Whether it be floral, fruity or just a refreshing bite, Philly is bursting with summer sips, treats and dishes for all tastebuds.
Malai
There’s a new ice cream spot in town, and it opened in Philly just in time for the summer season. Founded in 2015 by Pooja Bavishi, Malai is a Brooklyn-based company “revolutionizing the ice cream experience” by using South Asian spices and ingredients. Offerings are always eggless, sometimes vegan, and come in a variety of bites spanning ice cream, kulfi pops, ice cream cakes, and ice cream sandwiches.
Opening flavors span cinnamon honeybun, masala chai, strawberry pie, mango and cream, rose with cinnamon roasted almonds, tulsi chocolate chip, vegan lychee and more.
260 S 18th St., malai.co
Cantina La Martina
BBQ lovers are in luck—every weekend from now through Labor Day, Cantina la Martina will be firing up their outdoor grill and “turning their backyard into Mexico” with Cocina de Humo del Chef Dionicio. What diners get through this experience is any 3 items from the grill and a dessert for $50 per person.
The menu will rotate, but will typically feature steak, seafood, chicken, and/or vegetable options. This experience is vegetarian-friendly, gluten-free friendly, and pescatarian-friendly. Cocina de Humo del Chef Dionicio is weather permitting, and reservations are strongly suggested through Resy (select “patio” and then select the Cocina de Humo experience) but not required. This particular offering will be available from 5 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
2800 D St., cantinalamartinapa.com
Shake Shack
Shake Shack is celebrating the season with a limited-time BBQ menu featuring both sweet and savory bites and sips. Philadelphians can chow down on a smoky classic BBQ burger (made with American cheese, applewood-smoked bacon, pickles, crispy onions, and their classic smoky BBQ sauce), a smoky classic BBQ chicken sandwich, Carolina BBQ burger with fried pickles, Carolina BBQ chicken sandwich with fried pickles, spicy fries (served with a hot pepper blend of cayenne, garlic, and paprika served with a side of Shack Ranch) and spicy cheese fries.
The new summer menu also features limited-time shakes, including the Oreo Cookie funnel cake shake, banana pudding shake and campfire s’mores shake.
Multiple locations, shakeshack.com
Reading Terminal Market
Reading Terminal is a haven for all of your food desires, but this sunny season, the popular culinary venue will also be offering Wilt’s Chocolate Smothered Berries. Made popular through social media, the viral treat features fresh-cut strawberries in a 16-ounce cup topped with milk chocolate. The brand will offer local strawberries in season and otherwise source from California, Florida, Ohio, and Canada. Philadelphians might also find dark chocolate, white chocolate, whipped cream, and toppings being added to the menu in the future.
Wilt’s Chocolate Smothered Berries expects to open in late May and operate seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Their sweet treats can be found at the intersection of aisles B and 2 at the Market.
1136 Arch St., readingterminalmarket.org
Breezy’s Deli & Market
Soft serve lovers and those with a curious palate can indulge this summer at Breezy’s. The Deli & Market’s soft-serve menu kicked off a few weeks ago and will continue throughout the sunny season (switching weekly). Upcoming flavors include Capt. Crunch Berries and malted milk (with Crunch Berries toppings), vegan Chex Mix and vegan peanut butter (with Chex Mix toppings), chocolate stout and blue cheese (with candied cocoa nibs), Greek yogurt and strawberry yogurt (with yogurt chips), black cherry and old-fashioned whiskey (with a cherry dip option) and more. A full schedule of flavors can be found online.
2235 Washington Ave., Comm 1, Unit 1, breezysdeli.com
Bloomsday and Di Bruno Bros
There’s a new way to sip on the flavors of the season with a collaboration through the popular neighborhood wine bar Bloomsday and the iconic local brand, Di Bruno Brothers. The Fleur Fizz Rosé is grown and produced by Pennsylvania’s Galen Glen Winery, and features bright notes of summer strawberry, Cara Cara orange, and rhubarb. There are only 150 cases produced, and locals can grab a bottle ($24.99) at both Bloomsday and all Di Bruno Brothers locations. The bubbly will also be available by the glass as well at Bloomsday, Di Bruno Brothers Rittenhouse, Franklin, Wayne, and the 9th Street Bottleshop.
414 S 2nd St., bloomsdayphilly.com
Irv’s Ice Cream
Some locals may have already gotten a taste of Irv’s Ice Cream at Cherry Street Pier, where the brand serves scoops out of one of the venue’s trolleys. But now, the local sweet shop has acquired its first storefront on East Passyunk Avenue — and it’s officially open for business. Irv’s puts its focus on small-batch, custard-based ice cream, and almost 100% of the base and toppings found in a cup or on a cone from the brand are homemade.
Locals can find flavor options like sweet corn, cookie monster, banana chocolate tahini swirl, vegan chocolate peanut butter Oreo and more, plus, an assortment of ice cream sandwiches, cakes and pops will be added to the menu this summer.
932 E. Passyunk Ave., irvsicecream.com
