Thanks for this good Detroit rec, Warchild. I'd likely be hitting Slow's BBQ or Lafayette for a Coney pre-Tigers game, but the Selden sounds great. Maybe next summer, when the Tigers have completed their quick rebuilding process, I'll make it work.
Lots of new KFC places to check out these days. Curious about the new Andy's as well.
Sorry you missed out on Same Same, but glad to hear about your good meal at Circles. I tend to prefer the South Philly location for food, but the Northern Liberties is a handsome spot with great energy.
Ummm... no!! Though I'd love some better Middle Eastern food of any sort around here, if possible. Detroit definitely has Philly whipped in that department.
I'd always go back to the Knife & Fork for a retro splurge, because I love old restaurants and this one has been handled with care, even if it changed hands in recent years. Under the Dougherty family (which owns the equally worthy Dock's) it's become a bit more of a steak house with some other classics, like lobster Thermidor and souffle potatoes. I love to sit in the upstairs space where they have that great Prohibition flapper mural. If you're still hungry, head over to Pancho's taqueria (right next to the White House) for some of the best tacos anywhere, where even the tortillas are made to order.
alright, if you say so, Percy. Aroma here I come!
sorry I read past that! Actually, the bun was the one thing I wasn't wowed by with Same Same - my noodles were just a little mushy. Love the proteins they serve on top, though, the caramelized pork, the pho-spiced pork confit, and also the crispy spring rolls which are so simple, but so good.
Like I said, I really don't have a go-to Middle Eastern spot I love in town, though Sahara Grill on Walnut Street will do if you need a basic Lebanese fix. On a side note, I'm looking forward to the new South Street location for the Sansom Street Kebab Shop.
We've got a lot of good cocktail spots in town right now, though the Franklin, which was probably our most elaborate drink destination, is reformatting to focus on simpler drinks, so I don't know what that says. I'm partial to Hop Sing, because Le's drinks are unique, cleverly simple, and the collection of spirits is almost unparalleled for quality and value. The many rules are a turn-off to some, but it's a great spot to hideaway with a friend and have real conversation.... others I've also enjoyed are Emmanuelle in Northern Liberties, and also the Olde Bar, the Garces revamp of the Bookie's bar that is really making some excellent twists on classics. Great ambiance there, too.. And the Ranstead Room behind El Rey. I'm sure there are many others I'm not mentioning.
MattGPA - Philly definitely has chefs with the talent to carry off long tasting meals. Vetri is one example. So is Marigold Kitchen. So is Talula's Table. Though we're talking in the teens, rather than 20+ courses. I doubt whether there's a clientele here, though, to really support a place like that. The extravagant tasting menu boom of the last 10 years has definitely tested people's tolerance and patience for both the length of a meal and the preciousness with which it should be served. And in my opinion, that's a good thing. I love watching and tasting what a great chef has to say in a long-form meal. But longer is definitely not always necessarily better. Some places end-up sending out a little gougere pastry puff, or a scoop of sorbet and padding their course count as if it's some badge of honor. Meanwhile, I find myself too often just looking at my watch and wondering.... when is this meal going to end? There's a happy medium in there somewhere. And as always, it depends on the menu and the chef to make it work.
I'm looking forward to that one, for sure. The old Elements was something special, so this new spot (over Mistral) should be especially interesting.
Well, I don't want this conversation to spill into overtime and become the tiresome 20-course tasting menu of food chats, so that's my cue to call today's session to a close! Thanks to everyone who came with great questions and comments, especially after a few weeks away. No one landed today's Crumb Tracker crown, sadly. Those tacos that lured you to this chat - the elusive #3 of the quiz - came from Taqueria Los Amigos (3821 Westfield Ave.) in Camden, a new location for the market by the same name that closed last year. It's an absolutely humble and modest place, but I have to say these tacos were among the best I've had around here. The menu is classic and simple - carnitas, al pastor, suadero - I kept going back and forth as to which was my favorite one. Maybe the carnitas. But they were all spot-on. Just something about their flavors and presentation that was spot on. And if you're lucky, the staff will be cooking
up a pot of purslane in tomatillo stew for the "verdolagas" greens I
lucked into. But suffice it to say that Camden has been overshadowed by South Philly for authentic Mexican flavors, and it shouldn't. There is some great Mexican cooking there, too. And at $2 a taco, there's another stellar value that's hard to beat!
I'll be back next week with more great restaurant dish and a fresh set of mystery morsels to test your Crumb Tracker skills, so.... join me again! Until then, may you all be well and eat something worth bragging about!
For anyone looking for a new Korean Fried Chicken wings, Chimac on N. 5th St in Olney (near where I grew up!) is pretty awesome. The interior looks positively depressing for sit down..but for takeout was seriously good, large wings, crackly exterior and a wider variety of wing sauces than most KFC places..spicy too! Worth a takeout trek...