• Finish your gourmet meal with dessert.cheese cake image by Lisa Eastman from Fotolia.com
  
  Including the areas known as Far Northeast Philadelphia, Near Northeast Philadelphia and Kensington, and bridging the land around Tacony Creek and Poquessing Creek, Northeast Philadelphia is a vibrant area popular for shopping and dining. Commercial areas include Castor Avenue, Roosevelt Boulevard and Franklin Mills Mall. If you are a local resident or are visiting the area and are looking for a formal dining experience, Northeast Philadelphia offers a wide range of choices.
  
  

Le Castagne

• Winner of the "Wine Spectator" magazine's Award of Excellence in 2009, Le Castagne is an Italian restaurant where you will find only fresh, homemade bread and pasta. Appetizers include beef carpaccio and smoked mozzarella wrapped in prosciutto, pasta dishes include spaghetti with chestnut cream sauce and rigatoni with sweet sausage and spinach, and entrees include rabbit and Gorgonzola sausage with vegetables and seared pork tenderloin with sweet grape syrup, poached pear and kraut. A selection of homemade desserts are also available.
  
  Le Castagne
  1920 Chestnut St.
  Philadelphia, PA 19103
  (215) 751-9913
  lecastagne.com
  
  

Gallo's Seafood

• Just down the road from the lush Pennypack Park, Gallo's Seafood specializes in fresh fish and fine wine. Inside Gallo's you will find a restaurant area with a separate bar and lounge area. Gallo's also has a banquet room to accomodate large groups and special events. Menu items include appetizers such as steamed mussels and Manhattan chowder and entrees such as honey-glazed salmon and pecan-encrusted tilapia. For lunch, sandwiches such as the crab cake sandwich and the blackened chicken sandwich are available.
  
  Gallo's Seafood
  8101 Roosevelt Blvd.
  Philadelphia, PA 19152
  (215) 333-0484
  gallos-seafood.com
  
  

Paloma Mexican Haute Cuisine

• Located in the Castor Gardens area, Paloma Mexican Haute Cuisine offers Northeast Philadelphians a taste of fine Mexican cuisine. The food at Paloma Mexican is traditional Mexican with a contemporary, cross-cultural twist. Special events at Paloma Mexican include wine tastings and cooking lessons with the head chef. Paloma Mexican can also host and cater large groups and special events. Examples of appetizers include the poblano pepper soup with salmon and the wild mushroom flan with cilantro pesto. Entrees include shrimp and vegetables with habanero-chardonnay sauce and roast loin with huitlacoche mousse and Mexican pepper sauce.
  
  Paloma Mexican Haute Cuisine
  6516 Castor Ave.
  Philadelphia, PA 19149
  (215) 533-0356
  palomafinedining.com