Saloon Restaurant

"Saloon is an Italian restaurant, but it’s also a quintessential South Philly dining experience. It’s been around for decades, and is still outfitted with dark wood walls and candlelight, stained glass windows, and paraphernalia from 19th and 20th century Philadelphia. The staff has as much personality as the building itself—picture heeled, Delco-accented servers reciting three minutes' worth of specials. Though the menu ranges from traditional steakhouse dishes like clams casino and petite filet with mashed potatoes, stick to the Italian specialties like the linguine pescatore with jumbo shrimp and a buttery lobster francaise." - alison kessler, candis mclean

"Saloon is an Italian restaurant, but it’s also a quintessential South Philly dining experience. It’s been around for 55 years, and is still outfitted with dark wood walls and candlelight, stained glass windows, and paraphernalia from 19th and 20th century Philadelphia. The staff has as much personality as the building itself (and most have been around just as long). The menu ranges from traditional steakhouse dishes like clams casino and petite filet with mashed potatoes, but we’re partial to the Italian house specialties, like the linguine pescatore with jumbo shrimp and a buttery lobster Francaise (and if Rocky were real, he would be, too)." - candis mclean, alison kessler

"Sure, Saloon is an Italian restaurant, but the massive rowhome could easily be a branch of the city's official archives. It’s outfitted with stained glass windows and dentist signs from the 20th century, and the staff has as much personality as the building itself—imagine Delco-accented servers reciting three minutes' worth of specials and showing off silver platters of desserts without once tripping in their heels. Though the menu ranges from traditional steakhouse dishes like clams casino and petite filet, stick to the Italian specialties like the linguine pescatore with jumbo shrimp and a buttery lobster francaise." - alison kessler, candis mclean

"For more than 50 years, this intimate South Philly Italian spot has been welcoming diners with generous portions of linguine pescatore, veal parmigiana, and the signature Bosses’ Chicken, a paillard topped with sweet and hot peppers. No word on whether or not that last dish was a favorite of restaurant regular Joey Merlino, a noted mob boss. Reserve tables in the dining room or bar through OpenTable." - Ernest Owens

"Philly’s oldest chophouse has been in business for over five decades. Queen Village’s Saloon combines a big menu of Italian dishes with cuts of beef, each of which comes with a special sauce such as creamy cognac mustard or port wine. And the second-floor bar features live music — legend has it that Billy Joel once played for hours after his meal." - Ernest Owens, Eater Staff