Philly Phood

My Rankings

2010-06-11T18:00:00.005-04:00

Below are my ratings of the restaurants for which I have written an entry. Note: the title of each entry is a link to that restaurant's website.

Five stars = excellent
Four stars = very good
Three stars = good
Two stars = fair
One star = poor

FIVE STARS
Union Trust
Vetri
Tinto
10 Arts by Eric Ripert
Percy Street BBQ
Barclay Prime
Butcher and Singer
Oyster House
Famous 4th Street Deli

FOUR and 1/2 STARS
Salento
Osteria
Pizzeria Stella
Morimoto
Philly Cupcake

FOUR STARS
James
The Morning Glory Diner
Distrito

THREE STARS
Supper
Pub & Kitchen
Noble, An American Cookery

Distrito

2010-06-04T20:00:00.008-04:00

Distrito, a modern Mexican tapas restaurant of Iron Chef Jose Garces, has the look and feel of a Stephen Starr restaurant - it has a theme, bright colors, waiters in matching T-shirts, and trendy clientele. I loved the energetic vibe, hot pink walls and napkins, and wrestling masks on the wall. The food was great, but nothing like the flavors at Amada or Tinto (also Jose Garces).

Mango salad: Jicama mango, galia melon, orange, pepitas, lemon vinaigrette - It was served like an ice cream sundae and even had lemon sorbet on top. It was extremely refreshing and cool, leaving my mouth feeling clean and ready to start the meal.

Mushroom flatbread: Los Hongos forest mushrooms, huitlacoche, sauce, queso mixto black truffle, corn shoot - This was the best dish of the evening. I didn't think I liked truffle, but this had the perfect amount and really made me appreciate the power of the truffle. The mushrooms themselves were juicy and plump, and the grilled onions were an added bonus.

Esquites: sweet corn, queso fresco, chipotle, lime - Creamed corn. Not much to it other than its presentation.

Los Moles: Poblano: Duck breast on top of rice with mole, which is a weird Mexican sauce that I did not like. The duck breast was delicious, however - nice and lean.

"District Chicken:" organic chicken, chipotle-orange chile glaze, crispy yuca fries, tomato herb salad - A flavor combination that I never tasted before, this recipe was hot and spicy (but not too much that I was looking for blue cheese dressing). The skin could have been a little crispier, but the meat of the chicken was deliciously moist and juicy. I prefer French Fries to yuca fries, which were a tad on the mushy side (despite the title of this dish).

La Bomba: mexican vanilla ice cream, caramel poached bananas, fudge brownie, toasted pepitas, hot fudge - Sounds SO much better than it was. Ice cream had ice chips in it and I did not taste the flavors described above (where was the caramel)? The brownie had the consistency of cardboard, but at least the hot fudge was decent.

Union Trust

2010-04-08T18:00:00.003-04:00

Not only is Union Trust a stunning and elaborate steakhouse, it is one of the best meals I have ever had. I rate it over Barclay Prime, which - for a while - was my #1 steak. Take a look at my pictures of the steak from Barclay Prime; you can tell that it just wasn't as juicy and delicious as this one.

"The Ultimate Tower:" What an incredible way to begin a splendid meal. Stone crab claws, king crab, colossal lump crab, oysters, and shrimp towered over many other seafood dishes I've had. The first time I was at Union Trust, I didn't eat anything from the raw bar (just watched these grand platters being served). When I grabbed the stone crab from the ice, I thought I'd be pulling forever. That huge white hunk of fresh, cold, sweet crab was absolutely delicious and delicate.

Dry-Aged 28 days prime NY Strip (14 oz): Juicy. Flavorful. Better than Barclay Prime. I ate 99% of the entire thing. Would do it again. And again. And again. Also had "Filet King Oscar" at my first visit, which is a filet topped with king crab (amazing!) Can't go wrong with either steak.

In most cases, meals consist of one course that stands out in front of the rest. The reason why Union Trust ranks so highly on my list is because every single bite I had (at both visits) was extraordinary. This mango sorbet (no, they are not eggs even though they look like it!) was so fresh and smooth, I am convinced that a magical garden of icy mango trees is in the backyard at Union Trust. A delightful ending to a fabulous meal!

10 Arts by Eric Ripert

2010-03-06T20:30:00.000-05:00

Braised Pork Belly: I'm going to describe this dish from top to bottom, since the elements got increasingly better in that direction! Crispy skin on top of a layer of fat - which I did not eat, of course, but it was definitely needed for the meat to be as juicy and tender as it was! In the bottom of the dish was a sweet, almost fruity, sauce. Delicious!

