"Philly has plenty of Middle Eastern food, and we can’t seem to escape Mediterranean restaurants. But Emmett, a sophisticated restaurant in Kensington, delivers a combination that you won’t find anywhere else. The service is seamless, and drinks like a lamb fat washed-rye cocktail are as fine-tuned as what’s coming from the kitchen. Influences come from the Levant, with stops in France, Italy, and the American South, but no matter the inspiration, every dish is delicious. Horseradish-flooded wagyu tartlets are topped with wasabi caps, charred carrots bathe in spicy mangal jam, and the ruby red duck–the city’s best–is paired with caramelly dates and seared foie. Eating an array of confident, complex dishes isn’t the issue at Emmett. Figuring out how to try them all is." - candis mclean, alison kessler