Irwin's Is Serving Sicilian Pasta In One Of Philly's Iconic Buildings

Philadelphia is more than just the City of Brotherly Love. It is home to over 6,000 restaurants that embody the city's diversity (per Billy Penn). Of course, Philly may be best known for its numerous cheese steak shops and iconic soft pretzel stands, but it has much more to offer — and people are starting to notice.

In 2019, the city received two major food honors. Zahav, a modern Israeli restaurant, was awarded James Beard's Outstanding Restaurant of the Year, and Food & Wine named Philly restaurant Cadence as its Best New Restaurant (Forbes). But beyond the accolades, the country's sixth largest city offers food from almost all areas of the globe. You can find barbacoa tacos, Ethiopian food, authentic Chinese food, and tons of vegetarian and vegan options — with each of the city's unique neighborhoods having its own restaurant scene. South Philly is traditionally an Italian hub, while West Philly caters to the college crowd with fast casual dives and pizza joints galore (per Eater Philadelphia). In 2018, a new restaurant emerged, showcasing amazing food with incredible views.

Irwin's in South Philly was recently named one of Bon Appetit's 10 best new restaurants in the country. Here, chef Michael Vincent Ferreri delights guests with his take on modern Sicilian cuisine, offering homemade pasta, swordfish, and Agrodolce chicken for the main courses. Appetizer offerings include eggplant caponata, lamb chops, and monkfish (per Irwin's).

The delicious twist on Sicilian cooking isn't the only thing attracting crowds; the restaurant is located eight stories up in Philadelphia's BOK building. The iconic building was once a vocational high school. Today, each classroom is occupied by new tenants, ranging from vintage stores to art studios to a children's playspace (per Building Bok).

Irwin's is located on the top floor in what used to be a nursing classroom. Guests can choose to dine inside the mid-century modern-themed dining room or outside on the rooftop terrace overlooking Center City. While you take in the fantastic food and views, order from their selection of biodynamic wines (Bon Appetit). Reservations are recommended, especially now that it's scored a place on the best new restaurants list.