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Max Brenner, Philadelphia - Quick Review

2010-12-30T10:25:00.000-05:00

1500 Walnut St., Philadelphia

After a show at the Arden Theater, my Girlfriend, Mo, and I were looking forward to checking out Max Brenner with our kids. From what I'd heard, everything is made with chocolate!

We arrived mid-afternoon, mid-week hoping it to be slow. Unfortunately, it's the week between Christmas and New Year's Day so anyone with vacation time to use up is off. The second you walk in the door expect to be blasted with the scent of chocolate. It's piped right in. If you stuck out your tongue you would taste it in the air.

When I walked in to Max's, I expected to be smack dab in the middle of the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory--everything to be made from chocolate, taste like chocolate, be chocolate. It was almost so.

While we waited, oh so painfully, for our table to be bussed ever.so.slowly from the last batch of diners, the kids entertained themselves by watching a giant vat o' chocolate on auto blend. And, of course, touching every gift package in sight. Plus, as we waited, we had the pleasure of overhearing a patron complain about the slow service.

Hmmm, there seems to be a theme, and I'm getting less and less excited to sit down with four wound up kids.

Once we were finally seated, there was plenty to choose from for the kids...we ended up with the Ultimate Treat which included your choice from a dozen different hot chocolates and an item from the lunch menu.

Mo and I both ordered the Grilled Chicken Panini, delivered on a wooden slab with exactly 5 waffle french fries. Grilled chicken, goat cheese, spinach, tomato, black olive pesto on a toasted panini roll was delish.

We agreed to go back for a Girls Night Out and try some of the fancy chocolate cocktails and munch on the chocolate desserts. With the four kids, there was no time for lingering over anything luxurious this time. But definitely worth a revisit.

Slate Restaurant

2010-12-29T20:26:00.000-05:00

102 S. 21st Street, Philadelphia

Slate was a convenient choice for Girls Night Out. Being relatively new and close to the Cleopatra exhibit which the Girlfriends and I had just explored, why not venture a try? It was a cold night and we weren't up for a long walk.

Once we walked in, however, we were a little let down to see just one other table of patrons. That always makes me nervous. But, at least we have no problem getting a decent table. The ambiance was nice for a neighborhood restaurant. It had potential...

The menu was reminscent of typical bar food, but kicked up a notch. It looked promising.

We started with traditional calamari and spicy remoulade ($9) which was good. It was crispy and had a nice kick. The baked goat cheese ($8) salad with toast points was just average thanks to the bitter lettuce that was nearly inedible if you didn't pair a leaf with the cheese.

One Girlfriend and I ordered the tilapia in parchment paper with seasonal vegetables. If you're watching your waistline, this is the way to go as it has no sauce, no spice and no flavor. Just steamed fish and vegetables. However, it arrived for the Girlfriend...raw. As in, not on purpose and not edible. R.A.W. What chef doesn't check his food before it's sent out?

Another Girlfriend tried the pasta with scallops and shrimp. But it was oily and seemed to be "low tide in oil", because the scallops were fishy.

To top off our less than mediocre experience, the ladies bathroom was "pissy", and the wine pours were ridiculously slight.

Not worth a return visit...ever.

Hoof + Fin

2010-03-18T16:26:00.005-04:00

617 S. Third Street, Philadelphia

We went against our own rule of waiting to dine at a restaurant until it's been open at least a month. You know, so they can work out the kinks. But, the Girlfriends and I just didn't want to wait to get to Hoof + Fin in Queen Village. Three weeks opened is close enough.

If you've read anything about it already, then you know it's in the old Gayle space and has outdoor seating in a small courtyard. Bonus!

Overall the ambiance was intimate and cozy, thanks to the very dim lighting. If you have old eyes, bring your flashlight for the menu. It's farmhouse style with a touch of rustic, dish towel-esque napkins, butcher block tables, coat hooks on the wall and vintage paint-by-number artwork (clearly scavanged from someone's grandmother's basement) hanging awry on the walls. The noise level wasn't an issue as the restaurant never fully filled up.

Complimentary skinny breadsticks arrive first in a mason jar with basil cream dipping sauce, heavy on the basil. We heard the couple specials, one of which was a suckling pig. Interesting, I thought. The Girlfriends opted with the calamari and truffle aioli which also came with some grilled vegetables. It was very lightly breaded and mild. A nice starter. We also tried the cheese and corn empanadas. The empanada had a very thick crust, which when you cut into caused the sweet manchego cheese to ooze out. It also came with a small side salad. We liked the calamari better.

Roz had the pappardelle with braised short ribs in a putanesca sauce. It was not a heavy dish, slightly sweet sauce, and a good portion (meaning, not a ridiculous amount). She was very happy with it. Mo had the butternut squash risotto with mushrooms and soy beans, lightly flavored, not overcooked (as I find risotto so often is) and the beans were firm. It was also a good portion. You can order small or large plates of the pasta. While we didn't order a salad, we saw on another table that it comes in a metal bowl - the exact same bowl I use at home for mixing. The consensus at our table was that it was taking the rustic theme a little too far.

Because I don't eat red meat or pork, I had a hard time finding something on the menu. I selected "From the Grill" which has a small variety of seafood and meat. You have the option to pair it with one starch and one vegetable from a list of sides. I had the Mahi Mahi with grilled vegetables and buttermilk mashed potatoes. I hate to say that I was horribly disappointed. There was no description of the fish other than "grilled." I wrongly assumed it would be lightly seasoned and would taste mainly like mahi mahi. Big mistake. One bite in and I had a mouthful of Old Bay. And that's about all I could taste. So much Old Bay in fact, that I couldn't even eat it. Mo didn't have an issue with it so we ended up switching plates. The mashed potatoes were good, but the vegetables were saturated in balsamic vinegar. If you order something From the Grill, do yourself a solid and ask how it's seasoned.

Desserts were limited in selection. I'm always disappointed when there isn't something in chocolate, so we had bread pudding with vanilla ice cream and tres leches. Both were very good.

We had no problems getting same day reservations. Service was excellent and attentive but not overly so.

Check out the menu.

Supper

2010-03-16T15:02:00.001-04:00

926 South Street, Philadelphia

The boys tried the highly rated French Bistro Supper for guy’s dinner last night. Whereas we did not ask the Supper crew to "whip us up something special," for the most part it did not disappoint.

The hype about Supper is that it is a quaint space with innovative modern French food reasonably priced but with small portions. And that just about covers it.

The ambience was a highlight. Check out the picture. The open ceiling is a nice touch. We sat downstairs and immediately noticed that the large windows are meant to be opened in the warmer months. That sounds great, but keep in mind that Supper is located on South Street across from one of the most popular Whole Foods Markets in the US.

It was oddly quiet for a Thursday night. The four of us were one of four groups of people in the restaurant with nobody sitting at the bar. I’m not sure if this is due to the location or the economy, but we were surprised. Of course despite the availability, they seated us next to another couple which was slightly annoying since it made our table a little cramped.

After we ordered beverages (nice wine selection by the glass, above average craft beer selection), the chef/owner, Mitch Prensky came by and introduced himself. He is very personable and has a nice sense of humor. We were impressed except for the fact that he was on his way out, leaving us to the other chefs in the kitchen.

For appetizers, we had the smoked wings made with birch beer, buttermilk and pepper. We all agreed that the wings were amazing. They were cooked perfectly and the combination of the tangy pepper/birch beer was beautifully balanced by the buttermilk. We also had the crispy squid which is made with Sichuan sausage and sambal. The squid was flavorful and had a citrus taste to it. Overall, the group had mixed reviews on it. I thought it was just ok.

For the entrees we each got something different so we could taste as much as possible. Why does that sound so gay when I type it? Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I digress. John had the vinegar chicken. I know John very well, too well. He never orders chicken at dinner. He was relatively happy he did as it was very good, but a tad dry.

Marcus rolled (yes Marcus rolls) with the Spicy Crusted Tuna. From the moment he ordered it I thought mistake. I was right. It was good, but tiny and not different than other tuna entrees at other Philadelphia restaurants.

From the moment we walked in, Marc was set to have the Duck & Waffles. Remember this is a newish French Bistro so you are bound to find a few offbeat items. Marc made the reservations so he clearly looked at the menu prior to us going to know that this dish was offered. Marc loved it. It was good, but you have to appreciate Duck. It was cooked perfectly and the maple bourbon ad jus was an excellent compliment.

I ordered the only Large Plate, Beef Short Rib. This was also cooked perfectly. The meat literally fell off the bone and the saffron cous cous was also tasty. I was a little disappointed with the amount of fat and the portion size.

The good news is that Supper also serves excellent sourdough bread. And, they are more than happy to refill the bread. This minor detail goes a long way with smaller portions.

Overall, Supper is good, not great, but definitely worth a visit.

Amis Trattoria

2010-02-12T13:44:00.005-05:00

412 South 13th Street, Philadelphia

Amis is Marc Vetri's third restaurant in Philly that opened last month. Compared to his first two, Osteria and Vetri, Amis has a more casual, neighborhood vibe with palatable prices and Italian cuisine with Roman influence.

Amis has a warm and cozy atmosphere with butcher block-like tables, an open kitchen with a counter for dining, a small bar and large windows overlooking 13th Street.

Our server was incredibly knowledgable and professional and described the menu superbly. The wine list was completely unfamiliar but our server simply asked what we liked and confidently replied she had something we would love. I'm always skeptical when a complete stranger claims to know I'll LOVE something. Fortunately, she wasn't too far off.

The menu encourages sharing but it's not required. Portions are well-sized. Unlike at Vetri, you don't leave hungry.

Plates from the left side of the menu are intended as starters. We had a seafood misto, which was deep fried shrimp and sardines (top). Think tempura style. The shrimp were not peeled and still had legs and tails. The sardines were reported as "a little fishy". So I didn't go there. Next (right) we had brushetta with eggplant. Nice flavor, mild. The bread is soaked in olive oil and grilled. Jacks up the roof of your mouth. And, another brushetta (bottom) with ricotta and olive oil. Again, mild and light. A girlfriend had dined here before and recommended we get the Artichokes - whole artichokes flash fried...twice. My arteries will never be the same. The girlfriends liked it. I thought it was just okay.

