cwdonald's Profile
Would like to do a Layover - Philadelphia. Suggestions?
The day of the week really does matter. Some of the cool Amish vendors at the Reading Terminal are not open on Sundays. Altneratively though you have things like the Headhouse Square Farmers market which is only open on Sundays.... so it is a tradeoff. What part of Philadelphia will you best staying in?
Would like to do a Layover - Philadelphia. Suggestions?
What day of the week are you coming? And since you lived in Philly, are there any particular types of things you would like to experience again? Are you into food trucks or just restaurants?
Organic you-pick fruit strawberries within 1.5 hours of Philly
Its a perfect time. I just pick a quart yesterday at the CSA I belong to in Wrightstown. We probably have another week worth of strawberries in this area.
Tabora is open 10-4 Sat and Sunday and Strawberries are $3 a lb for upick... Blueberry season begins mid June....
Fish closing temporarily
Well if they are expanding, they may in fact be waiting to do the expansion and the fixing/renovations at the same time....
Birthday dinner for my 15 year old daughter in Phila or New Hope area
Triumph Brewery is not a bad suggestion. They have remade their menu and they have a whole section of it featuring local ingredients. On weekends after 9pm the place turns into a nightclub and feels like a meat market. Actually would suggest Sprig and Vine over Triumph if you want inventive cooking......
Birthday dinner for my 15 year old daughter in Phila or New Hope area
Anne... I am not sure what trendy is for a 15 year old......... but a few options to consider:
In Doylestown, Honey. Ambience is nice, but the food is really spectacular. Have your daughter take a look at the menu and see whether it strikes her fancy.
In Philadelphia, Osteria the pizzas are very good as are the antipasti and the pasta. For tapas, you might consider Jamonera, Amada, Tinto or even Bar Ferdinand. If you go to Amada you could even consider ordering the suckling pig.
If you are also into meat, you could go to Horsham to Na Brasa, a brazilian steakhouse. You have other brazilian steakhouse options in CC at Fogo de Chao or even Northeast Philadelphia, Picana.
For a different Mexican experience in the suburbs Cantina Feliz in Fort Washington is nice, or Calaca Feliz in Fairmount. The latter is really stunning in the way they have painted murals on the walls and has a nice courtyard to eat in. These will be similar to Distrito (the chef worked at Distrito).
One other great restaurant to consider is Veg (sort of the anti fogo de chao). It is getting rave reviews and with all the fresh produce available it will both be trendy and nutritious.
Hope you find something fun and your daughter has a wonderful celebration.
Heading back to Philadelphia, tweaking the agenda.
That is great to hear. I haven't had issues either, but have heard of folks that have had problems at lunch. I think Brian does a great job, and really do believe it is one of the better places to eat
Heading back to Philadelphia, tweaking the agenda.
I was surprised about the a.kitchen review as well. I suspect, though of course I do not know for certain that he had lunch or a snack there.I have heard many disparaging remarks about the place for lunch. I almost think there are two restaurants.. a.kitchen is a "hotel" restaurant at lunch and a fabulous restaurant at dinner. But I could be proven wrong....
Weekday late lunch/early dinner after Barnes Museum
One place to consider is Dandelion, the gastropub from Stephen Starr. It does not close, and while their menu adjusts at 3pm for afternoon tea. The tea menu does include savory items like welsh rarebit as well as a standard burger.
Forest and Main --Ambler Brewpub
Thanks for the report Joe. I was in the other day as well. stopping for a quick beer before getting take out at Rosey's BBQ down the street (which by the way has improved since I was last there... ).
Regarding growlers. They are only doing growlers on the NON cask beers. I asked one of the brewers about that, and he said that the cask wastes lots of beer when filling a growler, and also he doesnt think that it maintains its integrity. So you can get the Kinch or any of their Belgians but not the mild, the stout or the Bitter. I think I heard one fo the belgians was 16 for a growler which is a fair price.
Regarding the quality of the bitter, I would say its in the top three in the area. I personally prefer Ship Inn in Milford, and when you can get Uncle Teddy's on cask either at Victory or several fo the bars around here that have casks, I like it better. But it is a great bitter. I also really enjoyed their mild, and they have a spring bitter which is very nice as well.
A friend of mine said their burgers are cooked in duck fat, so that may have something to do with the great flavor. And ten dollars these days is not too bad for a well executed burger. The dish I have not had that I want is their lamb shank with spaetzel.
Organic you-pick fruit strawberries within 1.5 hours of Philly
Here is some information on picking stawberris in Bucks County. Note not all these places are integrated pest management or organic, but it is another resource for folks during the short but wonderful local strawberry season that is upon us.
http://tinyurl.com/7qppo74
Recommendation for Anniversary dinner in New Hope, Doylestown, etc
+1 on Il Melograno. But you are right it is the food not the atmosphere that makes that restaurant.
Talula's Garden or a.kitchen?
Given that both places focus on local ingredients, do you think that because it was the winter you may have had a "less interesting" meal just because there was less for the chefs to play with?