Heirloom Corn Chowder: Smoky and lots of corn. Yum!

Pennsylvania Brook Trout with baby bok choy and hazelnut brown butter sauce: Out of this world and the most unique (in a positive way!) fish dish I have ever eaten. The waiter said that Top Chef contestant Jennifer Carroll (who made it to the final four) is known for her sauces, which is certainly true. The brown butter and hazelnut sauce was divine; like nothing I have ever tasted before. You may think the combination is odd, but it worked and it rocked. The crunchy hazelnuts that topped the fish and the giant portion size (2 large filets and 8x the size of my fish at James) were amazing bonuses.

Rib-Eye Steak with spinach and mashed potatoes: Again, a huge tasty portion. It was really nice to see that we got our money's worth (unlike many other expensive restaurants), and the steak was perfectly cooked and seasoned.

Noble, An American Cookery

2010-02-14T11:00:00.002-05:00

Chickpea Fries - One of the 239 dishes that Philadelphia Magazine says you "must" try. While I certainly agree, the "fries" would really be nothing - and somewhat bland - without the spicy tomato sauce they come in.

Crepes with Nutella and Fresh Berries - I love nutella and these fresh berries were delicious, but the crepes themselves were not hot or thin enough (and yes, I'm talking about food here!)

Frittata with spinach, mushrooms, and cheddar - This block with melted cheese on top may not look very appetizing, but it was delicious! Very hearty and tasty; light and fluffy eggs despite its cubic shape!

Percy Street Barbeque

2010-01-09T19:30:00.006-05:00

I posted pictures for this entry to be consistent, but to be honest, they really don't provide a great depiction of the food. That night at Percy Street, I ate the best BBQ of my life. In the November issue of Philly Magazine is a story about Michael Solomonov, Steve Cook and Erin O'Shea who went to Texas for 3 days and ate at 9 BBQ places. They opened Percy Street BBQ in Philly in November, and boy am I glad they did! It is nothing like I'm used used to - no sauce, just an overwhelming taste of SMOKE which I really loved. I was in BBQ heaven, absorbed by the smell and taste of authentic, smokey, Texas BBQ. I even had a dream about it. Not kidding.
P.S. Check out the 2 red smokers in the first picture (that's where they make miracles happen) and the 2nd picture shows the way Philly does BBQ (a chic picnic setting).

Philly Cupcake

2010-01-09T16:00:00.002-05:00

You will smile when you enter this cupcake wonderland, not only because of the friendly owners and bright blue and pink walls, but because of the delicious homemade cupcakes that melt in your mouth. Cupcakes are on display in wall units that look like furniture I had when growing up, yet much larger and more ornate. I had the red velvet cupcake with cream cheese icing, and was impressed with how light and airy both the cake and icing were. I didn't expect much less, however, for $3 a piece (and it was small). Only other complaint - nowhere to sit except on a gold couch against the wall.

Pizzeria Stella

2010-01-08T20:00:00.001-05:00

I don't actively seek Stephen Starr restaurants, he just keeps on acquiring more, which I'm certainly not opposed to.

Pistachio Pizza: red onion, pistachio, fontina, extra virgin olive oil - Ingredients are odd, but the flavor was incredible. This pizza was out of this world. I'm not exactly sure what I loved so much (it might have been the cheese), but altogether an outstanding pizza. Made the Margherita look bad.

Margherita: san marzano tomato, buffalo mozzarella, basil - Not nearly as delicious as the pistachio pizza, but still solid (Osteria's margherita was better).

Butcher and Singer

2009-12-28T12:00:00.001-05:00

An absolutely gorgeous building with stunning interiror decor is home to one of the best burgers in Philadelphia (perhaps even the best, but I have yet to try Village Whiskey). Still, it beats the Rouge burger (and so does its price - $9.95 - which includes a heaping pile of fries). There are 3 types of meats in the Butcher and Singer mouth-watering burger, and even though I was full after one half, I managed to pack the entire thing away because it was so delicious!

Osteria

2009-12-18T20:45:00.001-05:00

Le pizza tradizionale margherita: tomato, basil, and mozzarella - The pizza at Osteria has been lauded for being the best pizza...ever. The flavor was delicious and the ingredients were fresh (especially the mozzarella). While I don't want to be the only one to criticize this pizza, I wish it didn't sag when you picked it up. I once heard that a really good slice of pizza is one that has a thin crust, but that doesn't droop when you pick it up. The pizza at Osteria will be 100% perfect after it attains that feat!