Choosing an entree was tricky. There were many items with strange and unappetizing sounding names like pork jowel, fried tongue, tripe... I'm just not that adventurous. One girlfriend had rigatoni with swordfish in a red sauce and eggplant fries (below). That was not a typo...eggplant fries. They rocked! Lightly crispy on the outside and super soft on the inside. And, they kind of tasted like a french fry! That dish was very nice, not sweet, good chunks of swordfish and tangy tomatoes.

I opted for the "comfort" food and had the tocconelli pasta, which is similar to spaghetti, with pecorino and black pepper. S.A.L.T.Y. It was so salty I couldn't eat that much. I could feel myself bloating instantly. But, the other g's weren't bothered by it. The gnocchi with oxtail ragu was rated very good, as was the buccotini with pork jowl, which was barely spicy and very salty.

But, hands down, the belgium waffle dessert with nutella and hazelnut ice cream was the winner. We should have ordered more. The pear torte was very mild and lightly sweet. Not a bad ender, but not as good as the waffle.

As one girlfriend said, it will be interesting to see how they change the menu for the summer. This was clearly a winter selection.

And a word to the calorie counters. Don't bother. They don't even carry skim milk for cappuccinos.

L'Angolo

2010-01-01T15:12:00.000-05:00

1415 W. Porter Street, Philadelphia

Yet another spot for Girls' Night Out, L'Angolo was selected not just for the delicious food, but also for its flirty Italian waiters. It makes the night that much more fun.

L'Angolo is intimate, cozy and friendly. The kind of place where the whole restaurant joins in to sing happy birthday.

We started off the evening with Bitch wine. We were in that kind of a mood. It was a little sweet but not as horrible as I thought it would be. Fun for the label.

Fresh bread with olive oil and olives promptly arrives at the table. And we quickly ordered up Baked Wild Mushrooms with rosemary and fontina ($8.50), heavy on the mushroom flavor, and fresh Grilled Calamari with herbed olive oil and lemon ($9), just right on the grilled flavor.

The grilled vegetable special with homemade ricotta was so good, my girlfriend wanted to "drink it with a straw".

Mahi mahi was fresh, but girlfriend pulled a whole piece of garlic out and was a little frightened of the repercussions. Lobster ravioli was also fresh and delicious. I can't imagine not ordering when I come in here.

Desserts were to die for. Especially the pumpkin cheesecake. Tiramisu I will never turn down but this was was "not bad"

Definitely worth a visit, and a return.

Pizzeria Stella

2009-10-12T11:41:00.005-04:00

For a quick bite on the way to a Sixers pre-season game, we stopped in to check out the newly opened Pizzeria Stella, Stephen Starr's latest venture located right on Headhouse Square in the old Cosi spot. On a Friday evening around 6 there were plenty of open tables inside and out. But they didn't last long. There could be a bar, but we didn't stay inside long enough to notice. It was too nice outside. Besides this place is more about eating than getting your drink on (Which you can do if you so choose. It's not a byob.) What I did notice, however, was the large open dining space, open kitchen and ceiling-high pile of cut wood for the oven.

A glance of the menu showed a short list of wines, all by the glass. And, the beer list--while also short--included a selection like Lagunitas made it interesting.

We split an order of the calamari and octopus salad with new potatoes, olives, red onions and dressed with olive oil ($5). It was fresh, not chewy, and light. Thumbs up. We also split the Margherita pizza with buffalo mozzerella and topped with leaves of basil ($13). The pizzas are sized as individual with a very thin crust, which makes them light and easy for one person to finish. The sauce wasn't sweet and the cheese wasn't too greasy. All wins in my pizza book.

I overheard our dining neighbors raving about something with an egg over easy. It could either be the Tartufo pizza (black truffle, fontina, egg, parmesan) or the Asparagus (sunny side up egg, parmesan, olive oil). I'm guessing the Asparagus. Either way, he said it was something he's never before tasted - and it sounded like he wanted more.

We definitely want more. We'll be going back.

March 18, 2010: Edited to add a return visit.

Not as good as the first, I'm disappointed to say. It was a Thursday. Early evening, like 6:30ish. Plenty o' tables to be had, but still a decent crowd. The hubby and I were seated at a communal table, which was empty, on the end, closest to the people traffic. As I'm eyeballing the hubby about this predicament, the hostess promptly seats a family with two very young children directly next to us. Ummmm, oblivious, anyone? We were out without our kids. A couple. On a date. Fortunately, our neighbors recognized the situation and asked to be moved to a separate booth. But still. Get smart hostess! Aside from that, the food was good, but not great. Might've been an off night. Just thought you should know.

Village Whiskey

2009-10-05T09:55:00.002-04:00

118 S. 20th Street, Philadelphia

Written by RD

Don’t rush to Village Whiskey. We went over, we thought early--6PM on Friday -- and it was packed. There seemed to be a strange table getting/giving arrangement. No reservations. The young woman taking names did not seem to know what to do. When we asked about the two empty tables in front--if we could have one--she told us that they were being held for people who were “on their way.” Evidentially, if you stop by and give your name and number, they call you when the table is ready and you scurry over. Sounds like a reservation to me.

We sat at the bar for drinks while awaiting a table. The young bartender spent most of his energy mixing a Sazerack for 10 minutes while wowing the girls with his banter and moves. Then it took him another 10 minutes to pour a 1.5 ounce vodka for my dining partner and a scotch for me. By now, the table is ready. (I think my description of the guy would be officious.)

On to the table! Great waitress, Beckie who was charming and helpful. Could not order another Scotch as they had run out of Dewar’s. Declined an offer of a free anything else in the scotch line and got wine. The food overall was great. I’ll tell you about that later. The burgers were cooked to perfection. They were even shaped to perfection. Perfectly round, uniform 8 ounces, very well ground, tasty beef. But, you know where I am going with this...bordered on the bland. French fries cooked in duck fat with a secret blend of salt and spices –eh. Not worth it.

Drinks $13-14 each. Burgers $9 (plus whatever you put on top was extra). Fries $5, Oysters $3 each (not bad.) Pickled “firsts” were delicious and $4-6. Burger dinner for 2 $105 plus tip. Not rushing to return. Maybe better after things calm down and on a weekday night.

Privé

2009-09-24T14:57:00.003-04:00

246 Market Street, Philadelphia

It was Girls Night Out and we headed to Privé before the end of Restaurant Week. There was plenty of space to sit outside, so we did. We were promptly served sliced bread with olives (4) and a topping combination of chopped feta with roasted red piquillo peppers and secret spice. Our waiter appeared with a great attitude, ready for some fun, until he disappeared for quite some time exactly when we needed our 2nd bottle of wine. Girls Night Out should never have a dry moment.

We started with Fig and Prociutto Salad with gorgonzola, rucola and white balsamic. It needed salt and pepper, which was not on the table. Booo. Mac and Cheese topped with crunchy breadcrumbs, but again, needed seasoning. Exotic Mushrooms with boursin cream sauce was the best in the bunch. Mushroomy flavor, but not overpowering.

Entrees were the Mahi Mahi over risotto. The fish was fresh and done well but the risotta was was too sticky. The chicken entree was okay but needed to be kicked up a notch. The steamed veggies were the best part. The shrimp dish, which included just 3 shrimps but cooked well, could yet again use more seasoning. "I had Rice -A-Roni last week that is better than this," said Roz.

Dessert was a hit except for the chocolate (which wasn't very flavorful) with a side of not-warm creme brulee. Creme Brule must be warm, although it did have a nice flavor and came with homemade marshmallows. The citrus cheesecake had a subtle hint of goat cheese and was out of this world.

Probably not worth a return for us - there are just too many really good restaurants out there - and for most of the entrees to need salt and pepper - bland! Plus, our disappearing waiter had the nerve to add 18% gratuity to our three-person check. Fat chance, pal.

Saute

2009-08-17T09:49:00.006-04:00

775 S. Front St., Philadelphia

It was time for Couples Dinner and the six of us headed to Southwark for drinks. An intimate spot, so not the best choice for our group pre-dinner drink. But they do have great service, wines and beers. The ambiance is soothing. Beautifully renovated with deep dark woodwork and jazz in the background--more appropriate for romance perhaps.

From there we strolled over to Saute, excited to try a new restaurant and with an outdoor space to boot!

While I want to give the food a relatively positive review, the service could have been better. Much better. Actually, our server could have had a better personality. How is it possible to be void of personality with a fun-loving group and their 6 bottles of wine? He alone nearly ruined the experience. Plus, the fact that they turned off the outdoor ambiance lighting on us (before 11 pm on a Saturday night!), completely pissed us off all to the point of not returning.

The new owners renovated the old Le Creole spot, even taking the trashbin filled alleyway and turning it into a nice outdoor area NOT on the sidewalk. Bonus! The menu is small, but makes it easier to choose. We started with the Crab and Tomato salad. The combined feedback from our group, "Where are the Jersey tomatoes?" These were flavorless and colorless. Fortunately, the dressing was nice and made up for the lack of tomato flavor. Shrimp ceviche had a nice kick and was fresh, however the avocado wasn't ripe or soft. Boooo. Grilled Pineapple was sweet at first then had a twist of heat. Nice. Polenta was sweet and salty, everyone loved it. And they put ripe tomatoes with it!

Lentils were coconuty, not to much curry. Scallops weren't gritty, very good. The special fish, Opah, was yummy over rice, but overcooked, as was the pork tenderloin.

Desserts were a waste of money. Someone likened them to "Jenny Craig Shit" Go somewhere else.

Before they turned the lights off on us, we all agreed we'd come back. The place has potential. Definitely hit or miss, and the outside was great. But the rudeness of kicking us out killed that chance.

What others say.

Oakmont National Pub

2009-07-20T22:09:00.004-04:00

31 Eagle Road, Havertown

We've driven by it countless times, each time saying that we need to stop in and check it out. But restaurants in the suburbs make us nervous. Most of them are mediocre and disappointing. Finally, we made the leap, and The Oakmont National Pub was a nice surprise.

We peaked inside to see an old bar full of character, but opted to sit outside on the covered patio. There were ceiling fans for air circulation and two TVs to catch the Phillies game. It was really nice to not be on the side of a busy street. For a Friday night after 6pm, we didn't have to wait for a table, but it did fill up soon thereafter.

