In South Philly, not Center City, but the zuccotto from Varallo Brothers is a great Italian cake.

Thanks! I didn't even know that place was there. I will definitely be giving that a try.

I tried the burger at Georges' last week. Very nice. Pricey as you might expect. A substantial seeded brioche bun, wagyu beef cooked perfectly to order, cheese and caramelized onions. The fries were good too. I went for lunch and was surprised that the bar area was basically empty.

I've also had great brunches at Ela and the Dandelion.

Any recommendations for great burgers on the Main Line? Curious about the burger at both Georges' and Paramour in Wayne - both sound good, but haven't had the chance to try yet.

Green Eggs Cafe is nearby - be prepared to wait in line.

I stopped by Sophia's last Saturday for brunch. Everything was great. Brioche French toast with bananas and walnuts. Katie mixed me up a delicious cocktail with carrot juice, champagne, and Aperol (?). It's really nice to have another brunch option in the neighborhood.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I ended up trying the brunch at Ela, and I'm very happy that I did. My report is linked below:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/8975...

Thanks. I will have to try Amada's brunch.

I'd also recommend the Franklin Fountain in Old City for ice cream.

Any parameters on the type of food?

My first thought would be to have breakfast or lunch at Reading Terminal Market. Many food choices and a bustling atmosphere.

El Vez would be a fun choice for Mexican in Center City.

I had brunch at Ela on Sunday. I thoroughly enjoyed the meal from beginning to end. Started off with the Bourbon blasted Vietnamese iced coffee - great coffee drink with a nice kick. Then we were treated to an amuse-bouche of chocolate-peanut butter sticky buns. I had the hot chocolate chip cookie dough French toast with a side of the house coffee-smoked bacon. Unlike a lot of the fancy French toast concoctions that I've tasted, this one was just right. The portion was filling, but not huge. And it wasn't overly sweet. Really delicious. My friend had beautifully scrambled eggs with hash browns and a kale salad. Everything was great, from the friendly, professional service, to the presentation of the food and the execution of the dishes.

The restaurant had a nice-sized crowd, but without the long lines of the typical brunch spots. If you are looking for a great, creative brunch where you can make a reservation in advance, I would definitely recommend Ela.

Thanks for the recommendations. So many good options. I'm leaning toward either Talula's Garden or Fork. I'll report back after I go on Sunday.

Thanks!

I like Green Eggs, Sabrina's, Honey's and similar "brunch" spots. But I'm looking for something a little different, and where I can make a reservation in advance. Ela, Fork, Talula's Garden, and Rittenhouse Tavern all look like they have interesting brunch menus. Has anyone tried any of them for brunch or have experiences at other great places in the city?

barryg is right. Osteria is not cheap, but you can have a great meal of pizza and pasta if that is appealing. I'd also agree with all of barryg's original recommendations.

I'd add Alla Spina (Italian gastropub) and Osteria (pasta, pizza, etc.) to your list. Both are less than a mile from your hotel and would be a quick cab ride away.

Thanks. I've never tried JB's fish sandwich. I will check it out.

I almost went there last Friday! It's a few blocks from me. I go there for fresh fish, but have never tried the prepared stuff before.

Does anyone know of any good Lenten specials in Center City or South Philly? Perhaps a restaurant/bar with a fish fry?

Planning to have dinner at Tinto for the first time. Has anyone visited recently? Any recommendations on what/how many plates to order? Thanks!

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. You've been very helpful. I've passed the info on to my friend. I will let you know what she decides to do.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I tried both Cosmi's and Old Nelson over the last few days. Cosmi's was very good. It will definitely be the place I hit up for hoagie after work. Old Nelson was very good, too. Great to have some options other than Wawa and Subway.

Thanks, sylviag! The Capital Grille is great, but I've never been there for a private event. It's good to hear that they do such a good job. I'll pass on the info to my friend.

Thanks, barryg! I haven't tried either yet. Both sound like what I'm looking for and are close to home.

Does anyone have any recommendations for places in center city/south philly for getting great hoagies after 8pm? The best places (Paesano's, Chickie's, etc.) all close before I get home from work.

Helping a West Coast friend pick a restaurant for a business dinner in center city for 20 people. Someplace with a private room and great food. The few places that came to mind were Chifa, Morimoto, Osteria, or one of the steakhouses. Any other ideas? Or has anyone had a good private event experience at any of these places? Thanks!

Thanks everyone for the recs. Ended up having the scrippelle, the handkerchief pasta w/duck and beef ragu, and the porchetta. Finished with the chocolate ravioli. Also tried my brother's smoked gnocchi and rabbit. Every single dish was wonderful. However, I think the fazzoletti was my favorite.

Next time I'll try the olives and the n'duja.

Thanks for the recs, barryg and tfalbo! You're making me hungry. Can't wait for dinner tomorrow!

I am going to Le Virtu tomorrow for the first time....seeking additional recommendations on what to eat.