This time of year we are feeling 60s romantic. So we are donning our patterns and daring to suggest delicious and romantic excursions in favorite neighborhoods loved by Philly Home Girls team members.
Valentine’s Day falls on a Tuesday this fine year of 2023. Double-check your hot spots to make sure they’re open before you head out…or, since every night should be date night, simply celebrate on a day they are open.
Date night with Jeanne in Fishtown
If you know anything about Jeanne Whipple, it’s always all about the style. This classy gal loves to tap into the talent right outside her front door in Fishtown. Go big, go bold, and enjoy!
To plan or not to plan
Hello Valentine’s Day to all the romantics out there! If reservations make you feel boxed into a corner, fly by the seat of your pants and head over to Johnny Brenda’s without one. Cross your fingers, toes, and eyes in hopes of snuggling your honey’s buns at a picnic bench with heated seat cushions. Otherwise, book one of these fabulous choices (ordered from casual to fancy). They take reservations for outdoor seating so you can look like a b@d!$$ who knows what they’re doing on a holiday date night: Nunu, LMNO, Kalaya, Laser Wolf, W.M. Mulherin’s.
Trust the process
If you’re pulling out all the stops (a proposal perhaps?), then go for the crème de la crème of romantic date night dining, Hiroki. Don’t plan to pop the question at the table as flash photography is prohibited. Pro tip! Google omakase dining before you go. We’re sticking to our theme, always be prepared so you don’t flounder. Get it? Flounder! Seafood pun. Be aware, omakase is a kind of intimate group experience. Whether you’ll be seated at the sushi bar or in the dining room depends on the seating time you snag and affects your level of privacy. Expect each morsel of food to be made custom for you even according to size, expect to pay yens of money for an authentic experience, eat rice with your fingers, but everything else with chopsticks. No soy sauce or wasabi-drenched plates here. It’s handcrafted to the chef’s expectations and already balanced.
Sweet (tooth) on you
Party hop for dessert. Head to one of Fishtown’s sweet treat establishments on the way to your final destination. Can you tell we have a weakness for ice cream? Five Sisters Ice Cream and Sweets has a baklava Sundae worth the calories. Weckerly’s Ice Cream and Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream with the creative flavs. If you’re looking for a freshly baked treat stop by Ramona Susan's Bake Shop because no one can resist a pink cupcake.
Not ready to hang up your faux fur just yet? Round out the evening with a nightcap at R&D. Where the drinks are heavenly and the lighting will remind you why you fell in love with the face across the table from you.
photo credits: @wmmulherinssons, @jenisicecreams, @johnnybrendas, @weckerlys, @aleofhiroki, @nunubarphilly, @ramonasusansbakeshop, @rd_philly
Date Night with Rachel in Tacony
Rachel Shaw is always up for something new and that includes exploring Philly neighborhoods that you might not always think of. She and her husband look to the northern neighborhood, Tacony, for a relaxed and fun date night.
Holding hands
Convenient parking at the trailhead means easy access to strolling hand in hand on a sunset walk on the K&T Circut Trail. You can even keep the heels on as the pavement is smooth and brand new. Take your IG shots smooching with your lover while the lines of the Tacony Palmyra Bridge grace the background.
If you and your bae love architecture, take a walk or a Sunday drive down the tree-lined streets of the historic Disston Estate neighborhood. Many homes were built for employees of the Disston Saw Mill back in 1871. See if you can spot the plaques on the Victorian-style homes with dates and who it was built for.
Keep it casual
Roll up your sleeves and get out the wet wipes at Sweet Lucy’s Smokehouse, a neighborhood institution. With “pig out” specials for couples, friends, and family that run in honor of Valentine’s Day.
Shaken not stirred
If you’re dining at Sweet Lucy’s on a Friday or Saturday, pop into the nearby tasting room at City Distilling a few doors down. Step up to the bar that offers cocktails made with their City Street Vodka that will have you ready for romance. Special menus and events throughout the year and Valentine's Day is at the top of the list. Stock up on the adult bevie pouches to keep the party going at home.
