Ardent admirers find “a spot of heaven” overlooking the Square at the Rittenhouse’s “handsome”, “special-occasion” French, which provides “memorable” tasting menus of “micro-gastronomic” feats that “explode on your taste buds” (plus a “divine” Sunday brunch), augmented by a “great wine list” and “impeccable” service; “bring your expense-account card”, “sit near a window” and experience one of Philly’s “wows”; N.B. jacket suggested.

“Serious cooking” from Sean Weinberg’s “wood-fired grill” attracts a “gourmet” crowd to this “warm” Malvern New American offering locally driven, “nuanced” cuisine (including a five-course tasting menu and “innovative” antipasti plates) served by “professionals”; quibbles about “noise” and “smoke” from the grill aside, “it doesn’t get much better than this” in the ’burbs; N.B. it now serves alcohol but you can BYO ($7 corkage).

Basque-ing in superlatives such as “awesome” and “sublime”, Jose Garces’ “intimate” Spanish sibling of Amada near Rittenhouse Square offers an “ever-changing” assortment of “fantastic” small plates, backed by “pitchers of sangria” and “unusual wines”; the “knowledgeable” staff “makes solid suggestions”, and even after an expansion of the “claustrophobia”-inducing space, some quip it’ll still “cost your first born to get a reservation.”

“Come hungry” for “huge” portions of “insanely delicious”, “unique” vegetarian vittles served by a “fun, helpful” staff at Mike and Holly Jackson’s “small”, “crowded” Bucks strip-mall BYO; fans who dub it “my blue heaven” say “whether you’re a veggie or not”, it’s “total nirvana” – “if you can get in”, that is (“reservations are a must” for dinner).

“Ex-sola-nt” exclaim enthusiasts about this “intimate” New American BYO in Bryn Mawr, regarded by some as “the best-kept secret on the Main Line”, where “superb”, “refined” “city food” is served by an “attentive” staff in a “jewel box–size” space; “suburban prices” make it easier to “bring your finest” wine to pour into the “high-end” Schott Zwiesel stemware.

Yong Kim’s Japanese BYO “pearl” in an “unassuming” Plymouth Meeting strip mall is “filled to the gills” (“make a reservation”) with afishionados who’d “give up” their “first child” for its “stop-in-your-tracks” sushi; “sparse” digs and parking are offset by “good value” and a staff that “remembers” you.

“Exquisite” “everything” sums up sentiment on this Japanese “foodie temple” in Wash West fronted by Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto and “dream-maker” Stephen Starr, where sushionados “splurge” for “sublime” creations “worth every penny” in “ultramodern” quarters suggesting the “Star Trek control room”; though the master toque is rarely on-premises, a staff of “very knowledgeable” servers and ever-present sushi “geniuses” help ensure an “exceptional” experience; P.S. a multicourse omakase tasting menu (starting at $80) is a “must.”

“Incredibly flavorful” naan and vindaloo, “butter chicken to die for” and other “excellent” dishes are a “revelation” at this Northern Liberties storefront, voted the city’s top-rated Indian in this Survey; while its takeout “shines” (“delivery throughout Center City” by “guys in ties” just “says it all”), a seat in the “Ikea-furnished” “upstairs dining room” is like “eating at a friend’s house”, the location on a “transitional” stretch of Girard Avenue notwithstanding; N.B. the West Mount Airy branch opened post-Survey.