Spice Finch — Philadelphia, USA
After several years away, Philly-native and Le Bernardin alum Jennifer Carroll and her partner Billy Riddle have returned home with the opening of Spice Finch, the highly anticipated Mediterranean restaurant in historic Rittenhouse Square.
From the kitchen, Carroll's French cooking techniques shine through in dishes – like the salt-baked eggplant served with mushrooms, béchamel and garlic, or the delicious date-braised lamb shank that comes with warm grain salad, roasted vegetables and cucumber – that nod to the culinary delights that can be found all over the region. Meanwhile, a strong no-waste effort and a thoughtful bar programme rooted in the classics ticks all the contemporary dining boxes.
In that same vein, the visual narrative of the bight and airy space is largely dominated by wood. Custom created by Cottingham LTD, the millwork adds layers of eye-catching texture from the the strikingly curvy oak tambour panels at the bar to the ceiling with its warm strips of maple. The supple leather banquette, hexagonal marble flooring, and mid-century modern chairs all in subtle shades of black, chocolate, and grey help anchor the interiors so that there’s plenty to look, but they’re simple enough that the star of the show remains Carroll and Riddle’s food.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
220 South 17th Street
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
Click to buy: how will we buy watches in 2026?Time was when a watch was bought only in a shop - the trying on was all part of the 'white glove' sales experience. But can the watch industry really put off the digital world any longer?
-
Don't miss these art exhibitions to see in JanuaryStart the year with an inspiring dose of culture - here are the best things to see in January
-
Unmissable fashion exhibitions to add to your calendar in 2026From a trip back to the 1990s at Tate Britain to retrospectives on Schiaparelli, Madame Grès and Vivienne Westwood, 2026 looks set to continue the renaissance of the fashion exhibition
-
The most stylish hotel debuts of 2025A Wallpaper* edit of this year’s defining hotel openings. Design-led stays to shape your next escape
-
The Wilke is LA’s answer to the British pubIn the Brentwood Village enclave of Los Angeles, chef and restaurateur Dana Slatkin breathes new life into a storied building by one of Frank Gehry’s early mentors
-
Form... and flavour? The best design-led restaurant debuts of 2025A Wallpaper* edit of the restaurant interiors that shaped how we ate, gathered and lingered this year
-
New York’s members-only boom shows no sign of stopping – and it's about to get even more nicheFrom bathing clubs to listening bars, gatekeeping is back in a big way. Here’s what’s driving the wave of exclusivity
-
The Wallpaper* team’s travel highlights of the yearA year of travel distilled. Discover the destinations that inspired our editors on and off assignment
-
This cult Los Angeles pop-up restaurant now has a permanent addressChef Brian Baik’s Corridor 109 makes its permanent debut in Melrose Hill. No surprise, it's now one of the hardest tables in town to book
-
NYC’s first alcohol-free members’ club is full of spiritThe Maze NYC is a design-led social hub in Flatiron, redefining how the city gathers with an alcohol-free, community-driven ethos
-
Wallpaper* Design Awards 2026: City of the Year shortlistExplore the nominated urban locations making an impact in design, architecture and contemporary culture