Where to dine during Lent (Feb. 14th to March 28th)

-Courtesy of Punch Media
photo: Lobster Pasta from Almyra, by Gab Bonghi 

As Lent approaches (Wednesday, February 14 through Thursday, March 28), our city’s diverse dining scene stands ready to cater to all preferences. Philadelphia offers a plethora of options, from upscale seafood specialties to savory pasta creations, ensuring a fulfilling Lenten experience.

Almyra, Rittenhouse’s new modern Greek restaurant and bar from the acclaimedEstia Restaurant Group, is the perfect destination for those participating in Lent but still want to enjoy a night out. With several seafood mezze and main options, guests will have plenty to choose from while not breaking Lent, such as Charred Octopus ($18) with fava, capers and  vinaigrette and Mussels ($17) with tomato, ouzo, feta, served with pita, Lavraki ($32) European Seabass with ladolemeno and capers, Chilean Sea Bass ($38) with soy, sherry-truffle vinaigrette and horta, Shrimp Kebobs ($24) with metaxa, red onion and cherry tomato and Lobster Pasta ($34) with butter-poached lobster, creamy tomato and chili.  

At The Table, Wayne’s venerable and award-winning fine-dining restaurant from chefs Alex Hardy and Tara Buzan-Hardy, showcases an extensive array of seafood delicacies perfect for those in observation of Lent, spanning from its thoughtfully curated raw bar selections to their à la carte offerings. At the newly-minted raw bar, guests can watch oysters be shucked right before them and indulge in a number of freshly prepared options including The Seafood Royale ($100), a bountiful seafood tower consisting of a dozen seafood oysters, U10 shrimp cocktail, Yellowfin tuna sashimi, cold poached lobster tail, fancy lump crab salad & claws, and sauce accoutrements, and the Oyster Ensemble ($19), which includes At The Table’s three signature oysters (Acadian Pearl, Pink Moon, and Kumamoto), Yellowfin tuna sashimi, and poached jumbo shrimp. Beyond the raw bar, folks can also delight in Whole Bronzino ($48) with braised artichoke & pearl onions, grilled lemon, and pipian verde sauce, and Olive Oil Poached Tuna Loin ($22) with Herbs de Provence, and candied French breakfast radish salad.

Bolo, Chef Yun Fuentes’ Latin American dining room and rum bar nestled in bustling Rittenhouse Square, is an ideal locale for Lent observers, pescatarians, and omnivores alike, whether enjoying pinchos (skewers) at the bar or platillos (platters) in the dining room. Pulpo ($15, octopus) and Vieiras ($12, scallops) pinchos are kissed with light charring and served with toasted Cuban bread and traditional accompaniments, perfect as a starter or happy hour snack. Bolo also offers five styles of ceviche, with options like Snapper Nikkei ($22) with key lime ponzu and chili serrano, and Tuna con COCO with young coconut salsa ($21) available individually or in sample platters (three for $30 or five or $45), all composed with fresh seafood. The Caldo Santo ($39), comprised of broiled halibut in a coconut-achiote fisherman’s soup with root vegetables, shrimp, clams, and scallops, makes for a flavorful and satiating entrée.

Oltremare, the new seafood-forward modern Italian restaurant from acclaimed Chef Townsend Wentz, proudly presents an array of Lenten offerings on its freshly-minted coastal Italian menu. For antipasti, patrons can savor seafood delicacies such as Oysters ($18), half a dozen oysters served with Apple-White Balsamic Mignonette, Fluke Crudo ($18) served with mussel vinaigrette with Fresno chili and orange, Bluefin Tuna Crudo ($20), Polpo ($22), Carciofi e Granchio ($24), Royal Trumpet “Crudo” ($18), and a non-seafood antipasti offering of Burrata ($16) paired with fig, vincotto, and Sicilian pistachio. Reservations are encouraged and can be made via Resy HERE. Highlights from the primi, second, and dolci courses include:

• Frutti Di Marre ($24) — Shrimp, calamari, mussels, clams, tagliolini, piquillo pepper, basil
• Spaghetti Al Limone ($18) — Sorrento lemon, parmesan cheese, basil
• Octopus Bolognese ($22)— Strozzapreti, soffritto, red wine
• Lobster Francobolli ($24) —Lobster mousseline, fennel, sherry
• Spada Ala Griglia ($38)— Grilled swordfish, N’Duja, clams, fennel, candied lemon, giganti beans
• Baba all Amaretto ($12) — Lemon and pan Montata

Ocean Prime, the classic steak and seafood-forward modern American restaurant and lounge located in the heart of Center City Philadelphia, offers a plethora of Lent-friendly options, including a variety of top-notch sushi rolls such as the Ocean Roll ($27), crafted with #1 tuna, salmon, hamachi, avocado, and chili garlic oil, the Blue Crab Roll ($26) made with sesame crab salad, tobiko, avocado, cucumber, and yuzu aioli, and Ahi Tuna Tartare ($24) with avocado, ginger ponzu, and sesame seeds. A non-seafood offering is the savory Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli ($19) served with golden oak mushrooms. The restaurant also boasts a vast selection of seafood entrées for guests to enjoy, with fan-favorites including but not limited to Blackened Snapper ($54) with corn spoon bread, Swiss chard, and corn emulsion, Ora King Salmon ($49) with lobster, gnocchi, spring peas, and lemon jus, Twin Lobster Tails ($64) with asparagus and drawn butter, and sea scallops with parmesan risotto, English peas, and citrus vinaigrette.