"Ciareghi" house made cotechino sausage with polenta and sunny-side up egg - Too salty, but the polenta was out of this world - it "calmed" the dish down and had a wonderful soft texture.

Candele with wild boar bolognese - While I normally don't like to order pasta at restaurants, I decided to do so at Osteria because Mark Vetri's pasta at his namesake is the best item on the menu. The candele was a bit too heavy for my liking, and I would have preferred a taste, as opposed to an entire bowl. It was heavy - and thus perfect for the cold winter night on which I was there - but too much for one person.

Chocolate flan with pistacchio gelato - I was not disappointed that this was not flan, because it was chocolate lava cake instead! The best chocolate lava cake I ever had was at a small french restaurant in the Upper East Side of Manhattan (L'Etats Units), but this may have topped that. The chocolate cake on the outside was soft and moist (not too well done like it sometimes is). The center was bursting with delicious, warm fudge that ran perfectly all over the plate and into the cold pistachio ice cream that created a perfect contrast.

Oyster House

2009-12-03T20:00:00.000-05:00

This restaurant really climbed to the top of my list because I had a fabulous, fun experience and loved the food, decor, and service.

Chincoteague (and one other type) Oysters - I recently started eating oysters, and these were wonderful. The waitress was really knowledgeable and described them quite accurately: tastes like the sea, not as salty as some others on the menu, medium to large in size. I didn't even want to use too much cocktail sauce because I enjoyed discovering these new flavors. Texture and consistency was lovely - slid right down!

Scallops - roasted brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, bacon pieces - I'll start with the one criticism: There were only 4 scallops, and they were tiny! However, this criticism easily turns into a compliment because I wanted more. Every bite on my plate was extremely flavorful and exceptionally prepared. The scallops neared a sweet, tangy, BBQ flavor (probably due to the bacon pieces I ate with them), but also had their own unique taste. The scallops themselves, although small in size, were perfectly cooked: soft and whole (not chewy or stringy). I wasn't expecting the side dishes to be as good as they were (I never do), but the sweet potatoes were incredibly - and naturally - sweet (with a little help from the delicious glazed sauce).

Morimoto

2009-11-25T19:29:00.007-05:00

What a gorgeous restaurant (but I wouldn't expect anything less from Stephen Starr). We went for Morimoto's "Signature Hour," so the drinks and appetizers were half off. However, I would love to go back and try some raw fish and sushi. Therefore, please note that this blog entry is about the signature hour appetizers, but hopefully there will be another one sometime about dinner. (Hint: order the sparkling ume if you like champagne).

Spicy Lobster Skewers: I could not believe this was only $7 because there was plenty of lobster and it was absolutely dynamite (no pun intended, since it truly was spicy!) The lobster was far from chewy; it just melted in my mouth and was accompanied by spicy orange sauce for a great kick. I was pleasantly surprised to taste such quality lobster at a "happy hour" type of event.

"Angry" Wings: I'm not sure why they were angry (they really weren't that spicy) but the flavor was wonderful - sweet, sticky, and tangy. The crunchy rice noodles on top were an annoyance and not needed.

Pork Gyoza: There was a nicely-sized piece of pork inside the dumpling - and it tasted great - but I wasn't too crazy about the dough (it was almost too crispy for me; I like it a little more delicate and thin).

Kobe Spring Rolls: This dish was my 2nd favorite after the lobster skewers. I don't remember the crispy shell as much, because the kobe beef's flavor was overpowering, in a wonderful way. What I liked about all of these appetizers, including this one, is that the meat/filling was never skimpy.

Morimoto Brownies: No wonder this is their most popular dessert - it was fantastic! The fudgy brownie bites would have been wonderful on their own, but the caramel dipping sauce and candied walnuts not only made it fun to eat, they added immense flavor and sweetness. This dish is a definite must-order for anyone that loves caramel.

Salento

2009-11-20T19:11:00.001-05:00

Mussels in Red Sauce: While the mussels themselves were certainly delicious, the ingredient that knocks this dish out of the park is the red sauce. The garlic (and whatever else is in there) makes you want to slurp it with your spoon and dip endless amounts of bread in it (which is exactly what we did).

Veal Ravioli: I could not have eaten this entire dish because it was so heavy (so I'm glad I just had a taste), but the bite I had was memorable. I had never seen ravioli so big and filling. The whole pieces of veal inside were abundant and the pasta was freshly made.