Morton's, Cap Grille and Ruth's Chris. How do you rank them?
I think it really depends what market you are in. In Philadelphia hands down its Capital Grille, and Mortons and Ruth Chris are a distant second. The wine program, the service, the steak, the sides are all superior at the one in Philadelphia, and the new one in King of Prussia is not bad either. The Mortons in King of Prussia feels like a mausoleum (no windows.. ). Ruth Chris experience always feels like they are rushing me, nickel and diming me for sides and the sizzling plate is just wrong. Thankfully we have some decent independent steakhouses in Philadelphia too (Barclay Prime Union Trust and Butcher and Singer (in the old Striped Bass restaurant that was featured in the Sixth Sense.)
Talula's Garden or a.kitchen?
The space at a.kitchen is a bit sterile. The food is very good, though small plates. Tallulah's as a space is beautiful, and the outdoor dining area is quite nice. Inside can be a bit noisy. I too have not been back since the new chef has arrived.
50+ Taps for Husband
Thanks for the heads up. Having Pliny on tap for two days is amazing.. and really sounds like it is driven by lack of awareness because most places sell out Pliny in hours if not minutes.
Cheesesteaks at or within walking distance of Citizens Bank Park?
I am sorry I really disagree with you. Google waking from citizens bank to johns versus broad and snyder to snyder. Its 2 miles versus 1.3 miles. So walking from broad and snyder all the way down snyder is definitely better than walking from citizens bank park. And I was talking about going via train from city hall to either snyder or the end of the line so the latter would have taken even longer. So there is no question that walking from broad and snyder is faster than from the ball park. Be that as it may, its not appropriate on Sunday..
Cheesesteaks at or within walking distance of Citizens Bank Park?
But if you are going by train.......you have to count the time going via train from snyder to the park......
Cheesesteaks at or within walking distance of Citizens Bank Park?
It allows you to work off the cheesesteak ....... but you are right they are not open on Sundays. I have walked it, and its about a 30 minute walk. I personally enjoyed it.
Cheesesteaks at or within walking distance of Citizens Bank Park?
Not exactly walking distance, but one of the Philadelphia sandwich institutions is close enough to Citizen's Bank Park to make it worth going out of the way and that is John's Roast Pork. It is in reality a full service breakfast and lunch stand that makes amazing roast pork AND cheese steaks and has won best of Philadelphia for each. Go with someone else and split one of each. If you take at the Broad Street line, just get off at the Snyder Street stop and walk down Snyder to the end. You cannot miss it. You are allowed to bring sandwiches into Citizens Bank Park, so if you go early enough you could get it and bring it in, or go eat it there and then go to the ball park.
Canned Beers for a Beer Tasting
Sly Fox O Reilly Stout is now in cans.. its so good its been pushing Guinness off taps in the Greater Philadelphia area.
Ambler - Kid friendly dinner?
You definitely have to add Forest and Main to the kid friendly places in Ambler. Small menu, but I have seen them be very accommodating for children. First time I went in there, one of the brewers was there with his child. Next time I was in there, a couple was eating with their newborn. There is no children's menu however.
Recommendation for Anniversary dinner in New Hope, Doylestown, etc
In Lambertville go try Brian's.This is the successor restaurant to Rouget in Newtown. Best time to go is the prix fix served Tuesday to Thursdays. Definitely a bit more casual than Inn at Philips Mill but the food is outstanding.
50+ Taps for Husband
With all due respect, what would make it best in the city compared to the likes of Standard Tap, Memphis Tap Room, Monks, Khyber Pass, SPTR, Alla Spina, or Farmers Cabinet... what do you consider a special brew that you have seen there?
girls early night out - good food, not too expensive
What is your definition of too expensive? Are you including drinks or not?
looking great food in a low decibel atmosphere
Silly but provocative question - would you consider Fountain, R2L or even La Croix to be on the sleepy side... (some might.)
I love the suggestion of Meritage. I am wondering what other smaller places might fit the bill. What about Matyson? Some of the rooms at Dandelion are quieter than others... Other BYos?
what's new?
Definitely is a good one, and they are closer to what will open soon. My only issue with them is they only keep track of what has opened in the last two months.......
what's new?
Not a direct answer to your question, but here is a link that has all the new restaurants in the last 4-6 months. The link is form the Philadelphia Inq but I do not believe they maintain the site. Key to using it is to center it on the area that you want and then zoom in. Each dot if you roll over it will display the restaurant.
http://www.philly.com/philly/restaurants/128824728.html
Barbuzzo, Fish, or Amis?
+1 for Jamonera. I would also even suggest Zavino. Located right next door to Barbuzzo, their pizza is superior, and I really like the salumi and salads they have there. You could definitely accomplish your goal of eating below 50. Only issue with Zavino is that they do not take reservations. They will have more capacity now since they have tables outdoors, and as long as mother nature cooperates, you should be able to get a seat either indoors or at the bar without any problems.
