On occasions when you want to go all-out, like birthdays, anniversaries or just the end of a long week, nothing hits the spot quite like steak and seafood. Whether your go-to order is a juicy porterhouse, a bowl of pasta crowned with lump crab and lobster, or a perfectly crispy plate of fritto misto, there are so many restaurants in Delco that have you covered.

By no means an exhaustive list, we’ve found some fine establishments across the county that specialize in steaks, seafood — or both. Some lean more casual, while others provide the full white tablecloth experience. But no matter the atmosphere, each one offers exceptional service and expertly prepared meals.

Here’s where to go for top-notch seafood and steaks in Delco:

Seafood

Cascata Caffe

If you love a restaurant with mid-century flair, check out Cascata Caffe in Springfield. With stained glass windows, arched doorways and water served in crystal goblets, it feels like something out of a classic movie! 

There is a lot of seafood sprinkled across the Italian-themed menu. To start, try the P.E.I. mussels, shrimp cocktail or pesce misto. Further down the menu, under Pesce there are plenty of pasta-based options, but we recommend the house specialties, like Salmon Cascata (topped with crab and capers in a white wine sauce) and Fisherman’s Fra Diavlo (mussels, shrimp, scallops, clams and fish of the day over linguine in red or white sauce).

Bonus: Cascata Caffe is also BYOB, so bring along a bottle of Chianti to complete the experience. 

801 W. Sproul Rd., Springfield; (610) 690-5430.

 

Clam Tavern

Since 1962, this casual neighborhood restaurant has served generations of families, and has even become somewhat of a destination. With a full bar, fish tanks, nautical decor and mounted taxidermy fish on the walls, it really delivers old-school seafood house vibes. The list of seafood dishes is too long to name them all; of course, there are lots of clams, from raw on-the-half-shell, to steamed with butter, to baked whole and served on a special tray. 

For larger plates, choose from mussels, fried seafood platters, broiled fish and shellfish (including Alaskan King Crab legs and lobster tail), surf-and-turf and pasta dishes, including the Seafood Fiesta, a filet of fish with Littleneck clams, topped with jumbo shrimp and sea scallops over a bed of pasta.   

339 E. Broadway Ave., Clifton Heights; (610) 623-9537.

 

Buona Sera Ristorante

Buona Sera translates to “good evening,” which is exactly what you’ll have at this authentic Italian BYOB in Havertown. In addition to soups, salads, and pasta and meat dishes, you’ll find plenty of seafood here. For the antipasti course, there’s shrimp scampi in a rich butter-and-wine sauce, as well as fried calamari. Larger seafood plates include Dentice All’ Aurora, snapper with clams, shrimp, garlic and tomatoes, and Filleti Di Soglia Adriatrico, a sauteed filet of sole with capers, lemons and wine sauce.  

2126 Darby Rd., Havertown; (610) 744-1830.

 

Koy

We can’t talk about fresh, creative seafood dishes without including at least one sushi spot! (For a deeper dive into Delco’s sushi restaurants, see here and here). Koy in Glen Mills stands out for its epic selection, spanning simpler preparations like sashimi and vegetarian rolls to over-the-top signature creations, like the Deep Sea Roll, with lobster tail tempura, avocado and cucumber on the inside, and snow crab salad, tobiko and scallions on the outside. If raw fish isn’t your thing, there’s so much more on the menu, as well, including Vietnamese crepes and pho soup, fried rice and noodle dishes, and hot entrees, like Canadian crab with ginger, scallion and a salted egg.

391 Wilmington Pike, Suite 5, Glen Mills; (484) 800-4986.

 

Status

This lively spot specializes in seafood and soul food, and there are so many tasty dishes on the menu to try. We’re talking shrimp and grits with seasoned butter, golden-fried catfish with mac-and-cheese and collard greens, Dungeness crab and Alaskan snow crab platters and salmon Caesar salad. Status also has a full bar and it’s a great place for family get-togethers, work parties and brunch outings.

512 Avenue of the States, Chester; (484) 480-5151.

 

Steaks

Stephen’s on State

When it comes to premium steaks, it’s hard to top Stephen’s on State. The “prime butcher shop” section of its menu features the chef’s selection of center cut, charbroiled, USA prime beef, including an impressive 14-ounce New York Strip, a 10-oz filet mignon and an 18-ounce (!) Black Angus ribeye. All steaks are plated with whipped potatoes, garlic French beans and red wine jus. To gild the lily, explore the extensive wine list for a perfect pairing, like a Napa Cab or an Argentinian Malbec. 

105 W. State St., Media; (610) 891-8900.

 

Lehman’s Restaurant

Lehman’s is the kind of place that we hope never goes away: an unpretentious, old-fashioned tavern with a 100% classic steakhouse menu: French onion soup, fried mushrooms, Caesar salad, shrimp cocktail, snapper soup, and a whole section of the menu dedicated to “treats from the land.” Here, you’ll find sirloin strips steak with onion rings, prime rib au jus and plenty of other meat-based dishes. Seafood, pasta, veal and lamb dishes round out the menu. 

400 Wanamaker Ave., Essington; (610) 521-1822.

 

The Ridley House

This New American-style bar and restaurant is modeled after a traditional hall-and-parlor home, with three distinct dining areas, including a bustling bar, a cozy dining room and an outdoor beer garden. The extensive menus, spanning from breakfast to late-night, give food lovers so much to discover. Great steaks are definitely part of the equation! At brunch, there’s steak and eggs with fresh chimichurri sauce and a grilled steak and burrata salad. On the dinner menu, there’s an herb-crusted New York strip, and a dish called the Tomahawk Experience. This extravaganza must be ordered 72 hours in advance, and comes with a 32-ounce bone-in ribeye with a bevy of sides, like baked potatoes and garlic broccoli.    

2107 MacDade Blvd., Holmes; (610) 522-5400.

 

Masami Japanese Steakhouse

Hibachi is a unique kind of steakhouse experience that is especially ideal for dinner out with the kids. It’s interactive, entertaining and fun to sit around a grill where a skilled chef is preparing your meal! At Masami, there are two steaks on the Hibachi dinner menu: a filet mignon and a New York strip, alongside plenty of other protein options. All Hibachi dinners come with soup, salad, shrimp and fried rice. There is also a kid Hibachi menu, which offers smaller portions at about half the price of adult-sized meals.  

1260 Township Line Rd., Drexel Hill; (610) 789-3222.

 

333 Belrose

Find a seat in the swanky, intimate dining room at 333 Belrose and settle in for a stellar meal. You can’t go wrong with anything from the elevated, somewhat Asian-fusion-inspired menu, but if a gorgeous steak is what you crave, try the grilled 8-ounce filet mignon, with warm blue cheese-bacon potato salad, 333 steak sauce and grilled asparagus. Save room for dessert, if possible; rotating options include tempting dishes, like dulce de leche bread pudding.

333 Belrose Ln., Wayne; (610) 293-1000.

 

•  •  •

Want to know more about everything Delco? We’re more than just your source for good eats — we’re your source for where to stay, what to do and more in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. We’re Visit Delco, PA, and we’ve got you covered from Philly to the Brandywine. Find us at 1501 N. Providence Rd., Media, PA, 19063; (610) 565-3679 or online.

— Emily Kovach

 

Featured photo: Pexels