—especially the chicken liver rigatoni that’s tossed with cipollini onions and sage. But we’re also big fans of the wood-grilled chicken if you want something that won’t weigh you down on an intimate date night.
For every neighborhood, there’s a bar that mirrors it. And in Fairmount, that’s Bar Hygge, a laidback place with a few fancy touches. It’s as common to hear people complaining about their boss over $5 beers as it is to see people grabbing a bottle of prosecco for a late-night dinner party. The menu offers a bit more than your average gastropub—think smoky chicken liver mousse toast, thick-cut salmon ceviche, and juicy hanger steak. No matter what you get to start, end with their take on a Tastykake Kandy Kake.
photo credit: PHOTO CREDIT: GAB BONGHI
Umai Umai is a great choice when you’re interested in a menu that’s 90% seafood, or want creative rolls that aren’t deep-fried or covered in aioli. The Japanese restaurant’s menu includes things you’d expect, like spring rolls and crispy rice balls. But there are some culinary tourists on the menu, like seafood paella, scallop carpaccio, and pad Thai that are just as tasty as the standards. If you’re here for the sushi, go for the Eternal Sunshine with cucumber, avocado, salmon, and apricot-miso sauce. Space here is tight so it’s hard to get in (your best bet is on a weekday), but once you get into your rolls, you won’t really care about a wait.
photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO
Bad Brother is Fairmount’s ideal neighborhood spot if you want to watch a game but don’t want a gameday crowd. The front area has a dimly lit bar, a small TV, and the vibe of your uncle’s den, while the back dining room is perfect for bringing a few friends to grab a burger or a sausage roll (which is basically a sausage cheesesteak). Because of the small space, you’ll need a reservation when the Eastern State Penitentiary crowd comes through, or when the Sixers are on a winning streak. But the soy-glazed wings are worth the extra step—they're some of the city’s best—not to mention the weirdly flirty image of a purple Garfield on their wall.
Spring Garden’s South is part Southern restaurant and part jazz club. It has two impressive seating options—an open atrium and a garden space—and between the live music, solid cocktails, and outdoor space, it’s one of the most romantic spots in the neighborhood. If you want to impress your date with something other than the saxophone solos, make sure to order the shrimp and grits. The grits are buttery, creamy, and drenched in a peppery creole brown sauce. It’s a small portion, though, so you order the buttermilk fried chicken to round out the meal.
La Calaca Feliz is a one-two punch. If you’re not hungry but want to get boozy, these margaritas can stand up to any cocktails in the area. And if you just want a laid-back place to eat some solid Mexican dishes and talk about the 1000th season of Grey’s Anatomy, you can do that, too. The food won't remind you of your time in Mexico City, but it gets the job done. Focus on the fish tacos and the enormous portions of guacamole, to which you can add things like crab, fig, and bacon.
This Ethiopian restaurant is a good option if you’d like to eat more than your stomach can handle without spending more than $20. The u-shaped bar, sparse decor, and stranger inhaling beers make you think that you’re in a dive, but the peppery steak, curried cabbage, and stewed lentils are unforgettable. The menu is sectioned into beef, vegetarian, lamb, chicken, and combination (and are big enough for three or more). But we’ll save you some time—order the tender doro wot and a beer or three for dessert.
Zorba’s Tavern in Fairmount has enough pita, Greek paintings and candlelight to make you think you’re in the third installment of Mamma Mia. Like the hoodie everyone in the house shares, there are a few universal crowd-pleasers on the menu. Go for the silky hummus, charcoal chicken pita, and other dishes that, like the hoodie, you’ll never tire of.
photo credit: KERRY MCINTYRE
A Mano is a quintessential Philly BYOB: wood tables, simple interior, and a casual scene. What's different is the menu. There’s a three-course, $48 tasting menu, or a four-course option for $68. The dishes change seasonally, but you may see starters like beef tartare before heading to plates of rigatoni bolognese or grilled branzino with a romesco ragu. Nothing here is groundbreaking, but it’s still a dependable option when you want some solid pasta or panna cotta and Osteria is packed.
Vegan-ish is a Black-owned, plant-based restaurant with two locations (one in West Philly and this one, in Spring Garden). They serve food for all kinds of vegans: hungover ones who need to be revived by a BEC and a smoothie, salad-obsessed runners training for a marathon, and those who just love cinnamon bun cupcakes. There are a couple of burgers and flatbreads on the menu, but the “chicken” cheesesteak is the way to go. Order at the counter, then either enjoy your sandwich in the tiny, tile-filled space or head home.
photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO
Some sports bars are casual, have a single TV, and a few people talking about SEPTA's malfunctions. Then there are the rowdy bars where everything from the Phanatic wall decor to the volume of the boos makes you feel like you’re at a stadium. Fairmount’s Kelliann’s falls into the latter category. It has all the markings of a classic Irish pub: four leaf clovers on the door, a long, dark wood bar, and lots of green on the walls. They make some of our favorite wings in town, so whether you’re there to lose your voice after a touchdown or meet friends for a citywide-filled Happy Hour (they have five combinations of the drink), prioritize the wings.
photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO
This Fairmount bar has about 300 things on the menu, including classic pub food like burgers and wings, as well as unexpected options, like a Korean BBQ steakhouse sandwich that goes well with beer. And since it's full of large communal tables, there's typically no wait to get inside. Expect to see friends watching the game in one corner, a post-Eastern State crowd debating Al Capone conspiracy theories in another, and families watching a projected movie on a third.
