Top Seafood Restaurants In Philadelphia
Get a taste of the sea in Philadelphia. From fresh fish to the best crustaceans, the city has plenty to offer to all seafood lovers. Last year, CBS Philly brought you a list of the top seafood restaurants in Philly, but this year brings new favorites (and a few that are worth repeating!) to satisfy any pescatarian.
DiNardo's Famous Seafood
312 Race St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 925-5115
www.dinardos.com
Family owned since 1976, DiNardo's is a longtime Philadelphia tradition. Known for its shell-cracking crab feasts, the Old City restaurant flies in fresh crabs from the Gulf Coast every day. Crabs are either served sautéed with garlic and the DiNardo secret sauce or "hot and dirty" Baltimore-style with plenty of seasoning. Classic DiNardo favorites are indicated on the menu by a crab icon, so you know that dishes like crab soup, fried oysters, crab-stuffed flounder, seafood salad and the famous crab cake sandwich are recipes that have been bringing guests back for years.
Gallo's Seafood
8101 Roosevelt Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19152
(215) 333-0484
www.gallosseafood.com
A Northeast Philly favorite since 1966, Gallo's has a way of being both homey and huge at the same time. Between the sit-down restaurant, burger bar, recently renovated banquet room and takeout menu, there's something for everyone, whether you're looking to grab a drink and some fried calamari after work or plan a party for the entire family. While there are always a few chicken and beef options, the seafood here is clearly the specialty. Traditional dishes such as fried jumbo lump crab cakes, baked flounder and the shrimp sampler are favorites, and seasonal specials are often added to the list. "Early Birders" will love the Sunset Specials offered from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Little Fish BYOB
746 S. 6th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(267) 455-0172
www.littlefishbyob.com
As the name implies, this quaint Bella Vista spot is a tiny BYOB that makes up for what it lacks in square footage with an abundance of lovely seafood dishes. The menu changes often, so your best bet is to not get your heart set on anything until you've had the chance to check out the chalkboard menu for the day. For the full experience, Chef Chadd Jenkins's offers a five-course tasting menu on Sunday evenings with seatings at 5:30 and 8 p.m. For $33 per person, you can enjoy creative dishes such as octopus garnished with capers and blackberries or lamb paired with cobia. Make reservations early, as this former "hole in the wall" has been known to book a month in advance on Sundays.
Related: Top Hearty Soups In Philadelphia
Oyster House
1516 Sansom St.
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 567-7683
www.oysterhousephilly.com
The story of the Mink family and oysters goes back to 1947, when Samuel Mink bought Kelly's seafood restaurant in Philadelphia on Mole Street. Though the menu, location and name have changed over the years, the Mink family has been serving oysters ever since. Now under third-generation ownership, the Oyster House serves an ever-changing menu of oysters at the restaurant's raw bar. And Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., you can enjoy the famous buck-a-shuck happy hour. Another favorite offer is the New England-style clam bake "dump dinner" available for parties of six or more. With reservations and 48-hour notice, guests will feast on steamed clams and mussels, lobster, sausage, kale and potatoes for $25 per person.
Positano Coast
212 Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 238-0499
www.positanocoast.net
With six restaurants in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Aldo Lamberti has been bringing delicious Italian cuisine to hungry guests since 1985. His Old City spot, Positano Coast, is inspired by his seaside hometown in Italy. Enjoy creative twists on classic Italian specialties, including plenty of fresh seafood and fish and amazing crudo (Italian-style sashimi). Favorites include pan-seared branzino, grilled octopus and sea urchin pasta. Visit during happy hour Monday through Friday from 5 - 7 p.m. or Sunday from 1 - 5 p.m. to enjoy drink specials such as the signature lemon drop.
Related: Top Area Fishmongers
Michelle Hein is the social media editor for a women's fashion company in Bucks County by day and a self-proclaimed food and drink fanatic by night and weekend. She enjoys attending wine classes, trying new recipes in the kitchen and going to old favorites and new restaurants alike in the Bucks County and Philadelphia area. If the writing gig doesn't pan out, she constantly dreams of owning her own bakery…perhaps connected to the restaurant/bar that her lawyer fiance would love to open.
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