The Philadelphia region’s dining scene is embracing the Lenten seasonwith an array of standout meatless dishes, making it easy to indulge while observing tradition. From elevated seafood specialties to inventive vegetarian plates, top restaurants across the area—including Alice, Famous 4th Street Delicatessen, Front Street Cafe, Jansen, Keating’s Rope & Anchor, Little Walter’s, Oltremare, Stella of New Hope, and The Twisted Tail Tavern—are offering inspired options for a thoughtful Lenten meal.
Alice, the seasonal American restaurant in the heart of the Italian Market, presents a selection of seafood-driven and vegetable forward dishes perfect for those observing Lent or simply indulging in fresh, shareable flavors. Highlights include two oyster offerings: Barnegat Bay Oysters ($19) with cucumber aguachile or Coal-Roasted Oysters ($21) with garlic lager butter and house hot sauce. Additional shareable selections include Kanpachi Crudo ($25) with cara cara orange, serrano chile and nigella, Bluefin Toro Tartare ($32) paired with fennel pollen potato chips and osetra caviar, Coal-Roasted Baby Beets ($18) with sunflower butter and citrus, and Grilled Spicy Prawns ($28) finished with saffron, lemon, and purslane. For those looking for heartier plates, Alice offers NJ Black Bass ($38) with green olive and piquillo pepper, as well as the Grilled Whole Bronzino ($70), a dish for two featuring satsuma, baby fennel, and fresh herbs.
Reservations are highly recommended and can be made via Resy.
Hours of operation: Tuesday through Saturday 5pm—10pm and Sunday 5pm—9pm
901 Christian St, Philadelphia, PA | 215.798.6766 | Website | Instagram
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Famous 4th Street Delicatessen, the legendary Philadelphia eatery and historic mainstay celebrated for its traditional Jewish deli fare and classic American comfort food, offers an array of seafood and meatless options perfect for Lent. The deli’s expansive menu features Smoked Fish Platters ($21–$28), with selections including Nova, Scotch Salmon, Sable, Salty Lox, Whitefish, Kippered Salmon, and Sturgeon, along with Chopped Herring, Kippered Salmon, and Whitefish Salad. Each platter is served on a bed of lettuce with sliced tomato, onion, cucumber, lemon, capers, olives, and a choice of side and bagel. Beyond seafood, diners can enjoy a variety of meat-free offerings, from Challah French Toast ($17) to a towering Cheese Sandwich ($11.5) and for breakfast, a hearty Vegetable Omelette ($14.5).
Online pickup and takeaway orders can be placed by clicking HERE.
Hour of operation: Monday through Sunday 9am—8pm
700 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA | 215.922.3274 | Website | Instagram
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Front Street Cafe, the all-day café, restaurant, and bar known for its commitment to fresh, farm-to-table ingredients, offers a vibrant selection of vegetarian, vegan, and meat-free alternatives fit for Lent. Shareable plant-based favorites include fan-favorite Buffalo Cauliflower ($15) tossed in buffalo sauce with cucumber-dill aioli, Loaded Fries ($12) topped with BBQ jackfruit, scallions, ‘bacon’ bits, vegan whiz, and garlic sriracha, and Vegan Mac ’N Cheese ($15) featuring gluten-free rotini, red cabbage, caramelized onions, peas, and a plant-based cream and cheese blend. For heartier options, highlights include ‘Parmesan’ Crusted Eggplant ($19) with sunflower seed ricotta, pomodoro, broccolini, and aged balsamic, Stuffed Shells Pomodoro ($23) filled with plant-based ricotta, roasted garlic béchamel, pomodoro, and plant parmesan, and the Cherry-BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich ($16), piled high on a brioche bun with red cabbage slaw, vegan whiz, crispy onions, and bibb lettuce.
Reservations are recommended and can be made on OpenTable.
Hours of operation: Breakfast/brunch from 8am—4pm; Dinner served on Sunday and Tuesday—Thursday from 5pm—9pm, Friday and Saturday 5pm—10pm; Happy hour Tuesday—Sunday from 4pm—7pm.
1253 N Front St, Philadelphia, PA 19122 | 215.515.3073 | Website | Instagram | Facebook
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Jansen, Mt. Airy’s contemporary and award-winning New American restaurant by Chef David Jansen, invites guests to observe Lent with an elegant selection of seafood-forward dishes. Among the highlights is the return of Jansen’s Whole Dover Sole for Two (MP), personally presented and served tableside by General Manager Zachary Bourne, available Thursday and Friday evenings. This delicacy is accompanied by seasonal pairings and finished with a white wine truffle cream. Other standout dishes include Shrimp-Crusted Salmon ($38), served with celery root risotto, leek, tomato concasse, and shellfish tarragon emulsion, as well as the Miso-Glazed Cod ($40) with tempura eggplant and ginger sweet potato purée.
The menu also features shareables like Shrimp Cocktail ($18) with house-made Marie Rose sauce, and a selection of Oysters (East Coast $22 / West Coast $26). For a more elevated plate, the Crab and Oyster Galette ($26) with duchess potato, bacon, and garlic brown butter bread crumb or the Sautéed Scallops ($46) with chanterelle mushrooms, potato gratin, and creamed spinach are sure to impress.