The beer selection was above par. Aside from your basic domestics, there was Chimay, Guinness, Harp and a rotating Belgian and IPA. Chardonnay's were Kendall Jackson and YellowTail. Prices were very reasonable. $4.50 for a Franziskaner and $7.25 for wine. When you're used to city prices, these are cheap!

Menu selection was good with a wide range to choose from - bar food, salads, seafood, entrees, kids menu. There's definitely something for everyone. The girls had pasta with butter and chicken fingers with fries. Everything was good, but the fries were on the crispy side if you like that. Hubby had the ribs which were spicy and tender. He was happy, but wanted a bigger portion. I opted for the grilled chicken sandwich which was juicy, no frills. Ella declared, "I like this place!" We all agreed. For a family of 4 who had two cocktails each, no appetizers, the bill was just $59. We'll be going back.

Distrito

2009-07-16T10:31:00.005-04:00

3945 Chestnut St., Philadelphia

The Girlfriends and I dined at Distrito for the latest Girls Dinner and left disappointed. We had high expectations -- it's a Jose Garces restaurant after all, Amada being my all-time favorite restaurant in the city. Plus, the previous Guys Dinner at Distrito was nothing but positive praise.

We even left the menu selection up to the chef -- whether it was Garces or not we have no idea --by opting for the $55/person tasting menu. What happened?

It started off well. Decor is funky, movie theater-esque, a vintage convertible Volkswagen Beetle houses a table, a large wall of creepy wrestling masks, and the Jack Black movie Nacho Libre playing on one wall. Upstairs, we walked by porch swings and giant-sized wicker booths.

We, of course, started with a pitcher of margaritas ($49). That's right. $49. The margaritas were good, but not Copa good. If you don't know what I mean, go to Copabanana and have a margarita. At that price, we stopped after one. Very un-Girls-Dinner-like. Even the wine list was too pricey for us.

Because it was easier to let someone else do the deciding we chose the Tasting Menu. It was a lot of food. Complimentary peanuts showed up first, limey and spicy, then the food assault began. Jicama and Watermelon Salad, Salsa and Guacamole topped with shredded cheese and crabmeat. Delicious! Next was a spicy Yellowfin Ceviche with mango sorbet. Roz thought it was just ok, but I liked it. Huaraches (pizza) Los Hongos with mushrooms was the best so far. Scallops were tasty but had some grit. Carne Kobe Tacos showed up and were not very good according to my carnivore friends. They thought the lamb chops with bacon had nice flavor. Then fried plantains arrived sweet and desserty. Seemed out of place. Finally, lobsters on the half shell with beans and rice arrived chewy. We deemed it just okay. Dessert was Dolce La Leche, light and fluffy.

We topped off the evening with a recap of how unthrilled we were, and a watermelon margarita that Roz loved so much she "wanted to marry it." If we were to go back, it would be for the appetizers and a drink.

Sahara Grill - a quick review

2009-06-04T12:58:00.005-04:00

1334 Walnut St., Philadelphia, 215.985.4155

A coworker and I had been trying for weeks to get together for lunch. Finally, our schedules allowed for it. She's not the most adventurous, having once dragged me into an Olive Garden for one of the worst meals I've had in years. If you can't do soup and salad well, you can't do anything well. So fat chance I was letting her pick the spot.

Sahara Grill is nearby and had good reviews so I thought I'd help my friend push her boundaries a bit. I was pleasantly surprised. A very small space with over a dozen tables. The staff was friendly enough, nothing over the top or rude. And the meal came out quickly. My friend and I both ordered the falafal with hummus platter ($9), so the opportunity to try a variety of items was off the table. But, it came with a small salad and hot pita wedges. Be sure you have your breath mints. The hummus is kicking, in a good way. About six falafal balls, crispy fried and soft inside. And the real test...my friend loved them! Even the salad was flavorful.

The place filled up for lunch, which I tend to take as a good sign. I would definitely go back, maybe even try it for dinner with a friend on a casual night.

La Fontana Della Citta

2009-05-29T13:23:00.006-04:00

1701 Spruce St., Philadelphia, 215.875.9990

We had been warned. High prices for okay food. But, we pursued the experience anyway.

First impressions were not good. La Fontana Della Citta had the look and feel of a bad suburban restaurant. Gilded framed paintings, marbled faux-painted walls, statues. Statues? Ugh. A bunch of Italian speaking young servers waiting on...just two other tables. Even the website with its auto play music is horrific. It was Girls Dinner, and our collective, "Oh boy." as we walked in the door said it all.

Girlfriend Mo had been there-TWICE-and claims to have had a good experience both times. I was highly doubtful. Especially after we noticed the white bread was stale and the olive oil offered nothing other than greasiness. And, a source of immediate annoyance, the only candle on our table was unlit. Guess the servers were too busy waiting on their two other tables to worry about little details like ambiance. But they had statues for that.

Thanks to Girlfriend Mo, we've now tried calamari in every Italian restaurant we've eaten in in the city. I can't tell you who's is the best, but La Fontana's was pretty tasteless. It came with marinara sauce for dipping which was also, amazingly, tasteless! Salt, a key ingredient, was definitely missing. The texture was light and crispy, but it was down right bland.

At some point, two groups of college girls in short ass dresses came strutting in with their Riunite jugs o' juice. The young Italian servers were smiling so hard, my face hurt. Surprisingly our service did not go downhill from there. And fortunately, the food got better. Hmmm.

The whole fish Branzino special was filleted tableside and was served with sun-dried tomatoes, lemon, and capers. The fish was fresh and the sauce was light and delish. Plus, we found only 3 bones. Of course, zero would have been better, but our expectations were still low. Although, I thought the fish was a little overcooked. Girlfriend Roz disagreed.

The Risotto con Funghi with porcini mushrooms was cooked al dente in rich cognac sauce. Yes, this was a winter heavy meal, and even though it stuck in my teeth, I brought it home and had the rest the next night. Yum.

Girlfriend Mo had another special, the Capellini with Shrimp, Scallops, and Spinach in a rose sauce. I think this was the best entree of the three. Fresh, light with a hint of sweetness.

And yet, the entire time, we snickered at the young girls in their stripper clothes. Girlfriend Roz succinctly put it this way, "I think there's a pole behind me."

We skipped dessert and finished our wine instead. The entrees prevailed, but not enough to warrent a return visit. Ever.

Dmitri's in Queen Village

2009-05-24T10:03:00.005-04:00

795 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA - (215) 625-0556

Dmitri's is like an institution of the freshest seafood prepared in the most simple way. I'll never forget my first visit. I remember reading the review that raved about the grilled octopus. When it arrived in front of me, it smelled so unappetizing that I couldn't fathom it tasting good. But it did. It was so good in fact, that in the dozen or so times we've eaten there or ordered take out (weekdays only), the grilled octopus was a must-have item. We refused to waste an opportunity to order it.

Except I think I've finally had octopus burn-out. I just couldn't eat it again. My dining partner vehemently disagreed and dove right in. Freshly grilled octopus bits, drizzled with olive oil and served with lemon wedges and hot peppers. Not chewy. Just right. It's best eaten hot right off the grill.

Dmitri's is teeny. Cramped, in fact. Two high top tables placed next to the front door offer window seating as well as a clear view into the open galley kitchen where bar seating is also available for about six. Past that and up a step (Don't trip!) are about seven other tables. Get there early or wait in line...or at the bar across the street at New Wave Cafe.

Hot grilled pita wedges and fresh bread arrives first with olive oil for dipping. If I just ate the pita and the Avocado Citrus Salad I would be perfectly content. The Avocado Citrus Salad is the only salad I order when we dine there. It's not available for take out. My one complaint is that the bowl is way too small. Lettuce, avocado, grapefruit, orange and almond slices are jam-packed in this bowl. It's a struggle to keep the food from falling over the edges.

This last visit I decided to order a special - the scallops. As with all entrees at Dmitri's, the sides were rice and steamed spinach which, I hate to admit, is utterly boring. The scallops were simply grilled in olive oil but were gritty and instantly derailed my appetite. This is why it's best to stick with the basics, I suppose.

For a fresh, simple take on seafood in an intimate atmosphere, give it a shot. Don't expect romantic closeness though. People are in your personal space.

P.S. It's also cash only.

Fabulous Dining at Tinto

2009-04-29T21:05:00.004-04:00

116 S. 20th Street, Philadelphia, (215) 665-9150

I'm honored to be a guest contributor to the Table for You blog.

I first went to Tinto in early 2007. I waited far too long for my second experience; I'd forgotten just how fabulous this place is. First, if you are a cheese lover, I must recommend one of the many wonderful cheese courses as a starter tapas. This is a great way to taste cheeses from another country, to experience a different culture. Next came the serrano wrapped figs, which were delicate, sweet and salty. A couple tapas ordered included the diver scallops seared to perfection and the pulpo was tender. As for my highlight, I could not get enough of the artichokes. As I'm not a big fan of artichokes, I inhaled these baby ones with their refreshing lemon flavor. Overall, this place is wonderful and great for any occasion.

Read what others say at Yelp; Gayot; Philly Mag.

Raw Sushi & Sake Lounge

2009-04-24T23:09:00.005-04:00

1225 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, 215.238.1903

Raw has been getting great reviews from friends, so a group of us went for lunch today. Lunch time on a Friday was relatively empty. I've heard dinner is packed. Raw a narrow space with a bar and an outdoor patio.

They have an extensive menu that is not cheap, but the quality and freshness are superb. I had the Sashimi Lunch Platter ($16) which comes with miso soup, a salad, two pieces each of tuna, salmon, and whitefish sashimi, and 6 pieces each of spicy tuna and tuna sushi. A ton of food! I don't think I've ever eaten fish this fresh.

Friends had the Bento Box lunches and Tempura, which was a work of art. This things come with a lot of food so don't be fooled. Really, when it comes to sushi, aren't you only worried that it's fresh and quality? You simply will not go wrong here.

Chifa

2009-03-27T09:57:00.005-04:00

707 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, PA 19106 215-925-5555

Amada is my all time favorite restaurant in the city, so when Jose Garces opened up Chifa recently I didn't need to wait a month for them to iron out the kinks before going. He brought in his best, most professional wait staff who really knew the food, a Peruvian and Cantonese fusion of sorts.

