Best and Brightest Chefs to Ring in 2013

Grab a reservation at any one of these hotspots for your last meal of 2012.

Don’t take 2012’s final meal lightly. Instead, decide to devour a dinner crafted by one of our culinary scene’s major players—each touting fine-tuned technique and multi-course feasts unlike the other. Dive into the details below, and don’t delay in booking your New Year’s Eve reservations—their dining rooms will fill up quickly.

Backed by the heavy-hitting culinary duo Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook, the Montgomery Avenue glatt kosher eatery, Citron and Rose, is well-deserving of a year-ending toast. Promising chef Yehuda Sichel reigns over the kitchen, and will surely delight guests over special New Year’s Eve prix fixe. Amuse bouches of truffled deviled eggs and smoked salmon fritters will introduce you to his craft, and courses like the seared albacore tuna, beef carpaccio, rack of lamb and Tahitian vanilla cake will acquaint you with what he does best, leaving you craving another—yet another—revisit to the attractive Merion restaurant. Cost is $75 per person, reservations available by calling (610) 664–4919.

The laid-back vibe of Saint James is attractive, the perfect landscape for celebrating a year’s end, and toasting to what’s to come. If you’re looking for a polished, yet low-key dinner out, speckled with approachable options and high-end touches, consider chef Michael Schulson’s Suburban Square-based American-style bistro. Together with chef Matt Moon, Schulson crafts eye-catching dishes like wild mushroom flatbreads with truffle and Parmesan, tender brisket-topped gnocchi, saffron seafood stew, and classic flat iron steaks. A delightfully extensive raw bar is also up for grabs. Pop by the brightly-illuminated bar pre-dinner for a Maple Old-Fashioned—it will not disappoint. Call (610) 649–6200 for reservations.

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Media’s educated tea bar accented in an Asian-inspired setting, Lotus Farm to Table, recently introduced a talented young chef Ryan Sulikowski to spice up the farm-forward BYOB. Creativity is expected during an evening with Ryan, so why not get adventurous over your year’s last meal? For New Year’s Eve at the funky 32-seat cafe, a five-course tasting will be served—one laden with cured Scottish deep sea trout with chili-roasted peanuts, carrot and saffron soup infused with pork belly and gingerbread mushrooms, moulard duck breast with rutabaga and burn Parmesan cake, and flourless chocolate cake with house-made sea salt ice cream. Call (610) 565–5554 for reservations.

Chef Andrew Deery and his Phoenixville-based BYOB, Majolica, is nothing new to dining row on Bridge Street. The culinary artist’s craft continues to mesmerize diners, serving up dishes that re-envision and reconstruct the way we typically tackle each plate. His six-course, New Year’s Eve tasting menu will allow guests to fully explore his innovative, local-first cuisine—but, the dinner party doesn’t start until after his champagne reception, which debuts at 6 p.m. The setup is communal seating, and the menu will highlight the best dishes he has presented throughout 2012. Cost is $85 per person; reservations are made online by clicking here.

In the city’s sea of ambitious, talented chefs, George Sabatino and his snug 28-seater, Stateside, ranks high on local food lover’s must-revisit lists. Found situated along East Passyunk Avenue in gorgeous, exposed brick, warm cream and burnt orange walls, and butcher block-lined tabletops, the honest, local-sourced eatery has received a ridiculous amount of praise this year—and justifiably so. Join the young chef for your final 2012 feast, toasting to his accomplishments over five courses of perfection. Menu includes small plates of roasted, pickled sunchokes with smoked trout and burnt leek, duck and mushroom raviolo with foie gras butter, and Angus Hanger steak with bone marrow croquettes. Cost is $65 per person; wine pairing
available at additional $25. Call (215) 551–2500 for reservations.

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