2021 Downtown Restaurant Week Guide

Philadelphia is known as a city full of food and sought-after dining destinations, and the best way to experience some of the city’s culinary offerings is through Center City District Restaurant Week. The food-filled promotion runs until the 30th and features three-course prix fixe dinners for $ 40, as well as $ 25 lunches at over 60 downtown restaurants.

A full list of participating locations is included online, but there are a few highlights in Philly worth mentioning that might make it easier for you to choose where to eat.

Ancient Spirits and Grid

Why not take advantage of Center City District Restaurant Week to discover a whole new place? In total, this lavish new restaurant spans three floors and is also the very first Ayurvedic herbal restaurant and cocktail bar in the country.

What Ancient Spirits and Grille does differently than anywhere else in the city and beyond is quite unique: those who go to the restaurant can eat from a menu specially designed for you that fills up after you answer. to a short survey on your phone. The survey offers its own suggestions based on your body type and metabolic energy.

For this gastronomic week, however, diners can feast on dishes such as their roasted turmeric butternut bisque, their Brussels sprout salad, their roasted autumn root vegetables, their organic Atlantic salmon, their cheesecake. with spicy pumpkin, their dark chocolate tart and much more.

1726 Chestnut Street, asgphilly.com

Bellini Grill

One of the basic cuisines at CCDRW is of course Italian, and there are a few prime-time options to choose from, including the Bellini Grill. Offering both indoor and outdoor seating as well as a wide variety of fixed price menu choices, those looking to indulge themselves will not be disappointed.

Menu options for the week include bruschetta siciliana (chopped Roma tomatoes, basil, red onions and extra virgin olive oil), insalata di caprese (buffalo mozzarella and candied tomatoes topped with basil pesto and Tuscan EVOO), gamberetti risotto (shrimps with a light saffron cream with white wine sauce), gnocchi (gnocchi served in a gorgonzola sauce or San Marzano fondue with diced fresh mozzarella and basil,) pollo san marco (sautéed chicken with mushrooms garlic and tomato sauce with sherry wine, topped with smoked mozzarella cheese,) bisteca bellini (an 8 oz New York strip loin, fresh rosemary served with a brandy and pepper sauce) and much more.

220 S. 16th Street, belliniphiladelphie.com

Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant

Tucked away just off East Market and Market Street, this must-see brasserie offers a surprising amount of weekday lunch and dinner options. Philadelphians heading to Center City District Restaurant Week can check out their Mushroom Soup, Brewski Burger (lettuce, tomato, bacon, sautéed mushrooms, choice of sharp cheddar, American cheese, or smoked gouda, served on an apple roll. with French fries), baja fish tacos (made with Vienna Red Lager-style haddock, red cabbage salad, pickled onion, pico de gallo, chipotle aioli and cilantro), chicken with herbs and linguine ( made with mushrooms, spinach, sundried tomatoes, pecorino romano and sherry butter sauce), trendy brownie and much more.

1150 Market Street, ironhillbrewery.com

Brauhaus Schmitz

There are a lot of different dishes to savor when eating out in town, and some just aren’t as fun as German. Located on South Street, Brauhaus Schmitz offers an authentic experience from decor to ambiance to food, and they offer an abundance of restaurant week options.

Dishes to choose from for the prix fixe include Laugenbrezel with Obatzda (a Bavarian pretzel with a spread of farmhouse cheese), Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes with sour cream and applesauce,) Sauerbraten Braised (sweet and sour beef with a sauce with ginger, served with red cabbage dumpling and potatoes), Pilzstrudel Wild (a mushroom and farro strudel, bechamel sauce, served with a haus salad,) Wurstplatte (choice of 2 sausages, served with potato salad and sauerkraut,) Apfelstrudel (apple strudel with vanilla sauce) Kaisersharrn (light, chewy and grated caramel cakes) and much more.

718 South Street, brauhausschmitz.com

Pine forest

Seafood meets comfort at this downtown hotspot. Pinefish is located on a quiet but busy street in the city’s Washington Square West neighborhood, and this restaurant has been serving hungry visitors for dinner and weekend brunch for the past five years. The restaurant is known as an upscale yet cozy neighborhood spot and for the downtown district dining event, the fan favorite has upped its offerings up a notch.

Options to choose from through 30 include New England Clam Chowder, Shrimp and Oatmeal, Grilled Bronzino Fillets, Short Ribs, Surf and Turf, Banana Cheesecake, lime pie and much more.

1139, rue des Pins, fish.pin.fish

Moshulu

It’s Downtown District Restaurant Week, so why not go all out? One of Philadelphia’s top restaurants is Moshulu, the city’s only prime-time restaurant located atop the Delaware River. Located on a beautiful and historic seagoing vessel, diners heading to this boat / restaurant will feast for CCDRW.

Options to choose from include baby kale caesar salad, crispy spicy tuna rice, Korean-style fried chicken, Atlantic salmon (with tricolor quinoa, spicy pickled cucumbers, tzatziki sauce and lemon oil), blackened swordfish tacos (with citrus pepper salad, salsa verde, red pepper aioli and queso blanco,) braised beef steak (made with butternut hash and poblano pepper, sauce with green beans and caramelized onion), a mini duo of desserts and much more.

401 S, boulevard Christophe Colomb, moshulu.com

Square 1682

For CCDRW, diners can sift through many of Square 1682’s delicious options. Located inside the Kimpton Hotel Palomar, this bar / restaurant is right in the heart of the city and offers prime-time seating for those who are looking for high end dishes for lunch and dinner.

Options include cornbread with honey butter, lobster bisque with chive oil, cauliflower curry (made with Madras curry, coconut milk, crispy chickpeas and spinach ), crispy chicken (made with grilled artichokes, arugula, olives and caper vinaigrette), salmon (with all spice, aligot potatoes, citrus vinaigrette) bread pudding, and much more.

121 S. 17th St., square1682.com