Chifa is similar to Garces' other restaurants - sharing small plates. It's a great way to try many different foods. We ordered everything our server recommended and weren't the slightest disappointed. The Bluefin Tuna special was incredible. It is now a regular item on the menu but a modified version of what we originally had. Still delicious. I sent friends there for their anniversary dinner only to hear rave reviews of the Pork Belly Buns, and everything else they had. Since then, I've been back with some friends to find some of the dishes didn't quite live up to par, while others did. You'll start with puffy fried cheese rolls with spicy guava butter - if this was all they served we would have left happy. The Bluefin Tuna ceviche rocks and the Lobster Noodles were fabulous and filling.

If you feel overwhelmed by the menu, let the chef decide. You can't go wrong.

Read other reviews here; and here.

Vintage Wine Bar & Bistro

2009-01-16T11:04:00.003-05:00

129 S. 13th St., Philadelphia

My idea of heaven: a wine bar with over 60 kinds of wine and flights ($15) to try them. A friend and I stopped in Vintage Wine Bar & Bistro after work on a cold, cold Thursday evening and found it to be surprisingly uncrowded. That's not to say it was empty. It was definitely not that. But we were expecting standing room only. There were several open tables and we were happy to occupy one of them. The bitter cold could have kept people away.

I checked the online wine menu and it's not up to date with what we had in the restaurant, but it gives you a good idea of the variety.

It's a narrow space with a few tables up front (ideal in the warmer weather when they open the tall windows), a long bar and high tables along the wall. Comfy, casual and candles on the tables. A chandelier made out of empty wine bottles is definitely an eye-catcher. Lots of ambiance and lively characters here.

We started with the Brie en Croûte ($12), Baked French Brie wrapped in puff pastry served with caramelized pear and finished with a gastrique sauce. The brie could have been melted a bit more, but the sweetness was a nice counter to the cheese. Very yummy if you like sweet.

Keeping it light and healthy since we're still recovering from holiday gorge, we both had salads with grilled chicken (add $4). She had the Caesar ($7.5), nicely topped with fresh shaved parmesan, and I had the Vintage House Salad ($7), mixed greens, haricots verts, shallot, pine nuts and cherry tomato served with a honey truffle dressing. Not overpowering with flavor, but light. Left me plenty of room to enjoy my malbec.

Great place to try new wines.

What others say: PhilaFoodie; CityPaper

Lourdas Greek Taverna

2009-01-08T21:23:00.004-05:00

50 N. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr 610-520-0288

There are a number of restaurants near Ardmore that we keep putting on the backburner. We'd much rather head out in the city. But, it's a new year, so we thought we'd start crossing them off the To Do list.

Thankfully, I did not see the Lourdas Greek Taverna website beforehand because I would have crossed it off the list permanently. At the front door, we hesitated, noticing the brightness, lack of candles on the tables, age of diners - all my usual check points for good ambience were missing. But a friend recommended it and we were already there, so we pushed forth.

Aside from the waiter who was nearly void of personality and humor, and of course, the lack of ambience, the food was fresh and good tasting with the standard greek ingredients (olive oil, garlic, olives, feta).

We started with the Pikilia: dolmades, tzatziki, melitzanosalata, taramosalata, Feta cheese and Kalamata olives (12.95) and served with warm pita wedges. For two people, this was a lot of food. And if you're not up on your Greek, dolmades are delicate parcels made from grape leaves (also known as vine leaves) stuffed with long-grain rice, fresh herbs and seasonings. Tzatziki is a yogurt, cucumber and garlic dip. Although ours was more like a sauce--way too yogurty. Melitzanosalata is an eggplant dip (and I only know this because I looked up the word). If that's what we ate, it was sweet and our least favorite of the four. Taramosalata is a caviar spread. We enjoyed this one the most.

I opted for the pan-seared scallop special which came with wilted spinach and rice. Six huge scallops arrived nicely seared. Tasty, but again, too much food.

The whole fish special was a light fish similar to sea bass and seabream, forget the name, sorry. It was cooked perfectly, filleted tableside and included broccolini and roasted potatoes.
Everything was very good and with great sized portions for a very affordable price. In these economic times, in the burbs, this is a great option.

Cash only. BYOB.

What others say: here; here; and here.

Tequila's

2008-11-26T22:14:00.005-05:00

1602 Locust Street, Philadelphia

A work day before a holiday is always a wash, which is why I hate to waste a hard earned vacation day. So, much of my creative team decided to take this opportunity to head out to Tequila's for lunch together.

We were greeted in Spanish by one of their friendly servers. A group of seven had no trouble getting a table. However, even for mid-day the lighting inside was too bright, which is a shame because it's oozing with charm and beautiful architectural details. They had some interesting specials one of which was a shrimp, lobster and crabmeat enchilada.

Try their margaritas which come served in cobolt rimmed Mexican blown glassware. Yummy. Tequila's is edging towards upscale Mexican with a casual attitude. Most entrees are a notch above tacos and burritos. I've been there several times, including for a New Year's Eve with a group and have always had good food. Give it a try.

What others say: here.

Buddakan

2008-11-10T16:40:00.001-05:00

I wish I could be more specific about our experience at Buddakan recently. All I can say is everything, I mean EVERYTHING, was good. And if you don't get the Dip Sum Doughnuts (five-spice sugar mini doughnuts served warm with blackberry jam, chocolate sauce and ginger cream cheese) for dessert, you are out of your mind. They were amazing!

Chloe

2008-10-03T13:18:00.004-04:00

232 Arch Street, Philadelphia, 215.629.2337

Chloe is one of our old standbys when we've got a play at the Arden Theatre. It's always good and we always get a table even though it's an intimate space. And since we had our first play this past Thursday, we grabbed a bottle of wine and headed there. It was close to 7 pm and there were two tables left. While we were there, there was never a line, but all tables were full.

They start you off with hummus and bread. The hummus is mild, not too garlickly or spicy. I opted for the Chloe Salad ... baked panko crusted goat cheese, mixed greens, red onion, orange chipotle dressing ($6.50) and had the Red Snapper special with sauteed polenta. It was so much food and so yummy.

We never time for dessert, but once we actually went back for it. It was worth it. And a great date place too!

Read what others think: Here, here, and here.

Pub & Kitchen

2008-09-29T12:38:00.004-04:00

1946 Lombard St. (215) 545-0350

Before heading to Jamaican Jerk Hut, we stopped in the new Pub & Kitchen now housed in the old Chaucer's spot. We only had drinks to scout the place and it was jam-packed tight. They lightened up the decor, took the gorgeous wood off the ceiling (wah!) and opened up the windows. Nice! Definitely heading back to check out the grub.

Read what other's say: Phoodie; City Paper (photos)

Jamaican Jerk Hut

2008-09-25T14:15:00.005-04:00

1436 South St, Philadelphia (215) 545-8644

I've been wanting to go to Jamaican Jerk Hut all summer. What could be better than hanging outside with your friends, enjoying Jamaican food and our own beverages in a super casual atmosphere with some reggae in the background?

I was incredibly disappointed and skeptical after reading some reviews. But, fortunately, we had a good experience. Although, going into it with low expectations could have made all the difference. At the very least, the food was good. Service, for the most part was fine, but started off slow. We had to find our own bottle opener and corkscrew to get ourselves started. No big deal. There's a double lot yard next door where they host live reggae bands. Unfortunately, not while we were there. But we sat outside with a diverse crowd on the covered deck and almost forgot we were in the city. Oh, and the bathroom is pretty much in the kitchen.

For appetizers we had the Coconut Shrimp. Four to a plate and loaded with shredded coconut. The flavor was nice and subtle, but the coconut wasn't as crispy all around. Jerk Wings were coated in lots of spices and left your mouth on fire. I could only handle one, and they were small.

Most of us had the Mango Chicken. Comes with rice and peas and fried plantains as sides. Chicken is bone in, lots of small parts so beware of the little bones. Good, sweet flavor. Not dried out. Others had the Jerk chicken. Same sides. Good, super spicy. Lotsa food!

By no means will it knock your socks off, but it's worth a try if you're already in the city.

Read what other's have to say.

Jose Pistola's

2008-09-14T21:05:00.007-04:00

213 S. 15th Street, Philadelphia

We don't typically have to rack our brains to come up with a decent restaurant in Philly. But, it was after a 4 pm Phillies game and we had contingencies...it needed to be walking distance from the train station and had to be casual enough where Phillies t-shirts blended in. We ended up at Jose Pistola's in the old Copabanana II on 15th Street.
Decor is bare, much toned down from the Copa days. Dark. Exposed brick. A few tv's if you want to catch a game.

For a Saturday night, it wasn't crowded, which was fine with us. The beer selection was excellent--80 international and domestic drafts and bottled beers, including next-to-impossible to find Russian River Pliny the Elder IPA. Phenomenal. However, when we noticed the weekday happy hour featuring $2 PBR, Yuengling and Bud specials, the place when down a few notches.

We decided to get a few things to pick at so we started with the Pico de Gallo, Guacamole and some other pureed green dipping sauce that was a little tangy and sweet. Everything was fresh and flavorful with a nice kick, but not too much.

I heard good things about the Fish Tacos ($5), tempura battered grouper tossed with spicy mayo and pickled cabbage. You get two and they didn't disappoint.

Some friends showed up and they opted for a heaping plate of Chicken Nachos ($11.50) to share. It was loaded with shredded chicken, black beans, lots of cheese, tomatoes and jalapenos. There weren't many chips without something on it.

Good food. Good beer. Worth a visit.

Others say: Yelp, CityPaper, Around Philly,

Dewey Beach eats.

2008-08-24T22:47:00.003-04:00

We were in Dewey Beach, DE and, of course, we ate out. So here's a quick summary.

North Beach - go for the Dewey Devils with a floater of 151 and whipped cream. Don't go for the food, unless you need to coat your stomach for the Devils with floaters. Also, don't sit on the railing. The rocks below hurt. And, if you need to go #1, there's sand all around. No one will know. Yeah, it's that kind of place.

The Starboard - absolutely get there for drinks. Sunday's Bloody Mary's are balls to the wall craziness. The food - only good when you're hung over or drunk, which most are. Hardcore drinkers welcome!

