Tinto
Tasting menus invite diners to embark on a culinary journey and, because they usually require complete table participation, to travel with companions.
At Old City tapas favorite, Amada, and Center City West Basque bistro, Tinto, chef Jose Garces serves his choice tastings – courses of multiple small plates for parties of two or more – with or without wine pairings (Amada: $45–$65 food/$30 wine; 215-625-2450; Tinto: $55 food/$30 wine; 215-665-9150).
While some tasting menus are strictly chef's choice, Gilmore’s lets diners call the shots; Tuesday through Thursday nights at 7:30 PM, groups of 6–8 people can make the intimate dining experience of this BYO West Chester French even more so with a private room and custom five-course tasting menu ($75 per person and up, depending on selections; 610-431-2800).
At James, the South Philly New American, five-, seven- and nine-course tasting menus are offered Monday through Thursday nights with a wine-pairing option ($65 food/$30 wine; $90 food/$40 wine; $120 food/$50 wine, respectively); menus are created to suit guests' needs – is your group adventurous? would you like seafood-centric dishes? – and require complete table participation (215-629-4980).
A rarity, the solo tasting is offered by LaCroix at the Rittenhouse in Center City West; every night the French tasting menu comes in three sizes – three, four or five plates – and table participation is not required ($69, $78, $85 per person, respectively; 215-790-2533).
A five-course, chef's choice tasting menu is offered at New American BYO Marigold Kitchen, the West Philly showcase for chef Michael Solomonov ($60 per person; must be ordered by the entire table; 215-222-3699).
Vetri, the Center City East Italian, shines with its degustazione – or tasting – a special six- or eight-course menu offered nightly that spotlights seasonal ingredients handled with care, served with or without wine pairings ($90 food/$65 wine; $115 food/$80 wine, respectively) and ordered for the full table. During the summer, it's the only menu available on Friday evenings since the restaurant is closed on Saturday – the night degustazione normally stars (215-732-3478; for details on the summer schedule, go to www.vetriristorante.com).