BLUE BELL. Alison Barshak, who was hailed far and wide for her culinary exploits at Striped Bass, opened her cozy Blue Bell, PA eatery in May of 2003, and things in this tiny Philadelphian haven't been the same since. Indeed, Barshak's New American artistry draws curious palates from far and wide, and it's easy to understand why once you've sampled her West Coast halibut with truffled grits, lump crab cakes with warm potato and green bean salad, or grilled Pompano with marinated summer vegetable salad. Adding to the restaurant's small town charm is the fact that Barshak makes frequent passes through the dining room to chat with her guests. If you want to dine on Saturday, try to make reservations one month in advance. $5 corkage per bottle.

OLD CITY. Located on the north side of Old City, quaint Chlöe is a storefront BYOB that turns heads with its awesome New American fare. NB Bring cash ­ they don't take plastic.

NORTHERN LIBERTIES. Once, folks in the Northern Liberties gathered at this intimate BYOB spot, formerly Aden, to enjoy Mediterranean fare. These days, though, its the New American cookery that has them clamoring. Weathered brick walls, intimate cafe tables, outdoor seating and an open kitchen ­ the space exudes all the charm and ambiance you could ask for. The food is nothing short of fantastic thanks to well-presented main courses like grilled skirt steak with caramelized shallots and sweet potato frites or lamb loin chop with minted orzo, feta and aged Balsamic.

SOUTH PHILLY. Guided by the praise-worthy hands of owner-chef Maria Forte, this cozy BYOB on Eighth serves as a home-away-from-home to some of South Philly's most discerning palates. For many, Forte's dreamy fare, much of which pays homage to the small Italian town where she grew up, evokes memories of meals taken in their mothers' kitchen. Who can blame them for feeling so? Especially when you factor in the care ­ some might even call it passion ­ Forte throws into each and every plate of pasta, bowl of soup and serving of gnocchi.

QUEEN VILLAGE. Hidden away in the Queen Village section of South Philly, this modest little cafe probably won't distract you with its decor ­ there are no hackneyed themes, no kaleidoscope of colors, no fancy dressings whatsoever. But if you pay attention at all, you'll see that folks queue up from far and wide, hoping for dibs on a table (translation: space is tight, and they don't accept reservations) and anticipating Dmitri Chimes' consistently fabulous, Mediterranean-inspired fish and seafood dishes.