Nalu - new, and the menu looked amazing. Saw it too late to get there. Go!

Nick's - sandwiches served by Mamma with a mustache. Used to be good. Must of been hungover.

Ed's - steamed crabs, chicken, fries, etc. Had a couple bad crabs, but still good. Yum.

Primavera Pizza Kitchen & Milkboy

2008-08-05T21:55:00.006-04:00

Primavera Pizza Kitchen
7 E. Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610.642.8000

Milkboy
2 E. Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610.645.6259

There's a certain radius from your home where dining out doesn't seem like "dining out". I'm not sure what that radius is, but I've never been one to run to the nearest restaurant for a meal.

This may be the reason why we've been in our house for over a year and are now just getting around to trying Primavera Pizza Kitchen, a mere three blocks away. (It has nothing to do with the horrific website, although that's bound to scare plenty away.) Also, it's enormous. And enormous restaurants to me are synonymous with mediocre food. There's just too many plates moving through to pay attention to the details. JMO.

We didn't intend to go there. In fact, we hemmed and hawwed about going there. But, what the hell, we thought. We started at the MilkBoy for their BYOB night. (BTW, if you type in Milkboy.com, you'll get this great picture that goes no where.) Not so long ago, we saw Jeffrey Gaines and it was incredibly intimate. I mean, Jeffrey Gaines in a coffee house. Come on! I actually photographed the drummer with his own camera. The Milkboy Happy Hour is scheduled from 6 to 10 pm on Thursdays. We arrived, wine bottle in hand, to find just two occupied tables and the band barely set up ... at 7 pm! So, awkwardly, we sat. Long enough to have one glass of wine and high tail it outta there for dinner elsewhere. They were nice enough to refrigerate our wine until we returned later that night. Across the street to Primavera, we wandered.

Hesitantly, we walked in. The entire downstairs was full. Full with a lot of older diners. We almost left. But we didn't. And, yes, there is an upstairs. Don't go unless you're desperate.

The wine list was mediocre at best. A few names were recognizable, but 0f course, they were out of the Savignon Blanc, the only one that was up our alley. We went with our next, and only, choice that ended up being too sweet for our liking. This would prove to be a precursor of things to come. The beer selection was standard domestic (Read: Miller, etc.)

We asked about sharing the Insalata Mista salad and they happily obliged, even stating that the salad size was perfect for 2 people. It wasn't special, but the ingredients were fresh.

I had Agnolotti - pasta filled with chicken and cheese tossed with roasted peppers and rosemary in a tomato cream sauce, worth bringing home in a doggy bag, but didn't since we were headed back to Milkboy. The husband had the Pescatora - linguini with clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops and calamari in a spicy tomato sauce, which was great. FLAVOR! The shrimp, albeit small, were fresh. However, both the clams and mussels were bad.

All in all, it was an okay experience. But once again, it was an experience that demonstrated places like this exist and persist because there is no other option in the 'burbs.

Christopher's

2008-07-29T08:09:00.006-04:00

108 North Wayne Ave., Wayne, (610) 687-6558

Bustling, hip Christopher's in Wayne is everything you would NOT expect from a family-friendly restaurant. For one, it doesn't look like a chain restaurant. It's actually furnished and decorated tastefully in a casual elegant style, and yet perfectly comfortable for kids. The staff is friendly and patient, and the menu offers a full range of grown-up American dishes.

On a recent Saturday evening, we stopped in and found every table occupied by families. A good sign, we thought. We only waited about 15 minutes. Crayons, coloring paper and bread arrived right away with the menus. The beer list included lots of local micro-brews and your standard domestics. All wines come by the glass, 1/2 carafe or bottle. The most expensive bottle being $45. Plus, some fun cocktails like P.I.N.K. martini and Blueberry Creamsicle.

We started with the Sesame Crusted Tuna ($18.50) with Thai ginger sauce, wasabi mashed potatoes and sauteed vegetables. I'm a sucker for mashed potatoes, and these had a nice, little kick. The tuna came rare as I asked, and it was yummy.

Husband had Barbecue Pulled Pork ($14.50) with grilled bread with garlic mashed potatoes and a side salad. Good, fresh, and you could actually taste the garlic. The kids didn't get too creative only having the pasta with butter ($4). But, if they wanted to, the options were there. And, chocolate cake was a winner.

Absolutely worth a visit. Without kids? Go a little later when they're all in bed.

Standard Tap

2008-07-21T22:27:00.004-04:00

2nd & Popular Sts., Philadelphia, 215.238.0630

Nothing could be better after rock climbing than a freshly poured beer from the Standard Tap, one of many great bars and eateries in Northern Liberties. Don't expect to get typical bar food here, although it may appear that you could. No chance. You definitely won't get any food between 3:30 and 5 pm when they take a break between lunch and dinner. And, by no means, should you think you'll get a Bud or Coors. Just walk away.

What's extra special: they have two hand pumps for the smoothest pour around. Beer taps change on occasion, so who knows what'll it be. Dark, woody and eclectic right down to the servers. Definitely stop in when you're in the neighborhood.

Parc

2008-07-19T10:24:00.000-04:00

227 S. 18th St., Philadelphia, 215.545.2262

Parc hasn't been open even a week yet, but I work nearby and have been watching the crowds descend on it. It's Steven Starr, after all. Well, it's also Girls Dinner so why not head there to see what the hype is all about. We called the same day to see about reservations but the earliest was 5:30 (way too early) and the next open was 9:45. We stopped by about 8:15 to see how long the wait would be. For an outdoor table facing either Rittenhouse Square or on Locust Street, it was 1 1/2 hours, inside was an hour. We headed over to Tria for a drink first and to wait out the crowd.

I like Tria because it's a great place to try new wines and cheeses, plus they pair their cheese with interesting condiments. We had La Tur ($9), a goat, sheep and cow's milk semi-soft cheese from Piedmont, Italy, with honey marmalade and Cashel Blue ($7), a blue-veined cow's milk cheese from County Tipperary, Ireland, with a chocolate fig sauce. The La Tur is their most popular. I'm not sure why. We didn't love it.

By 9ish, we went back to Parc and were seated right away. Although, the wait for a table outside was still an hour!

The decor is authentic vintage Parisian. Every little detail was considered, right down to the European styled phone number on the awning out front. The floor is made up of tiny tiles. The tables are marble top. Huge mirrors on the walls have been antiqued. The bar is Paris in Philly. The only thing I noticed that wasn't so French was the wine list. A bottle of Angeline Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley, California was priced at $42. That hurts, especially when I see it in Total Wine for $10.

The first thing you'll notice when you walk in is the noise level. It's astronomical. Even at 10 pm, we were still yelling to each other. The crowd is about as diverse as Philadelphia. Old, young, sloppy, dressed up. Everyone is checking this place out. And they should be. It's amazing. Steven Starr has simply outdone himself.

The menu is, surprise, Parisian bistro. The winners for the night were the Tuna Carpaccio and the Boeuf Bourgiunonne. Girlfriend Roz does not ever eat anything raw and she raved about the tuna. So, I'm just sayin', it was good. My bronzino was delicious other than it was a tad overcooked. Lingiuni with Clams was just ok. Service was on the slow side, but we'll give it a pass since it's new. According to our server, they are taking 400 to 500 reservations a night, and doing about 800 covers, if that gives you any indication of what's going on here.

Get there. Run, don't walk.

Others say: Phoodie;

A two-fer quickie: Maia and Tango

2008-07-15T10:27:00.004-04:00

Edited to add: Closed

Maia is the new mega-restaurant/market/coffee shop by the Feury brothers that recently opened in Villanova. While I am completely turned off by the location - a corporate office setting next to the Blue Route - once you walk inside, you're transported to a food connoisseur's haven. Since we opted not to eat there because it was so loud and too bustling for our mood, I can give you a first impression of the atmosphere.

Immediately when you walk in you'll be overwhelmed. It's loud to begin with. Large bar to the left with tables for bistro dining. Prepared-foods market straight ahead to the right. They have a nice take out beer selection too. Upstairs is the fancy dining with an outside patio. My first thought was that it reminded me of an upscale cafeteria/food court. Don't get me wrong, it's really nice. There's just a heck of a lot going on.

Others say: Philly; The Brew Lounge;

Tango
We weren't up for the noisy dinner so we headed back towards home and stopped at Tango. We had lunch there a while ago and were really impressed with the menu and wine selection. But, we were a little let down. Average is how I'd describe the food. Maybe I'd go back though and give it another chance.

Others say: Citysearch; TripAdvisor

Bindi

2008-05-15T10:48:00.004-04:00

105 S. 13th St., Philadelphia, 215.922.6061

It was a Girls Dinner night and Girlfriend Roz (who refuses to eat most ethnic cuisines) was covered in Poison Something to venture out comfortably. So Girlfriend Mo and I jumped at the opportunity and headed straight to Indian BYO Bindi (after a warm-up drink at Vintage, of course (get there if you love wine) ).

Inside, it's stylishly dark, narrow with high ceilings, tight and loud. As much as we wanted to absorb the interior energy and ambiance, it was a nice night and we opted to sit outside. Watching the Gayborhood nightlife blossom is always entertaining.

Our service was fine, nothing to complain or brag about. To start us off, a complimentary flatbread of sorts showed up. Two, to be exact. And they were like giant potato chips with embedded toasted sesame seeds and a dipping liquid. Tasty only with the dips. Otherwise, it was cardboard-like.

The menu has just the right amount of options so as not to be overwhelming, and there's something for everyone. But, don't expect your traditionally classic Indian dishes. These have a little twist. Well done, we thought. For an entree, I started with the Lobster Pani Puri ($9) which came with a lime tamerind water to splash on. Girlfriend Mo had the pan seared scallops and cauliflower pakora ($11) with tomato-mustard seed chutney, thai basil pea puree, pea shoot salad. Surprisingly yummy.

Mo had the chana masala chicken ($18), a fenu greek-yogurt marinated chicken, ginger, chickpea-onion masala and pulao rice pilaf and I had the goan shrimp xacuti ($21) made with chili, aromatic spiced coconut milk, radish koshimbir and lime rice. Rice for both entrees came on the side. There was enough spice (but not too much) in each dish that by the end of the meal, both Mo and I were congested. Personally, no Indian meal is complete without a roti, so we had the Paranthe. It was a little crispy for my liking, but the flavor was nice. As far as portions go, everything was just right. Probably could have done without the roti though. It was the size of a small pizza, folded.