Plan on ending the night at Curran’s Irish Bar. Depending on the day of the week you are celebrating your love, you may find Trivia nights, live music or just good times.
photo credits: traillink.com, @sweetlucys_bbq, @rachelfrancisshaw, @citystreetvodka, curransirishintacony.com, @njspots
Date Night with “The Kates” in Queen Village
Kate McCann and Kate Kyle are two different peas in a pod, but they adore hanging with each other. These gals know the high brow hot spots of their Queen Village neighborhood as well as the joints to get footloose and fancy free.
Class Act
Meet up and get in the mood for Galentines Day at Le Caveau. A “secret” bar above Good King Tavern. It’s dark, sexy and they are pouring fine wines without taking themselves too seriously (for example one of the snacks is a hotdog on a baguette). If you gather on a Tuesday, there are open bottles and a discussion to educate you on the nuances the wine of the evening possesses.
Save Room for Dessert
Since we know it’s hard to get a crowd of gals moving (especially if they are a group of Realtors), make it easy on yourselves and book a reservation (well in advance) for the Good King Tavern just downstairs. The vibe is ready for laughs, and the food is meant for sneaky sharing bites.
If they’re all booked at Good King, make a well-deserved detour to Southwark. Often showcasing tasting menus for special occasions, Valentine’s is no exception. Starting with Oysters (because wink wink) and ending with coffee and donuts it’s a win all around.
With a great cocktail list, and enough apps and pizza pies to satisfy your pickiest bud, Emmy Squared makes a great place to gather round and enjoy the food and gossip among friends. Go large format and get the punch to split with your besties. Hot tip: When the weather turns warm don’t miss out on the rooftop!
And the Night Goes On
If you’re getting relaxed from all these classy hangs, wrap up the night and let loose at Tattooed Moms. Find a corner and take it over, order some vegan-topped tater tots, and don’t forget your PHG sticker to leave your mark behind.
photo credits: 1 and 2 photo @lecaveaubar, @tgktavern, southwarkphl, emmysquaredpizza, tmoms
Date night with Peter Brooks in Port Richmond
This dad knows how to craft a good date night in his Port Richmond hood. Don’t mind if we’re the third wheel in this little narrative…. It was Cyndi that got us.
We start our journey at Nemi around 5 pm for $6 margaritas and shrimp tostada. The boisterous vibe (and tequila!) set the tone for what will be a fun night. Leaving Nemi we stroll east through the neighborhood, past Bonnie's house, and down to bustling Richmond Ave. As we wait for our table at the buzzing Lunar Inn, we wander a few storefronts up to peruse the top-notch selection of new and used records at Launderette. You score a pristine copy of Cyndi Lauper's 1983 banger, She's So Unusual, a portent of things to come.
Returning to the Lunar Inn, we are greeted by Emily, the owner, and bud of mine. She leads us to a sexy booth in the back of the humming, well-appointed bar; the DJ sets the mood with a perfect soundtrack of deep cuts and hits alike. The Lunar is all about asking the crew for the latest natural wine they are stoked on. We'll end up with a hazy, orange wine from a thought-to-be-extinct varietal, whose name we can't pronounce, grown in someone's backfield in the Catskills and it will be exactly what we want because that's just how the Lunar rolls. Shared plates are the move from the rotating menu and I always suggest we finish by sharing the burger.
Properly fed but still a bit thirsty, and in need of a digestif, we head to the bottle shop in the back of the bar called Tiny's because, well, it is tiny. We scour the shelves for the right amaro and head on our way.
As we walk home, fully intending to sip our Forthave Spirits by candlelight, we become enlivened by the crisp night air and get the sense that this night has a bit more to offer! Suddenly, you remember Cyndi in your purse and you're overwhelmed by the urge to sing Time After Time. Fortunately for us, just a short walk away lies the Tin Can Bar which ingeniously hosts prime-time karaoke. The night slowly fades away with city wides and singing and we wake the next morning in need of a strong coffee and pastries... good thing Reanimator Coffee is just down the block.
photo credits: @nemirestaurant, @thelunarinn, @tinysbottleshop, @launderette.records, @reanimatorcoffee, @tincanphilly
With its current moniker of Philadelphia’s “Little Italy”, Bella Vista prides itself on celebrating the best of Italian history and culture. In recent years, the neighborhood has become even more diverse, with growing Vietnamese and Mexican immigrant populations. The history of Bella Vista is vast, and one of the neighborhood’s modern highlights is the availability of different cuisine options.