🍽️ The 76, revamped | Morning Newsletter

Happy Wednesday, Philly.

The Inquirer’s guide to the most vital restaurants in the region, The 76, is back for its second year. Our fresh list features everything from James Beard Award winners to food trucks — all in the name of capturing what defines Philadelphia’s food scene right now.

And local federal employees working through the shutdown describe it as “depressing,” “unsettling,” and “psychological warfare.”

Plus, we take a close look at the judicial candidates on the ballot this November.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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What does it mean for a restaurant to be not just excellent, but definitive and vital?

🍽️ To find out, 18 Inquirer scouts taste-tested their way across the region to determine which 76 eateries best define the Philly food scene right now. The expansive result is called The 76.

🍚 Our 2025 list reaches across the breadth of cuisines available in Philadelphia, from Ethiopian (Doro Bet on Baltimore Avenue) to Indonesian (Indo Spice on Passyunk) to French (Ginger on Red Lion Road).

🥞 It also spans formality. Both low-tech stalwart Bob’s Diner in Roxborough and the Rittenhouse Square-adjacent Friday Saturday Sunday, which critic Craig LaBan calls “the most exciting fine dining experience in Philly,” made the cut.

🍣 The 2025 guide includes some repeats from last year’s inaugural list — say, the nationally renowned Thai hot spot Kalaya in Kensington and perpetual fave Reading Terminal Market. But there’s plenty of newness, too, such as South Philly bakery Mighty Bread and Old City omakase Ogawa Sushi & Kappo.

🥖 And we stand by our pick for the best sandwich in the city — but we also name another exceptional cheesesteak in (gasp!) Bryn Mawr.

Feeling hungry yet? Sort the guide by location, genre, and price. Then get your reservations in while you can.

P.S. Our scouts visited many, many more places than could appear on The 76. See their favorite spots that didn’t make the list.

Amid the ongoing government shutdown, thousands of federal workers in Philadelphia aren’t getting paid.

Yet those deemed essential are still screening for bombs, controlling air traffic, and aiding Social Security recipients.

With no idea of when their next paycheck will come, some workers are delaying their mortgage payments or looking for nongovernment jobs. Morale has hit a new low.

Reporters Ariana Perez-Castells and Fallon Roth spoke to federal workers about their shutdown experience, two weeks in.

In other federal government news: Philadelphia International Airport has joined other airports around the country in refusing to play a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for the federal government shutdown. And Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, the Bala Cynwyd-based childhood cancer charity, is pushing “extra hard” to raise money this year in hopes of offsetting some of the losses in federal funding — but it’s not enough to fill the gaps.

A slew of city- and state-level court-related roles are on the ballot this November. Here’s the latest on the people running for judicial positions and district attorney.

State’s highest court: Voters will decide whether to extend each of the tenures of three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices for another 10-year term. See how they ruled in landmark cases over the last decade.

Secret survey: The Philadelphia Bar Association declined to recommend five judges seeking reelection. Confidential survey responses from hundreds of attorneys reveal sharp criticism of some members of the bench.

‘Magic seats’: Three lawyers will appear on the ballot as Democratic nominees for the Philly bench despite not running in the primary after being nominated by ward leaders.

Centrist backing: Former judge and Philadelphia district attorney candidate Patrick Dugan, who lost to incumbent Larry Krasner as a Democrat in the primary but switched his party to run as a Republican in November, got an endorsement from Andrew Yang’s Forward Party.

Which country on Tuesday prohibited factories that supply industries around the world from doing business with Hanwha Philly Shipyard?

A) South Korea

B) Mexico

C) China

D) Canada

Think you know? Check your answer.

🎙️ Remembering: D’Angelo alongside radio host and music industry coach Dyana Williams.

🍺 Answering: With every Iron Hill Brewery closed, what happens to all of the beer?

👻 Visiting: These nine haunted Halloween attractions and these 16 spooky (not scary) Halloween events for kids and families.

🚲 Noting: The details of the 2025 Philly Bike Ride on Saturday.

🍞 Hungering for: Ellen Yin’s new cafe and pastry hub Bread Room and these 13 other restaurants opening this fall.

Hint: LOVE Park holiday event

GALLICISM HARVEST

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Adenike Walker, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: West Philly Tool Library. The organization is moving out of its current building, and raising funds to open a new space.

🏒 One last artistic thing: Sports artist Dhwani Saraiya has now collaborated with all five Philly-area franchises, including for the Phillies’ City Connect mural at Citizens Bank Park. Her latest collab was a Flyers giveaway shirt that every fan could take home at Monday’s home opener.

Thanks, as always, for starting your day with The Inquirer. See you tomorrow.

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