I've read mixed reviews, but we really enjoyed our meal. It was slightly different than what you'd get in a traditional Indian restaurant, prices were average for the city, portions weren't ridiculously huge or small, and everything was flavorful. I will definitely be returning.

Also, if you don't want to byo wine or beer, grab your favorite rum, tequila or vodka and throw it in a pitcher of one of their fun Indian-style mixers.

Read more reviews here, here, here, here and here.

P.S. It's cash only.

Fellini's Cafe

2008-05-12T09:38:00.008-04:00

31 E. Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610. 642.9009

You'd assume a restaurant that inevitably has a line out the door would have incredible food worth waiting for. You'd assume, and you'd be wrong. But, before I get into the food, let's get in the front door first. While they take reservations, by no means are they honored. If you don't want to wait, plan on showing up around 6pm, at the latest. We arrived at 6:30ish and had to wait about 10 minutes, which is tolerable, but the place was already jam packed. By 6:50, the crowd out front had reached no less than a dozen or so people, and it didn't disperse until around 8:30, just to let you know what you're in for if you haven't already been.

I can't comment much on the decor since we didn't even make it past the hostess station. We had a table for four tucked into a windowed nook in the front, away from the "wait area". We were happy.

Our server seemed new, and particularly slow. That was okay since we weren't in a rush, but now I understand why the line was so long. Our meal did not need to be over 2 hours long, but it was.

Now about that food. The menu is endless and overwhelming. I lost count around 85 items. I can't make a decision when there are that many options, plus Specials. Fortunately, there was a separate menu with 8 or so handmade pasta entrees. I stuck to that.

My Mozzerella Caprese was a mound of spring mix topped with thick mozzerella slices, roasted red peppers, onions and black olives drowning in balsamic vinaigrette. DROWNING. There was enough to share with three other people. My husband's salad was also piled high with romaine, tons of shaved parmesan, a slice or two of tomato and was, ironically, nearly void of dressing.

My entree was handmade tortellini with crabmeat, shrimp and peas in a cream blush sauce. This portion also could have been shared. While the tortellini were fresh, the sauce required salting and peppering, the shrimp had tails (annoying) and the crabmeat had shells (even more annoying). Not a meal I'd wait in line for. My father-in-law had the Veal Parmasan and was very happy with it.

Fellini's is another clear reminder that the most mediocre restaurants can be incredibly successful with a good location in a town like Ardmore that has so few options. The key features of Fellini's is that it is a BYO with inexpensive Italian food. To our knowledge they are the only choice in Ardmore.

Overall, the consensus was average. Would we return? Possibly, but only because it's in walking distance.

Read more here and here.

Chipotle

2008-05-09T11:24:00.004-04:00

133 W. Lancaster Ave, Ardmore

Since moving out of the city and away from our favorite and regular La Lupe Friday night meal, we have been hankering for a Mexican restaurant to open here, ANY Mexican. Hello Chipotle. Beggers can't be choosers, I guess. We haven't eaten there yet, but on a whim, we tried yesterday when they were giving away free burritos at the Grand Opening. Let's just say, someone put the word out on every nearby college campus. Imagine "free food" being popular among college students. The line went around the corner. Maybe next week we'll give it a try.

J.R. Monaghan's Pub & Grill

2008-04-26T07:25:00.005-04:00

34 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore 484-416-3547

We have been anxiously waiting for any smoke-free, family-friendly restaurant in walking distance to open, crossing our fingers it wouldn't be horribly cheesy with tasteless food, and finally we got J.R. Monaghan's Pub & Grill from the owner of Brownie's, a sports pub with plasmas visible from wherever you sit.

Apparently, every other family in a 5-mile radius was also waiting. It hasn't even been open a whole week and by 6:15 pm on a Friday it was jam packed with families. (So, if you're without children and aren't into that chaotic atmosphere, wait until after 8pm to go when all the kids are getting ready for bed.) A line out the door. Smoke-free, people. This is huge!

Since it has been open only a few days, our expectations we're low. They've got kinks to work out, after all. We arrived just in time to grab a table; booths were gone by this point. Did I mention it was only 6:15?! Our server was really friendly and helpful. Beers on tap were above average and included Hoegaarden and Yards.

They provide crayons and activity placemats for the kids. No kid-cups though, which was disappointing but we survived. The kids menu included all the standards, including fish and chips. But beware, it's not what you expect (if you're expecting fish sticks). It was really french fries and a breaded fillet of something. Fortunately, it was flavorful and the girls ate it. That's all that matters in my book. I had the Southwestern Salad with grilled chicken, black beans and jalapenos. It had a nice kick to it. Husband had the Roast Beef sandwich. It wasn't dry and better than the one he had recently at McCloskey's.

We also split the Triple Chocolate Mousse which was agreed by everyone delicious. Overall, we thought the food was better than expected, but not great. It has a chain restaurant vibe: bright, bad carpeting, generic furniture, standard menu. Nothing exciting. BUT IT'S SMOKE-FREE!

For a dinner out with the kids, it's perfect. To grab a beer and watch a game, we'll take it!

Xochitl

2008-04-24T12:03:00.004-04:00

408 South Second St., Philadelphia 215.238.7280

You won't find burritos or tacos at this hip Mexican on Headhouse Square, but you will find an overwhelming list of tequila to chose from and a lot of really good food (but no chicken either!) If it's worth anything to you, Xochitl recently landed at #20 on Philadelphia magazine's 50 Best Restaurants list.

Xochitl has plenty of ambiance: loud, red and dark enough to be romantic, but hard to read the menu if your eyes aren't what they used to be. If that's a problem, let the server know and they'll bring you a mini-flashlight. I swear.

A girls night out Mexican-style can only be kicked off with margaritas. I can't handle lists of liquor, so I decided not to decide and opted for the house tequila. I know nothing about tequila, and quite frankly, don't care. As long as it's not going to give me a hangover, then pour away. The margarita was yummy, but if you love Copabananas tart margarita, then this ain't it.

We started with the guacamole ($7) made to order at the table. YUM. We all agreed that if this was the only thing we ate for dinner, we would have been happy. It was that good. And, we also tried one of the ceviches... Vuelve a la Vida “Return to Life” ($15) with shrimp, octopus, scallop, oyster and onion, cilantro, jalapeño, tomato and avocado. It was served in an oversized martini glass. Personally, I didn't like that it was all thrown together, but I'm weird about my ceviche. I like to taste each piece separately. Regardless, the flavor was nice.

Both girlfriends had the pork shank because they were out of the pork chop. It came on the bone for gnawing, which they were too graceful to do. I don't know what else it came with because it was too dark to see. I had the Salmon con Mole Verde ($20), roasted salmon with green mole, roasted potatoes and cabbage, mushrooms and figs. Again, too dark to see what the sides were. I don't recall potatoes though. It was all slimey, but the salmon was prepared medium rare after all. I know slimey isn't an attractive description, but it was and it still tasted good.

Dessert was simple. Just a couple of churros ($7) with Mexican chocolate and cajeta dipping sauces. They were hot and sugary. Wished there were more.

We'd go back.

Read other reviews here.

Radicchio Cafe

2008-04-11T11:30:00.016-04:00

314 York Ave, Philadelphia, PA 215.627.6850

On a recent date night, we rushed into the city to trusty BYOB Radicchio Cafe for some tableside filleted fish. I love the drama. Because we also had theater tickets, we got there early so we had no problem being seated right away. Usually, there's a wait since they don't take reservations. Keep this in mind for the dog days of summer. You'll work up a sweat waiting outside. However, if you've BYO and you're outside, they've been known to open your bottle and hand out glasses to keep you busy while you wait.

Our server was good, if not a little too cool. At one point, as I lifted our wine bottle out of the cooler, he grabbed it from my hand and refilled our glasses. I laughed out loud at the timing of it. Like I said, too cool, without even a smirk. I asked him as he quickly filleted the Sole if they timed him on this feat, and he gave me (actually, he didn't really look away from the fish) this look like, "What a stupid fucking question." So, no they didn't time him.

On to the meal. Complimentary brushetta and obligatory bread arrived first. Not too garlicky as I find most brushetta to be. One per person. For appetizers, Husband had the Insalata di Campo ($7), a meschun salad, green olives, radishes, string beans vinegar and olive oil. Nice and fresh.

I started with the Ricchi e Poveri ($8), grilled shrimp, asparagus and cannellni beans served warm with lemon and olive oil. Two shrimp and a few asparagus tips. It was plain. I salted it. Always a bad sign.

But, we weren't there for the appetizers anyway. We wanted fish. And fish we had. Husband had the Dover Sole (photo) and I opted for the Branzino. Both ($22) were simply prepared with olive oil, lemon and some herbs. They come to the table as whole fish and are filleted before your very eyes. It's lovely. My husband swears by the Dover Sole. So, I asked our super cool server which one was better. Hands down, the Branzino. Yes! Points for the chick with the stupid question. The Dover Sole is thinner, firmer and crisper. To me, it's a very mild fish. The Branzino is thick and meaty. It also has a fishier taste to it. I couldn't even finish it. Both entrees came with side plates of veggies...broccoli, carrots, mashed potatoes. Good stuff. Crisp, not soggy. Everything is prepared to perfection!

Read other reviews: Gophila.com; Yelp; D'Bockol Review;

Auspicious Chinese Restaurant

2008-03-20T19:48:00.005-04:00

11 Cricket Avenue, Ardmore, 610.642.1858

A new, upscale Chinese restaurant has come to Ardmore. With glass storefront windows and neighbor to the famous Milkboy Coffee, Auspicious has over a dozen white clothed tables. Intimate, modern, clean and a sincerely friendly staff. We finally had a chance to try it tonight. We opted for take out and were pleased to find they had a few choices for kids. Really, they're just regular menu items only smaller portions.

So, here we are on a Thursday night, calling at prime "suburban" dinner time...6 o'clock sharp...to order up some chow. Only a 15 minute wait for take out, but crowded inside and people without reservations waiting in line. Nice!

