One of Philadelphia's premier restaurants is almost hidden on 17th Street.
Davio's, a restaurant that prides itself on fusing Northern Italian cuisine with the traditional steakhouse is located on the second floor of the Provident Bank Building between Chestnut and Sansom streets.
The Philadelphia restaurant is one of four Davio's in the United States. The other three are located in Boston, Cambridge, Mass. and Providence, R.I.
Upon entering the Philadelphia location from the restaurant's private elevator, the diner is welcomed into a bar area that feels like home.
| Davio?s 111 S. 17th Street (215) 563-4810 Fare: Steakhouse $14-$20 Stylish, Northern Italian steakhouse serving dry-aged steaks, veal chops and lobster. |
Soft lighting falls on oversized chairs and sofas placed opposite of the restaurant's extensive bar.
The restaurant's seating area is separated from the bar by the Maitre d' station.
The dining room is fairly large but is broken up well by window partitions that help create an intimate and quiet dining environment.
Our server, Ricardo, made an exquisite meal even better with his personality and knowledge of the restaurant's menu.
I began the meal with the soup special recommended by Ricardo. The soup was a mixture of ground red apple, cinnamon, nutmeg and gorgonzola cheese, among other ingredients. A unique combination, it was absolutely delicious and served at exactly the right temperature.
My guest started her meal with the beef tenderloin carpaccio topped with baby arugula, fennel, red oak leaf salad, shaved reggiano cheese and a pine nut pesto ($14).
We then shared the warm spinach salad ($9). The salad was topped with roasted peppers, Portobello mushrooms, goat cheese, pine nuts, pancetta and a shallot vinaigrette.
When our entrees arrived I was presented with the certified angus porterhouse steak ($36), which equals any steak I have had at some of Philadelphia's premier steakhouses.
My guest ordered the entree serving of the applewood smoked chicken over penne ($24) garnished with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and a walnut cream sauce.
We also split the roasted garlic mashed potatoes ($5) with our dinners.
Ricardo took care of us with skill and hospitality the entire night and made sure that our every need was met.
And when we thought we couldn't eat any more, they rolled out the Davio's dessert cart.
Among their delectable looking selections, we chose the tiramisu and the chocolate souffle, both of which were spectacular.
Davio's certainly offers one of the best dining experiences among the elite restaurants in Philadelphia.
Just recently Davio's was one of two restaurants in Philadelphia given the honor of hosting the Louis XIII Ultimate Dinner. The other was Le Bec Fin.
The Ultimate Dinner will benefit the James Beard Foundation, which recognizes culinary excellence in a variety of ways.
While not for the faint of wallet, Davio's -- in its almost hidden location on 17th Street -- is definitely a place to seek out and enjoy.
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