For a special occasion, I had the pleasure of visiting Sbraga, a modern American restaurant from Top Chef winner Kevin Sbraga, for a delicious four-course meal. Owner and Executive Chef Kevin Sbraga serves seasonal dishes made with local and sustainable ingredients in a contemporary space located on Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts.

I opted for the cobia crudo to start, served with Italian long hots, an olive purée and shallot chips. The cobia was fresh and the long hots gave the dish a pleasant kick. Saffron spaghetti followed and was my favorite dish of the night, featuring fresh blue crab and hearty crushed tomato sauce with fiery Fresno chilies.

For my main, I chose the Arctic char, cooked in a slightly spicy saffron broth with carrots, celery and potatoes. The fish was perfectly cooked and fresh, but I ended up switching plates with my dining companion after sampling the surf and turf dish, featuring flavorful grilled octopus and melt-in-your-mouth braised lamb served with tasty eggplant.

I couldn’t resist the cheese slate for dessert, including an array of sinfully delicious cheeses, sweet figs and honey. The chocolate tart was also memorable, served with flavorful pistachio ice cream that paired well with the sweet chocolate.

Sbraga operates two other popular dining venues in Philadelphia, including the pork-centric Fat Ham and the family-friendly Juniper Commons.

Sbraga

440 S Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19146
tel 215 735 1913