16 Philly Restaurants Offering Passover and Easter Specials
From matzoh ball soup and brisket for Passover to ham and lamb-shaped pound cake for Easter, here's what restaurants are offering for the spring holidays.
An Easter spread from Isgro Pastries / Photograph by Dominic Episcopo
The best part about any holiday is the food, and Passover and Easter are no exceptions. This year, Passover begins before sundown on Saturday, April 12th, and ends after nightfall on Sunday, April 20th, the same day as Easter. Lucky for us, there’s no shortage of traditional foods and desserts, catering options, and reservations for private events throughout the holidays.
Whether you’re looking for matzoh ball soup and flourless cakes for a Passover seder or an Easter ham and a lamb-shaped pound cake, these restaurants and bakeries will set you up right for the spring holidays.
Passover Specials
Matzoh ball soup at Famous 4th Street Delicatessen / Photograph by Gab Bonghi
Famous Fourth Street Delicatessen, Bella Vista
Philly’s favorite Jewish deli is offering a pretty customizable menu for Passover featuring all of the classics like matzoh ball soup, chopped liver, potato pancakes, corned beef and pastrami by the pound, and, yes, gefilte fish. Place your order online by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8th because they tend to sell out fast. 700 South 4th Street.
Metropolitan Bakery, Rittenhouse
If you’re the one tasked with bringing dessert to seder, Metropolitan Bakery is offering flourless chocolate cakes as well as flourless chocolate almond cakes. They’re accepting orders until Wednesday, April 9th at 2 p.m. Pickup will be at their flagship location in Rittenhouse. 262 South 19th Street.
Biederman’s Specialty Foods, Bella Vista
In addition to their regular offerings of smoked fish, caviar, pickles, and salads, the specialty grocer has put together a robust Passover menu, available between April 12th and 20th. Two different sized brunch boards for your specific party needs boast hand-sliced salmon, tomato, cucumber, radish, olives, capers, pickled onions, a selection of cream cheeses, and matzoh. Additions include matzoh ball soup, potato kugel, carrot tsimmes, coconut macaroons, and latke fries with caviar. 824 Christian Street.
High Street, Washington Square West
High Street has everyone covered during Easter and Passover. Surprise your Easter brunch with a whole carrot cake or hot cross buns, or let chef Christina McKeough cater your Passover dinner. For $75 per person, High Street will provide date and pecan charoset, roasted asparagus with preserved lemon, flourless chocolate cake, and a potato, parsnip, and horseradish purée, with your choice of first course (chicken liver mousse, chicory Caesar salad, or matzoh ball soup) and entrée (brisket, salmon, or chicken breast). You can add on a seder plate and homemade matzoh too. Orders must be made in advance and picked up on April 12th. 101 South 9th Street.
Feast Your Eyes Catering, Kensington
This family-owned eatery, Feast Your Eyes, will cater your family’s seder — and deliver it too! Their menu includes a complete seder plate, strawberry rhubarb applesauce, and even gluten-free matzoh balls made of quinoa. Their entrees range from braised lamb shanks to cauliflower steaks to satisfy everyone at your table. Place your orders by April 8th (for pick-up or delivery during April 11th and 12th) or April 15th (for April 18th to 19th). 1626 North American Street.
K’Far’s matzoh brittle / Photograph courtesy of K’Far
K’Far, Rittenhouse
This Israeli-inspired bakery is a go-to for all kinds of delicious Jewish treats, so of course they have a sweet dessert menu planned for Passover. For the holiday they’re offering a pecan praline matzoh brittle with chocolate drizzle and a whole flourless chocolate cake. You can preorder here for pickup Saturday, April 12th or Sunday, April 13th. 110 South 19th Street.
Fiore Fine Foods, Kensington
Fiore has a way of turning familiar dishes into something more special than what you might be cooking at home, which is why we trust them completely with a classic Passover meal. The Italian cafe will offer a catered meal of homemade matzoh, matzoh ball soup, charoset, gefilte fish, beet salad, beef brisket, and chocolate-covered macaroons. At $67 per person, the catered meals must be ordered ahead and picked up on April 12th or 13th. 2413 Frankford Avenue.
Steven Stein’s Famous Deli, Bustleton
Looking for a catered Passover meal? Steve Stein’s in the Northeast delivers an affordable and delicious meal, featuring soup, appetizers, entrées, vegetables, and dessert. A complete menu can be found online, including matzoh ball soup, kugels, and apple cake. The deli allows ordering favored items à la carte or as complete dinners, starting at $30 per person. Order by phone at least three days in advance for the full Passover menu, but for the late celebrants, Steve Stein’s regular menu can be purchased for same-day orders as pick-up or delivery. 1619 Grant Avenue, #39.
