silverbullet69's Profile
Tacconelli's: Is it bad or am I crazy?
That's what I like about Tacconelli's...
no fancy toppings / ingredients , but somehow (at least I think) it's out of this world.
For me it's just more "real". Osteria will be gone in 10 years when a new trend comes along.. Places like tacconelli's have been doing the same thing for 90 years and hopefully wont ever stop.
Cases of local beer for under $30?
2nd the PBC reccomendation those guys are rocking it. Local and Fresh and good.
http://www.philadelphiabrewing.com/
Also if you want something CHEAP grab some Lion's Head, its from Wilkes Barre and around 11 dollars a case for bottles- used to be Nine!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionshead
It's nothing crazy but makes a good local substitution for those who prefer a lighter coors/high life/bud style, and I think it tastes better than Yuengling by far.
PHL - Ansill closed, maybe permanently, AAARGH
feel like Ansill had the problem where everyone liked to talk about it but not many people actually ate there. Glad I got there before it closed (?) the food was great, but yeah the atmosphere a little quaint, especially for that area..
feel like it would fit in better in rittenhouse west along 20th or something.
Dedicated Philly Chowhound Board
Philly DEFINITELY needs its own board.
I see a lot of people asking about where to eat in Philly, only to get a zillion recommendations in Jersey or the Suburbs.
Nothing against the burbs but most people who are in town for a few days aren't going to trek 20 miles to eat.
It's hard enough to get visitors to venture out of center city and go to 9th street / washington ave area.
do any gastropubs take reservations?
I would think, part of the definition / character of a gastropub is that it doesn't take reservations..
Pizza in Hatboro
sam's italian market in Willow Grove has fantastic tomato pie.
don't think they do any other pizza though
Cheap hole-in-the-wall Asian gems in Philly??
also indonesia on snyder is great. and supposedly there's a decent noodle place in center city in the bellevue food court.
oh and pho xe lua in chinatown is awesome. it's vietnamese and thai, has a neon train sign.
Philly Cheesesteak Roundup
sometimes I get the feeling these cheesesteak "aficianados' don't even really like eating cheesesteaks. Yeah sure pat's isn't the best, neighborhood spots have better service & talk to you or whatever, but as far as I'm concerned if the meat isn't burned and the bread is fresh, it's going to taste pretty damn good.
Tex-mex in philly
it's not the best, and definitely not authentic anything, but you might want to give Mad 4 Mex a shot? never had an enchilada there but their burritos are HUGE and better than Qdoba at least. Warning it's a chain and sort of a college / beer chugging / tgi fridays atmosphere
The decline of the Italian Hoagie
I grew up with Lee's hoagies, which I remember being good years ago, but last time I had one was just OK...But for me, the American/ Wawa style of hoagie is sort of a different category (more of a submarine sandwich) than a serious south philly italian, sharp provolone primo/sarcones/chickies/etc hoagie. It's pretty much a different food. Discovering "real" italian hoagies in the city was sort of a revelation, hence my preference.
I also think the Wawa issue depends on where you live. Wawas in center city in the last few years have gone way downhill. (actually most of them are closed now) and the last few wawa hoagies I had were really bad. Lots of stale rolls, questionable ingredients, almost inedible.
But the Wawas of the burbs and jersey seem to have a much higher standard.
Throwdown with Bobby Flay staged?
EVERYTHING ON TV IS STAGED!
and then edited to look as controversial, gripping, and dramatic as possible, that's why we watch it!
I would say some food shows are more honest than others as far as actually being about food. Most of the people are on those shows because the camera likes them. They are entertainers not cooks. The only show that comes close to what cooking for a living is really like? kitchen nightmares.
that said, I will watch throwdown over a lot of other food shows, they do showcase a lot of great regional food, and they have given exposure to some great places. I just dont think mr. flay tries very hard to win
The decline of the Italian Hoagie
"The roll was chewy and it was only mediocre overall."
really?? thats too bad- I get a sandwich from there at least once a month and they are always great, and always fresh bread, I mean It's sarcone's so it's going to have more tooth to it than your soft wawa style roll...
The decline of the Italian Hoagie
COSMI'S, 8th & Dickinson will restore your faith in philadelphia hoagies!
