A spread of food at Bastia.
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Stuart Goldenberg
By now, everyone has heard the story: Back in 2003, two industry veterans turned Girard Avenue beer-and-a-shot joint Johnny Brenda’s into a lauded gastropub and indie venue. Other businesses followed them into Fishtown — the neighborhood north of the city that sits along the Delaware River — and these days it’s possible to get everything from excellent Japanese cuisine to classic Pennsylvanian fare on the same strip. It’s a bit absurd to call the neighborhood up-and-coming at this point — anyone who takes a stroll down Frankford Avenue can see for themself that it’s long since arrived.
In fact, the punks who first moved into the area when the rents were cheap are now grown enough that they want to eat nice things. So while the place still retains its working-class charm in the form of dive bars and delis, Center City’s cooler cousin to the north has firmly established itself as a culinary destination all its own.
New to this update: Yuhiro Sushi and Amy’s Pastelillos.
Maddy Sweitzer-Lammé is a freelance food and travel journalist based in Philadelphia. She writes about all things restaurants, and loves giving readers the inside scoop. Her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Eater, and many more. She also owns Tiny Table Tours, a boutique walking tour that focuses on exploring the dining culture of Philadelphia.
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