Kids had Ninja Noodles ($5.95) with chicken, carrots and broccoli (chicken lo mein) and sesame chicken with rice ($5.95). One meal would have been enough for my two girls. The lo mein was good, fresh and also had bamboo and string beans. The sesame chicken came in bite size pieces, glazed slightly sweet, but mild.

I had the Fragrant Lemongrass Chicken ($10.95) with brown rice, but instantly imagined that I had opened wide and sprayed a can of lemon-scented Pledge in my mouth. Fragrant is a gross understatement. Won't be ordering this one again. Husband had Stir Fry Creations in which you "create your own". You choose the ingredients and how it's cooked. He went for the Fiery Chile Garlic Beef ($11.95) with broccoli, snow peas, mushrooms and water chestnuts. It was labeled as spicy but not spicy enough for him. Overall, fresh and nice flavor, but the beef was of the thin skirt steak variety. If he had to do it again, he'd try it with the chicken.

When hubby paid for the take out with his debit card, the woman behind the counter walked out and around to hand him the food. Nice touch. I like that Auspicious is trying to be more of a restaurant than a take out place.

James

2008-03-06T09:29:00.003-05:00

824 S. 8th St., Philadelphia, 215.629.4980

James landed at #6 on Philly Mag's 50 Best Restaurants of 2007, and Food and Wine voted the risotta alla Kristina one of 10 Best Restaurant Dishes of 2007. When you read all the accolades, you'll know you simply can't go wrong. But, I'll tell you about our experience anyway because, well, you never know.

Our group of six arrived uncharacteristically late. Rather, we arrived in tiers--10 minutes, 20 minutes, and 40 minutes late--prompting the manager to make us aware of the group with reservations after us. Apparently, James does not prefer parties larger than four, but there is one group table and we were sitting at it. So much for a relaxed meal with all eyes on us.

Promptly after we listened to the Specials, expertly recited by our server (but, way too complicated to repeat here), and navigated the wine list, the appetizers arrived. Fortunately, we weren't moved through our meal at light speed as anticipated; everything was paced appropriately. Guess the other large party cancelled?

Our good friend, John, offered me $100 to try the crispy sweetbreads, ‘sauerkraut’ and mustard ($16), but when I found out I had to eat ALL of it, I chickened out. Animal organs are worth more, don't you think? I opted for the sauteed sea scallop with belgian endive compote and gorgonzola butter ($12). I will point out that it is ONE scallop, but a perfect one. In fact, I was able to share my ONE scallop and it was voted the best appetizer at our table. So, I don't know what the editors at Food and Wine are thinking when they had that risotta - which was pretty darn delicious, too.

My friends will have to comment here. I know they had the langostino tempura with whipped ricotta, grapefruit and black walnut ($18). Again, just one, and really good. And, something with oxtail....

For my entree, I had the olive oil poached Scottish Salmon with fricassee of porcini, chestnut and brussels sprouts ($26). Normally, I'm not drawn to brussel sprouts, and I almost didn't choose this dish because of them. But, for brussel sprouts, they were actually pretty good. Small and a little nutty. Kind of like me! Anyway, the Salmon was amazing. AMAZING! I'm pretty comfortable saying I've never had salmon like this before. It literally melted in your mouth. But, it was so rich I couldn't even finish it, and portions weren't extra large.

I know the others had red curry braised wild pink snapper with mustard greens & mussel-potato saute ($27). Scrumptious. And the four story hill farms poularde (that's chicken) with spinach, porcini mushrooms and apple-infused pan sauce ($26). This entree was voted Best of Philly 2007. And, hopefully, they'll comment here about what they liked.

Overall, it was an upscale, casually elegant dining experience. The staff was incredibly professional and friendly. The food is obviously fresh and top notch. I dare you to find something wrong.

Read other reviews: Craig LaBan, Philly.com, Gayot.com
Photos by Jason Varney and Michael Persico.

Chick's Cafe & Wine Bar

2008-03-02T09:50:00.009-05:00

614 S. 7th Street, Philadelphia, 215.625.3700

If you were ever afraid to venture inside this corner bar like I once was, don't be scared. It used to look neglected as if it was a dark, lonely hideaway for serious drinkers. But it's been recently renovated and restored and worth a visit. Our group stopped in for a drink after dining at James. We were pleased to find 50 wines by the glass and a good beer selection. The staff was incredibly friendly, too. The menu looked interesting with lots of small plates and a huge variety of cheeses to pair with all those wines. Next time, we'll try the food.

Gioia Mia

2008-02-28T08:36:00.010-05:00

2025 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, 215.231.9895 (Edited to add: This has recently closed.)

Girlfriends, you need a night out. If, for any other reason, than to unload your husband-related frustrations, like one of us did Wednesday night at Gioia Mia.

Gioia Mia (pronounced joy-ah mee-ah) is a casual, comfortable Italian restaurant with an open kitchen and many wines by the glass.

You'll certainly have no problem getting a prime table at the time of your choice on a Wednesday night. We were the first ones in just before 8 p.m. greeted by Max, a lovely gentleman with a heavy Italian accent.

We started with the tableside prepared Caesar Salad--a close version to the original recipe. But, you better like garlic because you'll offending anyone within sight and tasting it the next morning. Then, on to the Tortine di Granchio con Funghi, which is sauteed lump crabcake over portabella mushroom in a light tomato sauce. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to crabcakes, (I was raised in Maryland, after all.), so I didn't love that particular combination.

I had Pesce del Giorno--Branzino, baked whole than fileted at the table. Always a nice touch (but, better when they get all the bones out). It was very moist and light with tomatoes, olives, onions and lemon juice, accompanied by green beans, simple yet crisp and fresh in a light olive oil and herb roasted potatoes.

Girlfriend Mo had the Ravioli all’Aragosta, lobster ravioli and jumbo shrimp with asparagus in a tomato-cognac sauce with fresh sage. Girlfriend Roz had the Risotto alla PescatoraRisotto with shrimp, mussels, baby clams & calamari in white wine sauce. You can also have it with red sauce, but the white was recommended. No one complained...well, about the food, that is. We girls love to vent.

Dessert was shared since we were all stuffed, but a good meal must always end with something sweet. The Tiramisu (My must-have dessert in any Italian restaurant.) came in an oversized martini glass. Creamy, thick with nearly a shot of dark rum at the bottom, much of it soaked into the lady fingers. Yum!

Read some other reviews: Philly Weekly; City Paper.

Copper Bistro

2008-02-17T10:42:00.008-05:00

614 N. 2nd St., Philadelphia, 215.627.9844

Closed June 2009

Good, not great. That was the consensus after dining at Copper Bistro in Northern Liberties recently. It's a small restaurant situated on the main drag. Notable features include an open kitchen, exposed brick wall with little nooks of candlelight and copper kitchenware as decor. There are two dining rooms; the main one with the kitchen and a smaller one in the back with about 4 or so tables. We sat at this table in the back practically tucked into the fireplace. As much as I love fireplaces, I don't want to eat in one. Thankfully, it wasn't working!

The menu is a melting pot of cuisines: French, Belgian, Asian, Mediterranean and more. We started with the cheese plate ($12.50). I love cheese plates. You learn about new cheeses and usually they're paired with an intriguing side you would never otherwise know about. At the same time, I hate cheese plates--the portion size is always a tease. There was a french cheddar, a goat's milk and fig bread. Not bad. My entree was Day-Boat Scallops with Wild Mushroom Ragout and Potato Rosti Mushroom Jus ($23.50). Husband had shrimp. I'm waiting for him to elaborate on that. For whatever reason, our entrees took really long to show up so we ran out of time for dessert. (We had a play to get to.) Aside from the long wait, the server was friendly and knowledgeable. But overall, nothing wowed us. The best part was the 2005 Frog's Leap Cabernet, but we brought that.

Ardmore Station Cafe

2008-01-21T14:16:00.000-05:00

6 Station Road, Ardmore, 610.642.3889

Always packed when we go for a weekend brunch, but worth waiting for a table. The menu is extensive, however on our last visit, I noticed no waffles! Pancakes and French Toast come with just about any kind of topping you can think of, including stuffed with cream cheese. Think dessert for breakfast. They have healthy options too, but why do that? If they're serving La Colombe coffee (which they are), you can be sure they know a thing or two about quality food. Although the syrup comes in the plastic containers with the pull back tops, you can order pure maple syrup for $2. If you go with more than four people, you will be waiting extra long for a table - no reservations. Prices aren't dirt cheap, but definitely affordable. They also serve lunch, but I haven't tried that yet. I've read a few other reviews and they're all positive.

Pizzicato Ristorante

2008-01-20T20:58:00.000-05:00

248 Market Street, Philadelphia, 215.629.5527

We stopped in here with the kids for something light after the Sleeping Beauty performance at the Arden Theater on Sunday. At 5 p.m., there was just one table for four left. Score! They also offer kids entrees, which aren't on the regular menu or even posted on the menu outside the front door. They had the basics: pasta with butter, chicken fingers, french fries, etc. They even had kids cups and milk! Our little ones opted for the chicken fingers and fries. Four good size, but rather flat, chicken fingers arrived. Way too much for our distracted group. It might be wise to split the dish next time. I didn't taste them - they looked fine, for what it's worth.

The grown-ups started with Spicy Fried Calamari with portabella mushrooms, parmesan cheese and raspberry coulis. It had a nice kick and wasn't overly breaded, but I didn't realize it was a raspberry coulis until I pulled it off their website to write this. Then, we had the Grilled Chicken Pizzette with spinach, fresh mozzarella and red onion. It normally comes with Proscuitto, but we asked that they keep it off. The Pizzette is about 10 inches round and had a light crust. One hungry person could easily polish this off. The concensus, however, was that it was just okay, not really bursting with a ton of flavor. There's a lot on the menu, though, so I'd give it another shot.

The staff was amazingly friendly and accommodating. And, by 6 p.m., there was only one table left of people. Good time to go, I guess.

Siamese Princess

2008-01-20T11:51:00.000-05:00

36 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, 610.896.2755

Based on how it looks from the outside, the Siamese Princess is not a restaurant you would normally walk into on a whim. A neon OPEN sign in the window is never a good sign. It has the potential to be intimate, but the small and narrow room is brightly lit, tables have vinyl coverings and black aluminum chairs. Fresh flowers on each table is a thoughtful touch, but the decor overall is pretty tacky and generally lacking warmth. Needless to say, we had pretty low expectations for the food. But, it was surprisingly good, and inexpensive (Prices range from $4.95 to $16.95, and 10% off if you pay with cash.)!

