drjane's Profile
Zeppole in Collingswood
We went to Zeppole on a Monday night, and found the noise level to be comparable to many other popular restaurants, ie, tolerable. Thought the food was outstanding. We especially enjoyed the fish of the day, which happened to be sea bass that was absolutely perfectly cooked, very simple prep with olive oil, lemons, and capers. The staff were very busy but kept us apprised of our status from the moment we walked in the door (15 min early for our res) until we left. The half portions of pasta were perfect for sharing and had distinctive flavors--I'd definitely order any of them again. I know they are working on noise-reduction modifications so that will only get better--then you probably won't be able to get a resrvation!
Friday night dinner recommendation?
How about Pub and Kitchen? Might be a bit higher than $15 pp but the food is worth it
Authentic Thai in Bala Cynwyd
Have just eaten for the second time at Pa and Pa, a tiny Thai restaurant on Bala Ave across from the movie theater. Absolutely the best Thai food I've had anywhere in the Philadelphia area. The Wonderful Eggplant truly was, and the curries have distinctive flavors, not like the "one flavor fits all" experience of many other Thai restaurants. The owner and chef are both delightful, and will tailor the spice to your taste. We requested "Prik nam pla" (thai hot sauce) and got some made fresh to order. BYOB only makes it a better deal. They've only been open a short time, so haven't really developed a following yet, but if justice is to be served, they should be wildly popular. Try it and see!
Suggestion after Please Touch Museum - with kiddo of course
Choices for dinner will be somewhat dependent on which day of the week you will be passing through. The Centennial Cafe, located in Fairmount Park just across Belmont Ave from the Please Touch, is open until 6 on weekdays but only until 4 on weekends. Menu is informal and a bit limited; they have basics like PB and J and grilled cheese as well as more substantial sandwiches. Mama's is about 10 minutes away on the suburban side of Belmont Ave, serving great pizza and cheesesteaks; only open Wed-Saturday. Either of these would mean a minimal detour and no problem with parking. If you want more of a complete meal, try Franco's in the Presidential apartments, which is on Route 1 (City Ave) just before the entrance to the Schuylkill Expressway (aka Rte 76). Great gnocchi, eggplant parm, veal dishes, pizza, etc.
(BTW, depending on the time and day of the week, you might find it quicker to head south on Rte 1 to 676 to connect to I-95 rather than taking 76, where the traffic can be at a standstill if you're there at the wrong time.
Looking for Traditional Philly Italian
Franco's Osteria on City Line at Presidential Blvd has great eggplant parm and gnocchi with marinara or bolognese. (Note that this is the Franco who used to run Franco's Trattoria in East Falls. That location is still open under that name, but the "real" Franco has relocated to City Line.)
Where to get blood oranges?
Produce junction has blood oranges fairly often, but it's unpredictable. Don't know where their Upper Montco locations are--there is one in Wynnefield that I go to from Merion.
Sunday Dinner Specials?
Just got an email announcing that JG Domestic will have
"Sunday Dinner" special for $35 starting on April 3. Looks like a good deal. Here's the link:
http://jgdomestic.com/pdf/sundaysupperblast.pdf
Koo Zee Doo any recs?
I second the gizzards. They are totally amazing. Anything cooked in the "cataplana" (sort of a stovetop pressure cooker) would also be a good bet--we had fish cooked that way and the flavor was very rich, with perfect texture. We celebrated my mother's birthday there a few months ago; came to about $20 per person for more food than we needed, and it was all wonderful.
Post-opera near Lincoln Center
Do we need a res at Boulud for 1030 or so on a Tuesday?
Post-opera near Lincoln Center
After looking at some menus, I'm realizing we'll have to go somewhat higher (say, $45), which is OK--location is important.
Post-opera near Lincoln Center
We are meeting a friend who sings at the Met after the performance of Traviata next Wed (1/5). Need suggestions for somewhere nearby with small plates/grazing/bar food and drink; prefer something in the "reasonable for Manhattan" price range (maybe $30 or so per person plus tax and tip). Thinking about Bar Boulud--any comments?
Any suburban foodie destinations?
If you want something closer in than Phoenixville or Kennett Square, you could try Gemelli, a BYO in Narberth; Nectar, Patrick Feury's place in Berwyn, or Sola, in Bryn Mawr (try the tasting menu). We also like Kotatsu, in Ardmore, for sushi--sit at the bar and chat with the sushi chefs, and they may pass some extras your way (knowing my daughters fondness for eel, they sent her an eel hand roll one night, and they often add an extra piece of fish to the 3-pc sashimi so that each of us can have a slice). Their scallops are particularly sweet.
Pre-theater recommendations?
Taking our 10 yo and our 14 yo to NY to see "Wicked" next week, and am looking for somewhere in the general vicinity of the Gershwin for an early dinner before the show. The kids are very adventurous eaters (duck confit, foie gras, frog legs, Thai food, Indian, tapas, etc) so no real limits in terms of cuisine. However, my 10 yo doesn't eat as much as a grown-up, so would like somewhere that would not frown upon us if we don't order 4 main courses. Our typical modus operandi is to get 1 or 2 apps and 2 or 3 mains and then share everything. Would like to keep choices to those with mains under $30; less would be even better. We'd be happy to walk a few blocks to/from the restaurant. Will be taking the subway from Brooklyn.
Kouign amann where?!
Not only have we had the Kouign Amann at Au Kouign Amann, but my husband spent 2 mornings there a couple of years ago learning how to make it so that he could make it at home (and he does). We first tasted the real deal in Bretagne years ago, and were so happy to find it somewhere closer. Tried to go back to AKA last summer, but alas, they were ferme pour les vacances.
