SPG.com
The Italian-American community is strong in Philadelphia — the city is the home of Rocky, don't forget — and nowhere is it stronger than at the 9th Street Italian Market. It's a few minutes away from the Sheraton Society Hill, and also a step back in time, with its many stalls packed with produce, butcher counters full of custom-cut meats, and handmade sausages along with fishmongers purveying the morning's catch. There are also lots of great shops and restaurants surrounding the market so you don't go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. For an old-school Italian treat, have dinner at Villa di Roma, which is in the market. From the old-timey cash register (cash only!) to dishes like fried asparagus and eggplant parmigiana, it's a great comfort food spot.
If the market and Villa di Roma are examples of the city's Old World roots, Osteria is an example of modern Italian, both in the cuisine and the decor. The pizza rates among the country's best according to GQ's Alan Richman — baked in an 800° wood-fired oven imported from Italy — but the rest of the menu shines, too. Start with the house-cured salumi plate and don't stop till you get to the zuppa inglese (what tiramisu wants to be when it grows up).
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