The buzz built for months before this teensy Northern European BYOB opened on East Passyunk, and Chicago chef/owner Joncarl Lachman’s house-smoked fish and anise-based sauces certainly don’t disappoint now that it’s operating and working to please patrons night after night. Lachman adds warmth to his rustic cold-weather seaside dishes by personally greeting guests. Come in and sample this Dutch cuisine and enjoy the white-tableclothed experience, and frequently house-made selections along with your favorite bottle. Reservations are recommended, along with a rich Alsatian or Burgundian white wine to bring out the flavors of your entree best. 1046 Tasker St., 267-909-9704, noordphilly.com

This contemporary American corner spot delivers selections done in top-notch style, like elegantly prepared sea scallops, pork belly, sweet potato green curry soup, seared foie gras and salmon among other choices. A seven-course tasting menu is a fantastic option for those not sure what to pick and offers diners some variety, so they know what to order the next few times they come in. The plentiful bar allows patrons to fulfill their drink preferences, whatever they may be. On weekends, however, they’re also free to BYOB. Be sure and make a reservation if you’re serious about coming in; Fond is hot.

Lauded as one of the nation’s best French bistros, this quaint, cash-only BYOB is well-deserving of the countless glowing reviews bestowed upon its warm, personalized service and exceptional cuisine. French-born chef Pierre Calmels performs magic magnifique in the kitchen, creating seasonal masterpieces like tarragon-flavored escargots, heavenly foie gras with saut�ed apricot, succulent hangar steak with green peppercorn sauce and savory bone marrow stuffing. Lovely cr�me Brulee and buttery fruit pies provide a fantastic finale. Bibou boasts the intimacy of eating in what feels like a friend’s home, accompanied by top-notch cuisine in a quiet setting fit for a truly special evening out.

Stop by this great little restaurant during the day and you’ll love the simple yet authentic Italian breakfast and lunch options. For a true Italian, this is heaven. When dinnertime rolls around, the place turns into the amazing new place you tell your friends about, but secretly don’t want them to go to because it’s so good and you want it all to yourself. Try the mushroom caponata with beets, pine nuts and zabaglione, the octopus with cannellini beans, basil and potato or the fazzoletti with preserved citrus, oregano, chili, and bottarga. It’s also a BYOB, so don’t forget your favorite beverage.

Before James Beard chef Michael Solomonov opened the only upscale Israeli restaurant in Philadelphia, he took his entire staff to Israel to give them a taste of the land, the spirit and the food. The result is a very modern experience that draws from recipes cooked since ancient times. Innovative drinks, a small-plates approach and one of the largest Israeli wine lists outside of the Middle East make Zahav an ideal place to go to learn about an unfamiliar cuisine or return again and again for old favorites. The restaurant Esquire rated a Top 20 Best New Restaurant in 2008 is romantic, intimate and lively enough to provide a welcoming setting for couples, families and friends.

Fork is an Old City gem that serves up seasonal fine dining in a refined and contemporary setting. The restaurant attracts a crowd looking for delicious yet edgy ingredient combinations and is especially popular among the millennial crowd. They proudly source many ingredients from local farmers in the surrounding area and serve up dinner seven nights a week along with a delicious Sunday brunch you won’t want to miss. Chef Eli Kulp’s staff continues to churn out creative, handmade dishes that combine unexpected flavors and ingredients. Many times the evening’s entire menu will center around a specific ingredient or item and move creatively from there. Stop in to see how this sleek eatery satisfies the palate in an interesting and creative way.

Two floors of ingredient-driven cuisine are what you’ll find at Vernick Food & Drink. Recognized as a Rising Philadelphia Chef by Star Chefs, Greg Vernick and his wife Julie bring artful dishes to the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood. Cuisine choices include a variety of small plate options, raw choices, selections served on toast, as well as a host of exquisite vegetable options. Vernick also excels at its large plate choices, such as grilled black sea bass, pork blade steak and steamed halibut over pea leaves for seafood lovers. Also, tempting are the delicious meat portions roasted in the on-site wood-fired oven. The lovely open kitchen layout here gives patrons the opportunity to observe their food as it’s being prepared.

With only 35 seats, this nationally acclaimed restaurant is booked one to two months in advance, so call way ahead for reservations. Chef-owner Marc Vetri prepares elegant “new” Italian cuisine, served only as a prix fixe menu for $135. Seasonally rotating entrees include unusual meats like chestnut fettucini with boar and cocoa, baby goat with freshly stone-milled polenta and Texas antelope with squash and Amarone sauce. The signature dessert, chocolate polenta souffl�, sounds wacky, but it’s quite good. Business dress appropriate. Vetri closes for one week in January and two weeks in August, so call ahead if you’re thinking about dining here during those months.

Anyone who thinks vegan food can’t be flavorful hasn’t eaten at Vedge. Not only is this friendly and inviting Center City restaurant the best vegan/vegetarian join in Philly and the entire United States (by leaps and bounds) it might very well be among the best restaurants. Period. The husband and wife team who run the kitchen at Vedge manage to produce amazingly flavorful French-inspired dishes that are so decadent, it’s hard to believe they’re not made with heaps of butter and cream. Housed in a cute, old Victorian rowhome, this restaurant is attractive as well as convenient. Delicious, creatively-presented vegetarian food in a beautiful setting near Center City always puts Vedge at the top of our restaurant list.

This BYO bistro serves up French-inspired cuisine to South Philadelphia diners looking for a fresh alternative to fine dining. Chef Nicholas Elmi, who has cooked at other top Philadelphia restaurants like Le Bec Fin, fills his menu with just fourteen choices, comprising four courses. Their carefully chosen, intriguing tasting menu is available 5 days a week. With room for just 22 in his eatery, the atmosphere and the experience is both intimate and personal. Whether you’re starting out with the melon and yuzu potage, moving on to the arctic char, or digging into the roasted walu, your taste buds will awaken and thank you. End with chef-chosen cheeses and local honey.