Frequently, Old City residents and business owners comment that there should be more places to eat, snack, dine, or just have a place to meet friends in a food-use establishment north of Market in Old City.

You'll probably be surprised to read that there are actually thirty-five restaurants and eateries north of Market Street. And there are seven more locations that are either vacant for now, or are available for a new restaurant or eatery. So we will probably soon have over forty!

This is the challenge: name the thirty-five dining establishments and other places north of Market where you can purchase a meal, a take-out lunch, get a snack, etc. They do not, necessarily, serve alcohol; they may be a BYOB; they may just be a place to pick up a snack, dessert, or a sandwich, and they might be a caterer.

Don't peek yet. Just think about it. It's best to do this with someone else who lives in the neighborhood, and remember that Old City goes as far north as the south side of Spring Garden.

Okay, now...go. Write them down and time yourselves.

Here they are in alphabetical order:

444 Spring Garden Convenience Store (with seating)
Benton's Bar and Grille
Bistro 7
Café Estelle
Café Ole
Cavanaugh's River Deck
Chloe
Dave & Buster's
DiNardo's
Gianfranco's Pizza
Hibachi
Il Bar
Kisso
La Locanda del Ghiottone
La Veranda
Mc Fadden's
Mulberry Market
OCP (Old City Pizza)
Octo Waterfront Grille
Old City Coffee
Old City Food Market
Paddy's Bar
Panorama
Race Street Café
Radicchio
Rock Lobster
Sassafras Market
Second Street Wholesale
Starbucks
Sugarmom's
Tartes
Torch-Wood
Trust
Wedge and Fig
Zee Bar

Soon to come or temporarily vacant:

Buckheads (temporarily vacant)
Konak (temporarily vacant)
Live Arts / Philly Fringe Performance venue / bar / restaurant / café / event space
Rebel (on Spring Garden Street)
Lite Bite location (currently under construction)
114 N. Third Street (formerly Charlie's / currently under renovation)
401 Race Street (licensed to have a bar / restaurant

Are you surprised that there are so many? Most people are.

If you think, "Yeah, those places are all here, but I want more cafes, or more restaurants, or more of something else", maybe you could consider telling the existing restaurants, cafes, etc. how they could better satisfy what you would like to see in the neighborhood. They might listen.

Note: you may also be surprised that we have a total of at least 119 food-use establishments of one kind or another in Old City (not counting businesses that are solely food markets).