Chickie's is also FANTASTIC. These are REAL ITALIAN HOAGIES not some wawa / subway / blimpie garbage.
Primo, yeah it's OK but not as consistently good as Cosmi's. South Square Market? Are you kidding me?
Good ethnic near Rittenhouse Square?
Miran is great, Su Xing is delicious & affordable (and Im not a vegetarian) also Tampopo!(japanese.. but I heard not as good as it used to be?) also there is a vegetable market on 18th near spruce that advertises "mexican tacos" but I haven't tried..
Philly: Valentine's day dinner near downtown
if I was going out for V-day I would totally avoid the prix fixe madness and try something in chinatown or south phili red gravy style that i've been meaning to try for years. probably not as busy and they'll prob take good care of you.
or if its still 70 degrees get a bottle of wine and some food from dibrunos and sit in the park
Recession hits the restaurant industry
trend needs to turn to comfortable & affordable, philly has too many fine dining & "upscale" restaurants already. time for laid off sous chefs to open diners and give little pete's and melrose diner a run for their money. I'll eat there.
Pat's Cheesesteak
pat's uses real meat. It's not that bad. always fresh because there's always a line. Philadelphia is not chicago. $10 is not too much to pay for a good sandwich, get a job.
Bad Indian Food in Philly
surprised nobody mentioned TIFFIN in northern liberties, haven't tried but everyone seems to love it. heard the dining room isn't much and take out / delivery the way to go
Osteria - Yuck
nothing against garces or vetri who are both incredible chefs, I'm just wary of spending my money at giant restaurants where the focus is on numbers and maybe not as much on the food.
when you serve hundreds of people a night with 60 or so employees there's a lot that can go wrong- or just not be as mind blowing as you expected.
A great hamberger in Philly
goodburger! tried the other night, it was GREAT as good as 5 guys. (better? they will do md rare, 5 guys cooks them all md well)
Osteria - Yuck
the chef is probably in atlantic city or dubai wheeling and dealing to open 75 more restaurants instead of watching his kitchens. same story all over philadelphia.
eat at smaller places, where the cooks normally actually care about the food they put out.
The Pub in Pennsauken
the PUB is awesome. Is it really that out of style? Table 31? Butcher & Singer? I say skip the "fancy retro steakhouse" and go right for the real thing!!
apparently there used to be a POLYNESIAN style PUB on 16th & Walnut, I say bring that back too.
In search of: the Unusual & Exotic
I sort of doubt bourdain would go to any "fine dining" establishments here, everyone in Philly is just trying to become a chain and dumb down their food and make lots of money, but I would love to see him explore chinatown / italian-mexican-s.e. asian market / north philly / west philly / northeast, etc..
I mean we must have tripe from 3 or 4 different cultures, plus he could get drunk at that sketchy take-out place on washington, hit up some north philly bbq, maybe polish action in the northeast, there's your show!
Taco Trucks in the Philly area?
Ive been dreaming about that taco truck for months, haven't tried it yet. And I second that el Jorocho (13th & Ellsworth) is fantastic, maybe one of the best for authentic mexican..
feel like I see a new tacqueria every day around southeast philly, even down below the ital market tucked away on corners & such, probably worth some exploration
Seeking Greek Sauce in Philly area
hollyeats.com says texas weiners on snyder. I've had them, I didn't know It was "greek sauce" but they were damn good.
apj texas weiners (13th & arch) is similar.
http://www.hollyeats.com/TexasWeiner.htm
Charcuterie ?
dibruno's is obvious but they have such a great selection, you can spend big bucks or just grab some sample packs of scraps and a loaf of bread, cheaper than paying $30 for 4 slices of prosciutto on a plate..
BEST PHILLY CHEESE STEAK
unfortunately being a cheesesteak flipper isn't exactly everybody's dream job... I would imagine the turnover is pretty high, which is why so many of these places are inconsistent. probably the quality of the steak is due as much to the cook as the establishment.
I've eaten cheesesteaks all over the city, and honestly pat's & geno's are more consistent than most... (but not the best) if anything because their product is constantly moving and the bread stays fresh, etc... the meat moves and doesn't dry out or overcook or whatever.
I wish someone would open up a higher quality cheesesteak joint that isn't gimmicky - no foie gras or kobe b.s, please.. I would pay $12 for a steak if it was good enough.
