"There are a few things that make South Philly’s Heavy Metal Sausage exceptional: they regularly play rock from the late '90s, the smoky, tangy bologna from their antipasto tower, and the creamy risotto sizzling in the pan behind the counter, beckoning to you from its perch. We’re all-of-the-above kind of people, but we’ll stick to the pasta for now. The deli-by-day and trattoria-by-night has a $125 per person tasting menu, which always features plates like a luxurious tuna confit with juicy raisins over fettuccine noodles so thick that they could pass for ribbons. Grab a table, sing along to Yellowcard, and wait for the best ricotta ravioli you’ve had in years to hit the table." - alison kessler, candis mclean