Introducing: A Philadelphia Theater Directory

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There are plenty of theaters and theater companies in Philadelphia. Here’s a roundup of the biggies, with suggestions for nearby restaurants.

1812 PRODUCTIONS
Performs at Plays and Players Theatre
(see below)
Wild, original comedy.

ACADEMY OF MUSIC
240 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19102
215-893-1999
(Owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association and part of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts complex)
(See Kimmel Center for restaurants.)

ARDEN THEATRE COMPANY
40 North 2nd Street
(Old City)
Philadelphia, Pa. 19106
215-922-1122
ardentheatre.org

Nearby restaurants (the company has more than a dozen “dining partners”; these are a few of the closest; full listing on the Arden website):
Chloe
232 Arch Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19106
215-629-2337
chloebyob.com
Cozy (32-seat; no reservations) neighborhood BYOB eatery with new, locally sourced American cooking.

Continental
138 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19106
215-923-6069
continentalmartinibar.com
Stephen Starr’s first restaurant, a neo-diner and martini bar. Dinner ranges from lobster mac’n cheese to steak frites and more.

Cuba Libre
10 South 2nd Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19106
215-627-0666
cubalibrerestaurant.com
Traditional and modern Cuban cooking.

High Street on Market
308 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19106
215-625-0988
highstreetonmarket.com
Eclectic American, carefully sourced.

FORREST THEATRE
(Part of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts complex)
1114 Walnut Street
(Center City)
Philadelphia, Pa. 19107
1-800-447-7400
forrest-theatre.com
Lots of Broadway touring productions.
(See Kimmel Center for restaurants.)

KIMMEL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
300 Broad Street
(Center City)
Philadelphia, Pa. 19102
215-670-2300
The center includes Verizon Hall, the Perelman Theater, plus nearby Forrest Theatre and the Merriam Theater.

Restaurant in the center:
Volver by Jose Garces
Bar Volver features pre-theater dining and drinks, while the restaurant offers multi-course tasting menus.

Restaurants nearby:
Bareburger
1109 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, Pq. 19107
215-627-2273
Local outpost of the organic burger chain, casual setting.

Caribou Cafe
1126 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19107
215-625-9535
cariboucafe.com
Parisian-style bistro with bistro fare and French regional wines.

Estia
1405-07 Locust Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19102
215-735-7700
estiarestaurant.com
Greek Mediterranean fare in a rustically chic setting.

Garces Trading Co.
1111 Locust Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19107
215-574-1099
philadelphia.garcestradingcompany.com
Mega-chef Jose Garces focuses here on foods from France, Spain and Italy.

Smokin’ Betty’s
116 South 11th Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19107
215-922-6500
smokinbettys.com
Barbecue and New American comfort food in a smart setting.

LANTERN THEATER COMPANY
(Center City)
Performs at St. Stephen’s Theater (see below)
Mounts a combination of classics, modern and original works for the stage.
www.lanterntheater.org

Nearby restaurants (website has a complete list of the theater’s dining partners):
Aki
1210 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19107
215-985-1838
akisushi.com
Sushi, hand rolls, dinner bentos.

Barra Rossa
929 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19107
215-644-9074
barrarossa.com
Energetic restaurant with a complete Italian menu from pizza to pasta dishes, plus Italian wines.

Caribou Cafe
1126 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19107
215-625-9535
cariboucafe.com
Parisian-style bistro with bistro fare and French regional wines.

Irish Pub
1123 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19107
215-925-3311
Pub grub and more in a casual setting.

Moriarty’s Pub
1116 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19107
215-627-7676
moriartyspub.com
Burgers, salads, even Mexican specialties in a pubby setting.

Xianu Thai Fusion Cuisine
1119 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19107
215-940-8855
xianduthaifusion.com

MERRIAM THEATER
(Part of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts complex)
250 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19102
215-893-1999
(See Kimmel Center for restaurants.)

PHILADELPHIA THEATRE COMPANY
(performs at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre)
480 South Broad Street
(City Center)
Philadelphia, Pa. 19146
215-985-0420

Restaurants nearby:
Amis Trattoria
412 South 13th Street
(City Center)
Philadelphia, Pa. 19147
215-732-2647
amistrattoria.com
Roman-style large and small plates.

Indeblue Restaurant and Bar
205 South 13th Street
(City Center)
Philadelphia, Pa. 19107
215-545-4633
Traditional and modern Indian cooking.

PLAYS AND PLAYERS THEATER
1714 Delancey Place
(center City)
Philadelphia, Pa. 19103
866-811-4111
playsandplayers.org

Restaurant nearby:
Fado Irish Pub
1500 Locust Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19102
215-893-9700
A chain of pubs with traditional Irish dishes reimagined.

ST. STEPHEN’S THEATER
923 Ludlow Street
(Center City)
Philadelphia, Pa. 19107
215-829-0395
www.lanterntheater.org
(For restaurants, see Lantern Theater Company, above.)

THEATRE EXILE
1340 South 13th Street
(South Philly)
Philadelphia, Pa. 19147
215-218-4022
theatreexile.org
Dedicated to serious drama, often with a Philly twist.

Restaurant nearby:
August byo
1247 South 13th Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19147
215-468-5926
augustbyo.com
Creative Italian.

WALNUT STREET THEATRE
825 Walnut Street
(Center City)
Philadelphia, Pa. 19107
215-574-3550
walnutstreettheatre.org
America’s oldest playhouse, featuring major dramas and musicals.

Restaurants nearby:
Barra Rossa
929 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19107
215-644-9074
barrarossa.com
Energetic restaurant with a complete Italian menu from pizza to pasta dishes, plus Italian wines.

Fat Salmon
719 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19106
215-928-8881
Way cool Japanese restaurant with new takes on sushi (eggplant and creamcheese rolls!)

THE WILMA THEATER
265 South Broad Street
(Center City)
Philadelphia, Pa. 19107
215-546-7824
wilmatheater.org
Named for Virginia Woolf’s invention, Shakespeare’s more-talented (but oppressed) sister Wilma, the theater group emphasizes original and meaningful dramas but also plays classics.

Restaurants nearby:
Bop
220 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19102
267-455-0378
Korean-inspired American (rice bowls and bulgogi, but burgers too).

Doubletree Hotel
237 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19107
215-893-1600

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