A Weekend in Fishtown, Philadelphia with Lace Miller, Head of Dining
Philadelphia has been a hub for blending cultures and building community. For me, that’s what Hospitality is all about. It’s not just about the excellent food; it’s about the love that goes into running a business day to day and the loyal guests that keep it afloat. There is so much support surrounding new businesses evolving and such a love for the ones that have been around for years.
Where I stayed: Anna & Bel
Images courtesy of Douglas Lyle Thompson
Anna & Bel is the newest Boutique hotel in the up-and-coming neighborhood of Fishtown, Philadelphia. Anna & Bel, formerly an 18th-century women's asylum, has been completely renovated into an art-focused urban oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The rooms range from studio and king suites and standard rooms. All of which have balconies overlooking the courtyard's heated pool. The rooms are tranquil, with a touch of contemporary art and vintage touches.
The hotel offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Bastia, the Mediterranean-driven restaurant, and Caletta, a specialty cocktail bar with Italian small bites.
Dining out: Bastia & Meetinghouse
Bastia images courtesy of Gab Bonghi
The best part about staying in Fishtown is that it is filled with a vibrant culinary scene, art, and music. Some of the best restaurants are in this area, and even if you are not staying at Anna & Bell, it is worth the hype to venture.
That brings me to Bastia, a coastal Mediterranean restaurant located inside Anna & Bel. Bastia is run by Chef-Partner Tyler Akin, a Wilmington Delaware native who found his way to Philadelphia through Mike Solomonov for a position as sous chef at landmark Israeli restaurant Zahav. The dishes at Bastia draw inspiration from Corsica and Sardinia. Everything is made to share so we ordered about 6 dishes. Each dish was bursting with different flavors and better than the next.
Favorite Dishes: Shaved artichokes with celery, sunchoke, and parmesan to start. The bluefin tuna with sun-dried tomatoes, bottarga, and olive might have been my favorite bite. The malloreddus pasta with wild boar, chestnut, and oregano was hearty and warm. Lastly, the roasted gallus brun chicken with squash, mushrooms, and piparra pepper beurre blanc.
The next night, we went to a friend who lives in Philly's favorite spot to eat, Meetinghouse. Meetinghouse is an unassuming pub and beer bar in the Olde Richmond neighborhood. In the front is a casual bar where people are drinking perfect pours of cold Guinness. In the back is a simple and cozy pub with wooden tables and candlesticks dripped with wax to create a romantic feel. The menu is tiny but mighty. Everything is done so simply but to perfection. They also make their own beer, which you can purchase on your way out, and they will give you a cute tote to go with it.
Favorite Dishes: The warm crab dip, green salad with vinaigrette, a massive turkey cutlet that takes up half the table, the fries are cooked to perfection, and Fridays were fish night, so we ordered the flounder Milanese special topped with fresh dill and cornichons. We ended the night with the cherry cheesecake and stared at the table next to us, who ordered homemade vanilla ice cream with a shot of creme de menthe, which I thought was clever.
Favorite Shops: VESTIGE & Franklin & Poe
Vestige is a carefully curated shop in Fishtown, founded in 2015. They offer unique products, vintage and independent designer apparel, jewelry, and home goods in a thoughtfully designed space.
Franklin & Poe takes inspiration in quality and durable goods for both men and women that are expertly made in the US, Japan, and Europe. The items they sell are not only quality but tell a bigger story making them timeless pieces for your everyday wardrobe.
For Coffee: Reanimator Coffee Roasters
For Pastries: Suraya’s green cardamom Kouign Amann
For Lunch: A Sandwich at Liberty Kitchen PHL
Restaurants Worth Noting: Kalaya & Tulip Pasta & Wine Bar
Before you leave: Cheesesteaks at Angelo’s
The weekend isn’t finished until we head down to South Philly to pick up cheesesteaks and pizza to-go from Angelo’s and bring it home to our family on Sunday. They open at 11 AM, and the line starts to form around 10:30AM. I highly suggest getting there early and ordering a cheesesteak with cooper sharp cheddar, onions, and sweet peppers.
Contributor — Lace Miller | Head of Dining
Lace has lived most of her adult life in NYC working in Hospitality. She has worked almost every position you can work in restaurants and immersed herself in the culinary world where her main passion lies. When she isn't finding your perfect restaurant to go to on a Friday night, she is at the farmers market gathering produce to thoughtfully prepare a home cooked meal while sipping on a negroni and lending an ear to some of the greats like Nina Simone and Billie Holiday.