Former New Yorker editor and cartoonist John Donohue, author of All the Restaurants in New York, now brings his sketchpad to Philadelphia’s vibrant restaurant scene, writes Bedatri D. Choudhury for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Having sketched nearly 1,500 restaurants in New York, Donohue aims to do the same with Philadelphia.
A self-taught artist with over 20 years of experience, Donohue realized that drawing made him both happy and calm.
“When I pick up the pen, I become a better person, and the more I draw, the happier everyone in my life is,” he wrote in an essay.
After losing his job at The New Yorker, Donohue spent time caring for his two daughters. He began sketching the dish rack daily as a practice.
In 2011, he wrote and illustrated Man with a Pan: Culinary Adventures of Fathers Who Cook for Their Families. This led to the idea of sketching all restaurants in New York City. After completing the project, his visits to Philadelphia sparked the idea of making it his next destination.
The first Philly eatery he drew was Old City’s Fork. Four years later, he has completed 93 sketches, with 76 currently on display at The Art of Philly Dining show at Gleaner’s Cafe and Gallery.
Read more about John Donohue and his unique art in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on PHILADELPHIA Today in May 2025.
