Philadelphia food and wine gift certificates

December 17, 9:59 PMPhiladelphia Restaurant ExaminerLindsay Lovier

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Philadelphia Restaurant Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Gift certificates to Barclay Prime are always welcome!

Skip the played-out fruitcake. Give the foodies in your life what they really want…gift certificates! Below, ten personalized suggestions for those who adore…

Italian

Osteria, nominated for “Best New Restaurant of 2008” by the James Beard Foundation, is both fun and fabulous. Choose from more casual entrees like the mela e noci pizza smothered with apples, black walnuts taleggio and parmigiano. Or, go gourmet with entrees like swordfish spiedini served with cauliflower risotto.

Seafood

The Oceanaire Seafood Room serves an ever rotating menu of fresh fish in what feels like a glamorous 1930’s ocean liner. Try the grand shellfish platter with a glass of champagne, or the grilled Hawaiian Wahoo. Plus, get $25 back for every $100 you spend – a little for you, a little for them.

Steak

Go for broke at Barclay Prime, which hands down cooks the best steak in the city. The restaurant is vintage Stephen Starr swank with superior service and upscale food, like the yellowtail sashimi, lobster bisque and 20 oz. dry aged rib-eye.

Wine

Philadelphia’s Wine School offers gift certificates towards wine education classes from beginner through advanced levels, with classes like “Napa Valley and Beyond.”

Chocolate

Naked Chocolate Café has everything for the sweet tooth in your life. This jewelbox shop bursts with items to eat there (hot cups of homemade cocoa, delectable dark chocolate cupcakes) or items to-go (bags of peppermint bark, pumpkin spice malt balls and lavender infused savories).

Vegetarian

Maoz Vegetarian proves that fast food can be healthy. Your progressive vegetarian friend can grab a homemade pita stuffed with trans-fat-free falafel for cheap, then load it up with fixins at the salad bar.

Asian Fusion

Pearl has gotten rave reviews for its hip approach towards Asian fusion. Trendy club-like décor and fun entrees such as lobster pad thai and caramelized pork belly with green tea mustard will impress your stylish friends, along with the list of Sex & the City-style cocktails.

Beer

Tria’s Fermentation School brings in master brewers to talk details, then lets you “drink and eat the syllabus” – awesome.

Gourmet Cheese

Claudio’s is the crème de la crème of cheese shops, offering everything from aged to soft and in-between. The guys that work the counter are educated aficionados and can offer suggestions for entertaining, plus they’ll happily let you taste before you buy.

Bar Food

Chickie’s and Pete’s has been offering Philly diners crab fries, wings and cheesesteak nachos for years. Get that sports-lovin’, mozzarella stick-eatin’ guy in your life a gift certificate he’ll actually appreciate – money towards drinking and eating with the boys.