Last Minute New Year's Eve in Philly

[holdtheline]

So I'm surprising my wife with a visit to Philly for New Year's. We have dinner plans for Friday night (at Morimoto's), but I need advice/recommendations for New Year's Eve dinner.

Since this is last minute, I have my doubts that reservations are available at prime dining time at the best places, and I don't know where to even start looking. I'd rather not have to wait for an hour or more for a table -- but I would be willing to go early to a no-reservations type of place.

My first choice would be Italian or pizza, or something else not available in DC (where we're from), though I'm open to other suggestions. My wife is not a meat eater, so it has to be veggie/seafood friendly. Price should not be too expensive, since we're doing Morimoto's on Friday.

Lastly, a non-dining question: any suggestions for what to do after dinner? Are there any good Web resources on events in Philly?

Thanks in advance for all your help.

[mrbigjas]

pizza not available in DC? sacrelidge! why just this weekend i was at the two amys eating a puttanesca pizza, and that other one with the salami on it. and some great pickled mackerel too. and it was insanely good.

chinatown is always an option for dinner--for the last several years we've gone to vietnam palace. seeing that you're from arlington, though, maybe you get your fill of vietnamese food...

after dinner, assuming you went to chinatown, you could walk down to penn's landing to see the fireworks, if you like that sort of thing. last year... or no wait, the year before, we did just that, eating at joe poon's restaurant (it's not there anymore), and then getting drinks at the dark horse before wandering out and watching the fireworks.

[holdtheline]

pizza not available in DC?  sacrelidge!  why just this weekend i was at the two amys eating a puttanesca pizza, and that other one with the salami on it.  and some great pickled mackerel too.  and it was insanely good. 

There is better pizza in DC the past few years than previously (including Pietanza in Arlington near our home), and there is great high-end Italian, but not nearly as much good Italian in the mid-price range as in Philly or Boston or NY, at least from what I understand from others. So I thought that would be a good idea.

And I'm a plain margherita pizza fan myself -- simple tomato sauce, fresh cheese, basil or other herbs, thin crust.

chinatown is always an option for dinner--for the last several years we've gone to vietnam palace.  seeing that you're from arlington, though, maybe you get your fill of vietnamese food...

I'm not looking for Asian -- we've eaten our fair share of Chinese recently, and we've got great Vietnamese within a few minutes of our home, and we're eating Japanese Friday night.

after dinner, assuming you went to chinatown, you could walk down to penn's landing to see the fireworks, if you like that sort of thing.  last year... or no wait, the year before, we did just that, eating at joe poon's restaurant (it's not there anymore), and then getting drinks at the dark horse before wandering out and watching the fireworks.

←

Are the fireworks at midnight or earlier?

[mrbigjas]

they're at midnight.

[mrbigjas]

further thoughts, since no one seems to have any other ideas: if you can get a hold of the philadelphia weekly or the city paper, i saw lots of ads for new years eve things at various restaurants. i'm just not sure the ads are on line, but the print edition definitely has a lot...

[Daniel]

I am going to Philly for New Years.. I am doing Morimotos for NYE and most likely Vetris for the day after.. I havent been but have heard great things about the place.. Maybe see if Vertis has openings..

[chowfun]

There may still be tickets left to see the Radiators in Ardmore, PA on NYE. They are playing at a private club and there will be open bar and a buffet. I cant vouch for the food, but the music will be great! Its a small venue and I have always had a great time seeing them there. Check their website for information on getting tickets. the radiators in ardmore