Philly sandwich tour: What are the must eats?
BTW, I'd try the peppers and eggs sandwich at Tony Luke's--best I've ever had. Good for breakfast or lunch!
Philly sandwich tour: What are the must eats?
The reason no one has mentioned food carts is that they are pretty much a weekday event because they feed all of the workers looking for a quick lunch. The only place you're likely to see more than the stray pretzel vendor is around the Penn campus, and even then, there will be far fewer carts/trucks than there are during the week. You'll have to come back on a Tuesday or Wednesday to get the full truck food experience!
Group dinner near Moscone Center
I've been asked to find a location for a dinner for about 20 people not too far from the Moscone Center (a short cab ride or walking distance is OK) during a medical meeting at the end of September. Typically the format is to have a menu with 3 or so choices per course that folks can order. Looking for mid-range pricing (for example, 3 years ago the meeting organizers had the dinner at Roy's).
Thanks for any suggestions you can provide. I'd prefer something more creative than the steak and chop places that the meeting folks usually select.
What's up with Spice Corner?
There's a small spice store on 9th St on the east side (opposite side from Spice Corner) and a block or so south--a more limited selection but the products they sell are good quality.
Making my first food-centric trip to Philly. Thoughts/Suggestions appreciated.
I may be in the minority, but I've never been very impressed with Capogiro. The flavors are interesting, but it doesn't compare to gelato in Italy in intensity of flavor or texture. IMHO, the best ice cream in Philly comes from Bassett's at the Reading Terminal Market. The dark chocolate chocolate chip is a true chocoholic experience, and the fresh fruit flavors in season are also great.
another 4 nights - pls help me narrow it down!
Little Fish is now closed, if that helps narrow things down. Apparently there is a structural problem with the building that housed it.
Chowhound Visiting in July Needs Help
Both Zahav and Amada have tasting menus that are a great deal, and that way you are sure to get enough food for all. If you do the tasting menu at Zahav each person orders a couple of dishes for each "course", so you can choose to share or not share, depending on the personalities at the table.
Another option that is fun for groups is Risorante Panorama at Front and Market. They serve fairly traditional Italian, well-prepared, and offer flights of wines (4 or 5 small pours of related wines) that are served in these wild "spiral staircase" glass racks. They also have the largest selection of wines by the glass (over 200, I think) of any place in the US, if not the world
BYO
CindyJ, it used to be true that you paid higher prices at PLCB stores than elsewhere. However, since the days of Jonathan Newman, the PLCB stores frequently have quality wines at lower prices than elsewhere, even NJ. It's true that the selections are sometimes a bit limited, and the quality of stock and service varies from location to location. For example, the Ardmore PLCB store has a great selection and knowledgeable staff. I have also heard that the PLCB location at Garces Trading Co has an excellent selection. For out of town visitors, that might be the best option.
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ISO cheap, fun, takes reservations near Convention Center
I think Vietnam and/or Vietnam Palace takes reservations. IMHO they're pretty much interchangeable; the upstairs room at Vietnam probably wins for decor.
AMIS ON A MONDAY NIGHT
Re: Cannelloni portion size--You can't have it both ways. If you want Amis to be authentic, then the pasta portions will be "small", because in Italy pasta is never a main course, it's the course before the meat course.
All u can eat sushi
Try Kotatsu in Ardmore. They have AYCE sushi on Monday and Wednesday. You can sit at a table, but we prefer the sushi bar. You are given a list that has almost all of their normal nigiri and rolls (the toro and uni are off limits on AYCE nights) and you order a few items (or many, if you like) which are prepared fresh; then, when you finish those, you order the next round. The selection is good, and the scallops are the best I've had anywhere. The sushi chefs are very acccomodating and entertaining. My daughter loves eel, and the last time we were there she was handed a gratis eel hand roll because we were arguing about whether or not to order more eel.
In Search of Corn Tortillas in Philadelphia
Los Taquitos del Pueblo has freshly made tortillas--when they have their booth at the Head House Square farmers market you can watch them being made from a big pile of masa. I've not been to the restaurant but I assume it's the same. Maybe they'd sell a couple dozen. Also, what about 12th St Cantina in the Terminal?
Baltimore breakfast sweets
Cinnamon rolls from Blue Moon are an must. I used to work in Baltimore, and would pick some up and bring them home on occasion. Now my children request them whenever business brings me back there. The tricky thing is the timing.--if you get there too early, they're not out of the oven yet, and if you're too late, they're all gone. Fresh out of the oven, topped with melting cream cheese icing, they're irresistible, and one cinnamon roll will easily feed 2 or 3 people. Yum!
4 Nights in PHL, pt3 - Tacos Don Memo, Matyson
I'm surprised by the negative comments about Matyson--we've eaten there a number of times and have always had superlative meals. (BTW, my husband and I are self-proclaimed "foodies" and belong to La Chaine de Rotisseurs.) Thinking back, we have never ordered from the regular menu--always get the tasting menu, and usually decide to go to Matyson based on same. Maybe the kitchen pays more attention to the dishes for the tasting--they've always been creative and flavorful, and for $45 it's a great deal.
Minibar reservations
It might be worth it to call back one afternoon and throw yourself on the mercy of the reservationist. You never know--if you explain that this is your only change to eat at Minibar for the next few years, maybe you can get moved up to #1 on the waiting list. Nothing to lose except the time on the phone call
Osteria still tops?
There was a thread a few months ago suggesting that the quality at Osteria was slipping, but I see it still gets recommended as a "Top 5" restaurant in many posts. Like to hear from anyone who's been there in the last month or so as we are planning to go on Friday to celebrate our anniversary.
If you still love it, what are your favorite dishes?
