E! Goes In On Philly’s Best Restos

It seems like everyone with enough fine motor control to wield a fork has an opinion on Philly’s best eateries. If I had a dime for every top 10 (or 25, 50, or 100) list I’ve read – or glanced at… or ignored – on the subject… well, let’s just say I’d have my morning coffee covered for a while.

Seeing E! Network (purveyors of such haute cultural offerings as #RichKids of Beverly Hills and Kourtney & Kim Take Miami) weigh in on the subject was, to say the least, compelling enough to snap me out of my restaurant-ranking ennui. After all, these airheads specialize in D-list celebrity reality shows and Hollywood fashion roundups hosted by Achmed the Dead Terrorist… I mean, Joan Rivers. What could they possibly know about cuisine in the City of Brotherly Love? Turns out, the answer is “quite a bit.”

Amada, purveyor of delicious tapas and sweet Spanish vino, was a “no kidding” inclusion on the list. Photo: Amada

E!’s list of the 9 Hottest Philadelphia Restaurants is short on surprises, but long on good taste. Giving us plenty of well-deserved-but-so-often-overlooked praise for culinary excellence (since we do eat food other than cheesesteaks and water ice, and a lot of it is pretty damn good), the list provides a comprehensive, if not especially innovative overview of the heavy hitters in Philly’s eats scene.

Amada, Fond, Zahav, and and Dandelion are all unsurprising inclusions. Vetri is on there as well, winning praise for their scrumptious fresh pasta and ultra-luxe prix fixe tasting menu. A more interesting choice was Market East’s Lolita, which is, as of the time I’m writing this, closed. This upscale, former-BYOB Mexican joint is a few weeks away from re-opening with a booze menu and the ability to take credit card payments. Despite some sketch reviews on Yelp and a reputation for serving up better “scene” than supper, Lolita’s perennial popularity allows it to pass muster when included alongside its objective betters.

E! veers into “you in danger, girl” territory by sticking its neck out and dubbing Gennaro’s the best pizza in town. Someone should have told the West Coast crowd that Philly residents are nigh on territorial about pizza as they are regarding cheesesteaks wit’ or wit’out.

Got beef with the rankings? Feel like your favorite was slighted? Let us know about it.