We started with the Tom Yun Goon soup- shrimp, lemongrass, mushrooms in a broth and spicy enough to make your mouth numb. The traditional chicken satay on skewers with peanut sauce did not disappoint. The three large chicken breasts could have been my whole meal. For entrees, we had Bold and Spicy Shrimp (Clearly, there's a theme here.), sauteed shrimp, lemongrass, basil, mushrooms and hot chili peppers. A few too many capers, but fresh vegetables were crisp. The sauce was just spicy enough. The Green Chicken Curry came with a side of white rice, had julienned vegetables and was also spicy, but they can dilute it for you. It could have had more chicken, but overall it was fresh and really good.

The staff of two were friendly. We didn't have to wait long at all for our food, but that could have been because it wasn't crowded, even for a Saturday night. People don't know what they're missing! I overheard the diners next to us, evidently frequent visitors, talking about sending friends there who also loved it.

This restaurant will be getting a return visit!

Marrone's

2008-01-06T16:23:00.001-05:00

2744 East County Line Road, Ardmore, 610.642. 9567

Marrone's Pizzeria is the quintessential Del-Co dine-in Italian fare, pizza-and-more restaurant. And, you get the classic Delco warmth and attitude, which by my experience is hit or miss. The place is deceivingly big. There's a room in the way, way back that makes you feel nearly out of the restaurant. But, gosh darn it, you will get a seat.

Portions are large. Pizza is good, if not a little too cheesy. Not an overwhelming selection of toppings. Order a salad and the Italian house dressing comes in a Grolsch bottle.

Basic kids menu. Plus, they get crayons and paper to keep them busy. Worth a try.

Margot

2007-12-29T22:54:00.001-05:00

Edited to add: Closed

232 Woodbine Ave. Narberth, 610.660.0160

It was a Friday. I called three hours ahead to reserve a table and found our prime times to eat (between 8 and 8:30) were open. As a side note: although we've been in the "suburbs" seven months, we're still dining on city time. We were easily the last people to be seated. Out here, the restaurants clear out by 9:15. In the city: restaurants are just getting character.

I had heard from acquaintances that Margot was THE place to go for good food, intimate dining, and, bonus, it's a byob. I looked up the reviews and most were positive so it was clearly worth a visit. Much of what I read was true: the parking wasn't great with only on-street available, the dishes are basic but have a surprise ingredient. Narberth is a movie-cute town, but this restaurant isn't even close to the main drag. Aside from that, the food and service was good. Our server was friendly and honest about dishes.

Margot is a small room with unfittingly bright turquoise-greenish walls, some exposed brick, open kitchen. Votives on the white-clothed table, but lighting was still a tab brighter than I care for. Noise level wasn't horrible, but we sat next to a spirited group, if you know what I mean.

Husband had Margot's Bolognese with Rigatoni. I don't eat red meat, but it smelled really great and apparently didn't disappoint. I started with the Sweet Potato Pancakes with carmelized apples, chipotle and chive sour cream. There was a nice balance of sweetness and spice that worked well. I nearly ordered the Sea Bass special as my entree until I overheard the person at the next table complaining about it. He took one bite of his and never touched it again. I decided to try the Jumbo Lump Crabcake with Lemon Tarragon Nage, parsnip puree and baby bok choy. Definitely a winner.

Overall, it was good, but we wouldn't go running back.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday

2007-11-28T09:25:00.001-05:00

261 South 21st Street, Philadelphia, 215.546.4232

You know you can't go wrong in a good restaurant when they know you by name. Friday, Saturday, Sunday is easily the restaurant we've dined at the most. The food is very good, but we go for the people who work there. Namely, Dan the host and Bill the server. Love them! In fact, we won't eat there if we aren't in Bill's section.

My husband decided he wanted to celebrate his birthday there. Didn't have to twist my arm. We were seated at one of the better tables on the first floor (the second floor has the Tank Bar and additional seating). We squeezed in and got cozy.

The specials were enticing but not enough to steer me away from my old standbys-Five Leaf Salad with Goat Cheese and Horseradish-Panko Crusted Tilapia with Cilantro-Lime Beurre Blanc and a side of mashed potatoes. Yummy!

The birthday boy had the special appetizer Mexican Tortilla Soup which he declared excellent, and his usual Herb Grilled Double Thick Pork Chop with Roasted Garlic-Roquefort Sauce and mashed potatoes. And, it wouldn't be a birthday without a candle-topped Double Layer Chocolate Cake.

As usual, it was good food, great conversation and a fun time all around. Make reservations!

McGillin's Olde Ale House

2007-10-09T10:22:00.001-04:00

McGillin's is a Philadelphia staple - the oldest tavern in the city. It's the warm, cozy place you go to hang out and drink beer (by the pitcher) with good friends, especially when it's cold and wet outside. This is not where you go dressed up to have a frou-frou cocktail or sip good wine. My favorite time to come here is during a mid-afternoon, winter day, preferably while it's snowing outside and the kids are at grandma's for a sleepover. There isn't much better than kicking back in front of that fireplace. There is an upstairs level for crowd spillover, but the atmosphere doesn't compare to downstairs.

As far as food goes, it's pretty much what you would expect from a tavern. Good pub grub. There is karaoke one or two nights if you're into volunteering yourself for public humiliation (unless you can really sing). I couldn't tell you which nights because I have zero tolerance for anything karaoke-esque. And, I'm being polite. It gets packed, so get there early to score a table, settle in and get comfy.

Amada

2007-10-08T11:22:00.001-04:00

This is by far my all-time favorite restaurant. I really think I could eat here every week if it was feasible. It has yet to disappoint on any level.

The flamenco dancing on Wednesday and Friday evenings is phenomenal - it gives me goosebumps. I was mesmerized and was disappointed when it ended, especially since it only lasted 30 minutes. Make reservations on these nights at least two months in advance. And try as you can to get a table near the stage. Otherwise, you'll be leaving your delicious food to see the show. You simply can't miss it.

Go with a group - there is so much on the menu it's the only way to really experiment. If you really can't decide what to order, go with the chef's selection. Tell them of any aversions and they'll customize it.

Wine recommendations from the bartender were on point.

Make reservations early - this place rocks!

Iron Hill Brewery, Wilmington, DE

2007-10-05T21:53:00.000-04:00

I can't rate the beers. I go here occasionally with co-workers for lunch. While I would have a beer, no one else does so I don't want to be the lush. I recently had the turkey burger with guacamole and aioli (no bacon) and it was way too greasy. Fries were okay, but dry. Unfortunately, two days later and I'm still feeling the repercussions. I've been told the Asian wrap is excellent. I'll try that next time.

La Lupe, South Philly

2007-10-05T21:27:00.000-04:00

I have never actually eaten in this place, but we ordered delivery from it nearly every Friday night. It was that good. I had to have my La Lupe fix. This is real Mexican. You know it's real when you call and it's easier to pronounce your phone number in Spanish.

My favorite was first the quesadilla pollo, then I took a chance and tried the enchiladas verdes. I didn't need to try anything else. My feeling was that if I didn't order the enchiladas verdes than it was an opportunity missed. We almost always had the pico de gallo with chips. That would prove to have surprise ingredients every time. Sometimes there would be avocado, sometimes not. Sometimes a lot of onions, sometimes radishes. Sometimes the container would be half empty... always exciting. The chips, more often than not, would be delivered warm. You just can't beat that. Jeff would almost always order the bistek burrito. It was huge. Easily enough food for two meals.

Marigold Kitchen, University City

2007-10-05T15:51:00.000-04:00

New American cuisine in a restored Victorian twin. Decor was sparse, semi-dimly lit, votive on the table. Intimate. BYOB. Good service. Some parts of the meal were great others, not so. B+

If you're expecting to bring home a doggy-bag, you will be disappointed. Portions are perfectly sized. Although, when my appetizer of Tuna Carpaccio with Poached Tuna Salad and Tabouleh arrived I thought for sure I would need to find a McDonald's after this meal. Fortunately, that wasn't the case. I was able to enjoy the hot breads (sourdough, raisin and nut, and crusty French) with olives and oil. The Tuna Carpaccio was very tasty, fresh, sushi grade but definitely a teaser, not a meal unto itself, which is fine with me because reheating leftovers of this nature can never recapture the full essence of the dish. Then came the Poached Salmon with Potato Pancake and Pickled Wax Beans: three mini cuts of perfectly cooked salmon, topped with a sprig of dill and accompanied by a potato pancake which resembled more of an overcooked latke. Dessert followed with a Cardamom Creme Brulee with Pistachio Tuile which wasn't as crusty on top as I would expect, but had a nice flavor. And surprisingly, by the end of the meal, I was completely satisfied. Would I return? If someone else was paying, then yes; but probably not until I tried every other restaurant on my list.

Peace a Pizza, Ardmore

2007-10-05T15:47:00.000-04:00

Review in a nutshell: Good for kids - there is a TV with a kid-friendly movie on; crayons and paper and a kid-size table (only 1). Pizza is pretty good although occasionally overcooked. There are a ton of pizza options, plus salads. You can order by the slice or whole pie. So far the only negative is that it does get that overcooked-pizza-crust smell that makes it a little hard to breathe, and it sticks to your clothes. Staff is friendly. Friday early evening gets busy, but they do deliver. When we had delivery it came sooner than they said, which is always nice.

Welcome - pull up a chair.

2007-09-27T15:55:00.000-04:00

We love to eat out. Love to try a new restaurant. Only when the restaurant is really good do we even return for a second meal. There are enough dining establishments in the city to try a new one each week.

These are our reviews - real and honest, the good and the bad, and simply the opinions of two people who dine out frequently. I dine with my husband as a couple and with our two young kids. We dine with friends, separately and together. We think we have pretty high standards as far as food goes. In fact, everyone who's ever asked us for a restaurant recommendation has never been disappointed. We lived in the city for 9 years, only recently moving to the Main Line, so we feel pretty comfortable sharing our thoughts. We can appreciate gourmet in an elegant dining setting as well as grub in the local pub. We'll give it to you real.