Restaurants in Echelon

Less than seven years after stepping off the boat at Ellis Island, Francesco and Catherine Dispigno achieved their American dream of opening an Italian restaurant that their neighbors could enjoy. Over the course of the next 111 years, four generations of the Dispigno family would make Ralph’s Italian Restaurant their second home, entertaining such notables as Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, and Theodore Roosevelt. A runner-up for Best Italian on the Philly Hot List, today Ralph's maintains its connection to history by serving up classics such as linguine pescatore and veal capricciosa amid walls lined with vintage photographs and murals of Italian landmarks. With a nod to the eatery's family focus, the extensive selection of international wines includes Grandmom and Grandpop’s Private Stash, a selection of reserve vintages accessible only by top-secret cheek pinch.

In a video for the blog Philly in Focus, Leziz Turkish Cuisine owner Sal Kucuk greets his son at the appetizer-prep station. He stops by the grill line to thank the head chef, who brings his own experience from owning a restaurant in Istanbul for 14 years. In the dining room, Sal stops for a moment to pay respect to his mother's framed image––a beloved photograph blown up by his fiancée as a gift. Formerly S & H Kebab House, Leziz Turkish Cuisine is still the same family-owned restaurant that was bestowed with Talk of the Town's Excellence in Customer Satisfaction award for 2010 and 2011.

Specializing in authentic Turkish, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean cuisine, the eatery employs organic lamb, top Choice Black Angus steaks, and fresh seafood for kebabs and sautés. Amid hanging lights and butter-yellow walls, warm pita sops up creamy hummus and whipped caviar to pair with patrons’ BYOB beverages. Live bands on Fridays and monthly belly-dancing events fill the air with music, unlike the falafel-juggling mimes hired by most restaurants.

For the past 20 years, Illiano Cucina Mediterranea chefs have prepared more than 15 kinds of pasta dishes, with sauces ranging from pesto and vodka cream to alfredo and pomodoro. Veal and chicken are dressed 15 different ways, including with a marsala wine sauce with mushrooms. Out in the dining room, pale-yellow linen napkins top each table, folded to look like a blossoming flower. It’s a touch that complements the many scenic pictures of Italy’s coast on the walls, creating a setting that’s ideal for family reunions or romantic dinners.

Frank Sinatra tunes spill out to the sidewalk beneath the red awning of Emma's Cafe and Restaurant as servers inside carry veal parmigiana, warm bread, and sweet sea scallops to tables. Under the restaurant's BYOB policy, patrons may bring libations from home to accompany entrees.

Periodically, cries of "Nevermore!" reverberate through The Raven Lounge, which continually reaches out to local celebs such as NBC 10's John Clark to deliver in-house readings of the classic Poe poem. They are among many famous faces that fill the club, where six area DJs spin the latest jams every week, bands frequently blast out their tunes, and comedians H. Foley and Chris Cotton host open mic comedy every Thursday.

Neon lettering scrawled on the ceilings helps illuminate the two-floor lounge, where projectors and flat-screens showcase sports and, as reported on BBC Two, members of the rock, papers, scissors league compete for a spot in the world championship in Las Vegas. To complement optional bottle service from the fully stocked bar, The Raven Lounge's menu of bar classics includes chicken and vegetable dumplings or hot dogs from a late night menu that starts at 2 a.m.