Mixed Grill: I was extremely pleased with my dish and I loved how it tasted fresh from the grill (which it was). The grilled basa, calamari, and shrimp were amazing; fresh, grilled, and not too much else (just some lemon did the trick).

Chocolate Torte: Dense and rich; just like fudge. May be too rich for some, but I indulged and devoured every delectable bite.

Famous 4th Street Delicatessen

2009-11-08T17:34:00.007-05:00

By far the best lox in town. Thinly sliced. Moist. You have to go...now. Enough said.

The Morning Glory Diner

2009-11-01T12:00:00.003-05:00

Look out Sabrina's! I just enjoyed one of the best breakfasts I've ever had (and it wasn't in Manhattan, where up until recently, has always been considered to have the best of everything, especially Sunday brunch); it was at The Morning Glory Diner at 10th and Fitzwater. Brunch in Philadelphia is certainly at the forefront of the "brunch" competition. Philadelphians not only line up for hours at Sabrina's, waiting to eat their overwhelming portion of stuffed french toast, they also wait hours (and for a very good reason!) at The Morning Glory Diner. Our 50 minute wait (during the rain, at times) was definitely worth it!

Pecan Waffle: served with whipped peach butter - Every bite was sweet and warm; the peach butter had real pieces of peach in it.

Monkey French Toast: challah French toast stuffed with caramelized bananas & mangoes, topped with caramel sauce and whipped cream - The expression on my face (the "eye bulge," as my husband calls it) after I took my first bite sums it up. This french toast is probably the best I've ever had. The mango was so soft and sweet; I was surprised with its ripeness. The next best thing was the caramel sauce; that mixed with the whipped cream really made this dish sweet. The french toast was made from large, thick slices of challah bread (which they keep in the "backyard fridge" that you can see while you wait). I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking.

Pub & Kitchen

2009-10-25T22:00:00.000-04:00

Brewery Mussels: homemade country sausage & amber lager - Normally I like my mussels in red sauce, but these were delicious. The mussels were soft (far from chewy) and almost sweet, and the spicy sausage was an excellent addition. The toasted bread on top was full of garlic butter (and while it was tasty, there was a tad too much of it). The last time I was at Pub & Kitchen, I ordered the burger (as did two of my friends this time) and it never fails to please.

Roast chicken with mustard greens and Irish biscuit - This dish is one that Pub & Kitchen is known for. The chicken is juicy, yet the Irish biscuit was a little dry (and was almost like stuffing).

Supper

2009-10-25T10:24:00.001-04:00

We came to Supper because of the review in both Zagat and Philadelphia Magazine, but as we later found out, both reviews were over a year old. The chef and owner, Mitch Prensky, was nice enough to come over to my table once he saw me taking pictures and asking about the "tapas" brunch that I thought was still served (Philadelphia Magazine may have published last year's article instead). He was very nice and friendly, and his restaurant offers the same vibe. Now on to the food:

Supper Frittata: three egg frittata with tomatoes and bacon, served with potatoes and toast - By the looks of the picture, you're probably wondering where the eggs are: they are dried up and hiding in there. This isn't what I expect to see when I order a frittata; the potatoes should have been on the side, and the eggs a bit more moist.

Housemade Ricotta Blintzes with strawberry compote and sour cream - These were incredibly delicious: sweet, thin crepes, and a beautiful blend of strawberry, sour cream, and ricotta. It wasn't difficult for it to melt in my mouth. However, I was very disappointed with the portion size; for $13, I would have expected more.

James

2009-10-16T19:30:00.021-04:00

Of the four dishes I had at James, two of them were truly delicious (and perhaps deserving of Philadelphia Magazine's rank of 3rd best restaurant), but the prices are very steep for the amount of food on the plate. I wanted Wendy's afterwards.

As far as the decor, I was pleasantly surprised to walk into such a modern, trendy, yet calm atmosphere that I would expect to see more of on Rittenhouse Square, not in Bella Vista. It was beautifully, yet simply decorated, with hardwood floors and dark tables and furniture (picture above is behind the bar, not the main dining room).

Swiss chard stuffed quail breast - This was one of the two best dishes of the evening. The quail breast was lean and soft, and the seasoned swiss chard was the perfect flavoring.

Hand cut tagliatelle, duck ragu, shaved chocolate & orange - What a disappointment. Philly Mag said to order this, the waitresses at James said it was the most popular item on their menu,...perhaps I was thus expecting too much. The tagliatelle was thin and obviously homemade, but there was barely any duck, and if chocolate & orange weren't listed on the menu, I wouldn't have known they were part of the dish.

