Italian hoagie
$, Pizza, Italian, Bella Vista
"Lorenzo's is the Bibou staff's (almost) daily lunch. We sometimes get variations (roast beef, cheesesteak, etc.), but the classic Italian hoagie, consistently made with fresh products, is our favorite."
ChefPierre Calmels
Philadelphia
My Venues
Accolades
- Top 10 New Restaurants (Bibou)GQ Magazine
- Nominee for Best Chef: Mid-AtlanticJames Beard Foundation
- Nominee for Best New Restaurant (Bibou)James Beard Foundation
- Best of Philly: BibouPhiladelphia magazine
- "The best French bistro in the entire country" (Bibou)Wine critic Robert Parker
- ChefsFeed WinnerOne of the Best Things to Eat in Philly
Where I Go Out
Arista sandwich
$, Sandwiches, Italian, North Philadelphia
"Paesano's is right down the street from Bibou, making it another lunch favorite for my staff and me. The best sandwich there is the Arista, loaded with suckling pig, long hots, broccoli rabe, and sharp Provolone."
Sunday brunch
$$$$, French, Restaurant, Center City
"This is a longtime, New Year's Day tradition for our family. Chef Jon and his staff are always offering a unique experience during brunch. The menu changes often, but the selection of cold salads, raw bar, hot stations in the kitchen, and chocolate fountain offerings are just perfect. Champagne is required!"
To-Philly roll
$$$, Sushi, Japanese, Full Bar, Sake Bar, Center City
"Every single item served by chef-owner Zama Tanaka is delicious. (They even have a Bibou Roll named for our restaurant.) But my favorite is the To-Philly roll, with a top layer of tofu skin that makes it incredible."
Spinach gnocchi with brown butter
$$, Full Bar, Italian, Center City
"Tossed in brown butter, Marc Vetri's excellent spinach gnocchi have a feather-like texture. In a city of great pastas, this is the best of the best."
Honey whiskey Eberly Farm chicken wings
$$, Happy Hour, Burgers, Reservations, Modern, Full Bar, Gastropub, Center City
"Glazed in whiskey-spiked honey sauce, the wings at Pub & Kitchen are number one in the city. Late-night along with a local beer, nothing is better."
At My Venues
Duck confit
$$$, French, Bella Vista
"The duck confit at Bibou is luscious perfection. Chef Pierre Calmels serves it over a beautiful white bean cassoulet. Simple and magnificent!"
Bone marrow
$$$, French, Bella Vista
"Besides the fact that it's really simple yet luxurious and rich in texture, I love that there's something primal about it. The presentation of the femur bone split in half is pretty cool, too."
Bone marrow
$$$, French, Bella Vista
"This here is last meal-type stuff. A marrow bone is sawed in half, and then the marrow is removed and cooked with foie gras and breadcrumbs. It's all put back into the bone and then oven-roasted. Amazing."
Pied de porc
$$$, French, Bella Vista
"Foie gras is one of my favorite things to eat, so stuffing it inside a pig's foot elevates it to something even better than I could have imagined!"
Escargots
$$$, French, Bella Vista
"Pierre and Charlotte Calmels know French food! The snails are cooked with fava beans, trumpet mushrooms, and finished with tarragon. It's a nice twist from the classic parsley-and-garlic combination."
Pied de porc
$$$, French, Bella Vista
"Unfortunately, I only dine at Bibou once a year, so that means I'm craving the foie-stuffed pig trotter for the remaining 364 days out of the year. This dish is amazing! It's pure bliss for an experienced foodie or a wonderful step into the French culinary world for a novice. Braised to perfection, the pork and foie melt in your mouth."