12th Street Catering, Mantua
Unlike many other catered Passover meals that have strict offerings and prices per person, 12th Street Catering lets you mix and match. You’ll find many classics on their menu, like matzoh ball soup, gefilte fish, and flourless chocolate cake, alongside a Meyer lemon cheesecake with matzoh crust and savory saffron roasted chicken with hazelnuts and honey. Their inventive and varied menu speaks to the business’s 40 years of feeding Philly’s foodies, and the Passover menu is no exception. Call ahead, and they’ll deliver your family’s meal right to your door. 3312 Spring Garden Street.
Easter Specials
Little Walter’s Easter offerings / Photograph by Gab Bonghi
Little Walter’s, Kensington
Polish restaurant Little Walter’s will feature an exclusive takeaway menu for the April holidays, incorporating the country’s flavors into traditional dishes. On offer is kiełbasa (fresh or smoked); house-made breads including pierogi bread (farmer cheese and caramelized onion); babka; wszystko biały, or bagels with sourdough biały and everything seasoning; and sourdough rye bread; as well as pierogi in a variety of flavors and priced at $28 per dozen. The eatery also sells Polish pantry items, like house-pickled cucumbers and a cultured dill butter lamb to brighten up the holiday table. Little Walter’s will open early on April 20th for brunch seekers wishing to dine in, starting at 10 a.m. 2405 East Hagert Street.
Isgro Pastries, Bella Vista
If there’s a culinary holiday tradition, Isgro’s probably has the perfect thing for it. Easter is one of their best: The Italian Market staple will serve themed chocolate-covered Peeps, coconut cream eggs, marzipan lambs, and themed cupcakes and cakes (Easter basket, bunny, and a decorated egg in three sizes), as well as more traditional, savory options. Get your hands on an Easter ham pie (whole or by the slice), traditional Italian pastiera, ricotta pie with lemon zest, Easter bread in a braid or wreath, and hot cross buns. While you can purchase most of these delicacies in-store, we recommend calling ahead or placing your order online. 1009 Christian Street.
Shane Confectionery, Old City
No Easter is complete without a basket full of treats, and where better to turn than America’s oldest continuous confectionary? Old City’s cherished Shane Confectionery has its shelves stocked with intricately painted buttercream eggs, and rabbits in white, milk, and dark chocolate. New this year are Shane’s rainbow confetti bunny lollipops and unique egg flavors: chewy raspberry, marshmallow, and pecan praline with whiskey caramel. Their unique flavors and designs (think a seven-inch-tall chocolate rabbit playing the accordion) will make this year’s Easter basket one to remember. The last day to order online and guarantee Easter delivery is April 7th. 110 Market Street.
Termini Brothers Bakery, Multiple Locations
In addition to Termini’s famous cannoli and cookies, you can pick up a number of savory items and traditional desserts for your Easter celebration. Available for pre-order now and pick-up on April 17th through 20th are pastiera, ricotta, and ham pies; Easter bread in braids and rings; and the shop’s famous pound cakes shaped as fudgey Easter eggs, lambs, and bunnies. Available year-round and always delicious, the bakery’s carrot cake would round out any festive meal. There is a $75 minimum for Easter pre-orders, and many treats will be available in-store. Shipping is available for some items. 12th and Filbert Streets; 1523 South 8th Street; 1701 John F. Kennedy Boulevard; 1538 Packer Avenue.
Flower Crown Gritty cupcakes and Easter sugar cookies from Cake Life Bake Shop / Photograph courtesy of Punch Media
Cake Life Bake Shop, Fishtown
If your Easter basket needs a little love, Cake Life has you covered. The small-batch artisanal bakery and cafe will offer sugar cookies in fun shapes (bunnies, eggs, flowers, and carrots), their signature petal pistachio shortbread cookies, and flower-adorned Gritty cupcakes, as well as two kinds of quiche, fresh fruit tarts, and dulce de leche and strawberry cheesecakes. You can stop by their Fishtown storefront to pick up your goodies in person or pre-order them throughout April for pick-up or delivery via Uber Eats. Cake Life also ships their cookies nationwide if you have a long-distance loved one. 1306 Frankford Avenue.
Red Owl Tavern, Old City
Across from Independence Hall, Red Owl does a mean brunch on any weekend. But for April 20th, the rustic-inspired tavern’s traditional mimosa brunch ($25 per person for a bottle of sparkling white wine with orange or cranberry juice) will get an upgrade: Expect seasonal offerings like brioche French toast with strawberries and hazelnut butter, a spring onion frittata with goat cheese, and a brisket Benedict. It’s a good idea to reserve your table ahead of time online and make sure you and yours have a seat for Sunday brunch. 433 Chestnut Street.
Blondie, Manayunk
If you’re looking for a fancier holiday brunch, look no further than Manayunk’s Blondie. The gorgeous neighborhood eatery will be open on April 20th for a brunch buffet, featuring ham, quiche, chicken and waffles, and shrimp and grits for $45 per person ($18 for children under 12). Reservations aren’t required but are a good idea if you want to secure your mimosa tower or cold brew martini. 4417 Main Street.