Reservations are highly recommended and can be made via Resy.
Hours of operation: Tuesday through Thursday from 5pm—8pm; Friday and Saturday from 5pm—9pm
7402 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA | 267.335.5041 | Website | Instagram | Facebook
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Keating’s Rope & Anchor, a contemporary seafood-forward American restaurant and bar at the Hilton Penn’s Landing boasting waterfront views of the Delaware River, is the perfect spot to enjoy a meal throughout Lent. Drawing inspiration from its proximity to the river, the restaurant embraces a nautical theme, featuring coastal-inspired dishes including the Sesame Ahi Tuna ($18) served with Asian cabbage slaw, ponzu and wasabi; Blackened Salmon ($34) with corn risotto, roasted red pepper, parmesan cheese, basil oil and sirracha honey; and Grilled Bronzino ($35) with sautéed onion, pepper, olives and capers tossed with fregola in a white wine butter sauce.
Hours of operation: Monday – Friday 6:30am – 10:00pm; Saturday – Sunday 7:00am – 10:00pm
201 S Christopher Columbus Blvd | 215.521.6509 | Website | Facebook | Instagram
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Whether observing Lent or simply craving something deliciously meat-free, Little Walter’s, the contemporary Polish restaurant and bar from Chef/Owner Michael Brenfleck, recently recognized on The New York Times’ 2024 Restaurant List as one of America’s 50 Favorite Places, offers a standout selection of vegetarian-friendly dishes. Vibrant salads include Surówka ($13), a medley of raw and pickled vegetable salads; Śledzie ($16), featuring horseradish, poached pear, roe, and toasted rye; and Sałatka Cykoria ($14), composed of local chicories, plums, and buttermilk dressing. No visit to Little Walter’s is complete without a pierogi experience, and guests can indulge without breaking tradition with the vegetarian Pierogi Ruskie ($15), filled with potato and farmer cheese and served with caramelized onion and sour cream, or the vegan Pierogi z Dynia ($22), showcasing Hubbard squash, roasted lacinato kale, and a zesty horseradish sauce.
Hours of operation: Monday through Saturday from 5pm—10pm for dinner, Monday from 4pm-8pm, and Tuesday through Saturday from 4pm-6pm for happy hour
2049 E Hagert St, Philadelphia, PA | 267,239.2228 | Website | Instagram
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Oltremare, the seafood-forward modern Italian restaurant from Chef/Owner Townsend Wentz, presents a menu brimming with elegant, coastal-inspired dishes. Antipasti highlights include Oysters ($4 each), Roasted Scallops ($18) with heirloom cherry tomatoes, charred corn, and salsa verde, and Sweet Maine Lobster Risotto ($24), featuring lobster mushrooms, Parmesan Reggiano, and lobster jus. Primi selections offer Frutti di Mare ($22), a medley of shrimp, calamari, mussels, squid ink, and ’nduja, alongside Crab Cavatelli ($22) with peas, corn, and cherry tomatoes. For Secondi, standout entrées include Grilled Branzino ($32), served with asparagus, taggiasca olives, romesco, and almond gremolata, as well as Roasted Salmon ($32), complemented by fennel mussels and a fragrant tomato saffron broth.
Hours of operation: Tuesday through Sunday 4:30–10pm
121 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103 | 445.223.2093 | Website | Instagram
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Stella of New Hope, Bucks County’s modern American restaurant overlooking the Delaware River, boasts a second-floor patio with unparalleled views of the Delaware River, offers a variety of seafood-forward dishes that showcase local and seasonal ingredients from the region’s best farmers and food artisans. Those observing Lent can enjoy dinner dishes such as the Diver Scallops ($45) served with pickled shallots, pancetta, crispy hidden valley quinoa, apple and sun choke puree; Black Bass ($42) with crispy root vegetables, potato latke, roasted squash, coriander and vanilla velouté; and Jail Island Salmon ($36) with lemon-parsley farro, asparagus, confit tomatoes, crispy maitake mushrooms, and sweet corn velouté.
Hours of operation: Thursday 5 – 12am, Friday 5 – 2am, Saturday 8 – 2am
50 S Main St, New Hope, PA 18938 • 267.740.2691 • Website • Instagram • Facebook
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The Twisted Tail, Headhouse Square’s restaurant, bar and live music venue, f
eatures a southern-inspired menu with a variety of seafood dishes, making it the perfect destination for dinner during Lent. Guests enjoy offerings such as the Catch of the day Fish & Chips ($23) served with garlic parmesan chips, malt mayo, mat vinegar and tartar sauce; Grilled Swordfish ($28) with eggplant caponata, pine nuts, raisins, and herb gremolata; Shrimp & Grits ($24) topped with a bacon vinaigrette and scallions; and Chesapeake Bay Jumbo Lump Crab Cake ($22) with bell pepper, mustard, turnips and cornflakes.
Hours of operation: Monday— Thursday 4 pm — 10 pm; Friday 4 pm — 12 am; Saturday 11 am — 12 am; Sunday 10 am — 10 pm
509 S. 2nd St. | 215.558.2471 | Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter