Palizzi Social Club
Get a load of this members-only Italian-American throwback.
GO HERE: for Italian-America classics in a 35-seat space that oozes Old World charm. Chef Joey Baldino, whose nearby Zeppoli landed on our Top 50 list in 2012, took over a century-old Italian social club in South Philly (his uncle, whom he inherited the space from, was a former member), cleaned it up just enough (many of the charming design details remain), and transformed the menu into a modern ode to the food he was raised on.
ORDER THE: classic Caesar with lots of Parm and anchovy as well as the spaghetti with blue crab. If you’ve never had tripe, this is the place to get it—it’s rich and silky and almost pasta-like. End the meal with spumoni and ask your server for some house grappa. When in… Philadelphia?
THE VIBE IS: 100 percent old-school, authentic Italian-American social club, from the neon sign and fake-wood paneling to the Formica bar and vintage cigarette machine. It’s like going back in red-sauced time.
GETTING IN: Okay, so this isn’t the easiest spot to nab a table. Here’s how it works: You need a one-time membership. It costs $20. Get there early (they open at 6 p.m. Thursday-Sunday) and cross your fingers that they are offering memberships that night. Of course, the easiest way to ensure entry is to know a member who will take you. Either way, patience and persistence is key but is so worth it. Trust us. Oh, and it’s cash only too.
STAY UP LATE: on Fridays and Saturday, the bar is open until 3 a.m., which attracts a big restaurant industry crowd. Any night that ends with The Mezzaroba cocktail (Fernet-Branca, 12-year-old rum, house ginger cordial, and soda) is a good night.