John Dory with onions, apples, and brussels sprouts

Dover Sole "Veronique" - This was the second best dish of the evening. It was simply prepared but my taste buds loved it: olive oil, peeled grapes, and some sort of cream that tasted like hummus. The picture makes it look much larger than it was, but it was more like over-sized sashimi than a filet of fish.

Both desserts didn't taste like anything. I was afraid I had a stuffy nose or a cold, but nah...the desserts were just lacking flavor. Salty Caramel Semifreddo & Pumpkin Tart

Vetri

2009-07-13T22:32:00.016-04:00

Vetri, the 10-table Italian restaurant where chef Mark Vetri creates miracles, is impossible to get into for a reason. Some say it's the best Italian restaurant in the country, and I would agree. My unforgettable evening there began when Mark Vetri himself walked out of the door to make a phone call (he then went back inside to cook my food). Not only was I excited to see him, I was eager to taste his delicacies:

Golden sweet onion crepe with white truffle fondue

Quail sausage with salt cured egg yolk, basil, and potatoes -A delicious mix of flavors, the basil was certainly the star of this dish.

Fazzoletti with duck ragu and black olives

Chicken liver ravioli with trumpet royale mushrooms - This was by far the best dish of the evening (I was so amazed that I forgot to take a picture of it). A photo would not do it justice, however, since the most remarkable part of this pasta was what hid inside the ravioli - a huge burst of flavor from the soft, tasty chicken liver that created quite a "party in my mouth." Am I sounding like a food critic yet? The delicate pasta (which is what Vetri is known for) melted in my mouth as well.

Roasted capretto (baby goat) with soft polenta

Orata in umido with mussels and fregola sardo - I loved the crispy skin of the fish (and it reminded me of the tasty orata I ate in Hawaii), but the mussels could have been larger

Chocolate polenta lava cake - A bit too bitter for my sweet tooth, but the warm liquid "lava" made up for that.

Panna Cotta

In summary, order at least one pasta dish!

Tinto

2009-07-12T19:30:00.015-04:00

Tinto is right up there with Vetri; both are my favorite restaurants in the city. I've been to Tinto twice, but the pictures and this blog entry describe my most recent experience. After eating here and at Amada, I'm on a mission to try other Jose Garces restaurants. Tapas has become one of my favorite types of cuisines over the years, and Tinto does it best. I vote Tinto over Amada because the dishes are consistently better at Tinto, and the atmosphere is less noisy and chaotic than at Amada.

Charcuterie, Serrano ham wrapped figs, Cheese - We ordered the "mixto" from both the charcuterie and cheese menu, and everything tasted delicious. The cured meats were sliced thinly; the wrapped fig was a perfect mix of sweet and salty (much better than a traditional prosciutto & melon).

Tuna Tartare: big eye tuna, pickled guindilla, chorizo aioli - they could have left the bread in the kitchen and served more tuna

Pulpo: spanish octopus, confit potatoes, lemon powder - deliciously seasoned and very soft texture (despite the bumpy scales you see in the picture!)

Lamb Brochettes: lamb loin, eggplant, bacon, sherry jus - Lamb with eggplant (usually anywhere) is something I will always order, and this dish certainly ranks high among the numerous meals I've had with the same combination. The eggplant was very soft and I loved how it was wrapped around the tender lamb so that one bite included all of the important ingredients. I also thought that the presentation of skewers in "shot glasses" was a nice touch. And as you can see from the photos, all dishes were presented very nicely, so A+ on that.

Mussels with chorizo, fries, wild mushrooms - The mushrooms were the best (from this picture). They came with roasted potatoes, shallots, and parsley, with shallots and garlic as the dominant flavors. The mussels were also very delicious, but they could have been larger (I had the same complaint about the mussels at Vetri; I like big mussels!) The fries were brilliantly seasoned, but they were dipped in lemon aioli which didn't seem to go well.

Be sure to order the Sopa de Castano (not pictured), the best soup (and perhaps dish) that you may ever taste in your lifetime. It's truffled chestnut soup, duck and mushroom hash, fried quail egg, and pistachio. The flavors are just incredible and a hint of smokiness, paired with the distinct taste of truffle, just puts it over the top.

Barclay Prime

2009-07-11T19:30:00.014-04:00

Not all steakhouses are worth the money, so if you're willing to splurge, do it at Barclay Prime. It's a "prime" steakhouse! The dining room is chic and classy, with green, squared couches and cushioned seats, old library books on the shelves, and delicate chandeliers (I wouldn't expect anything less from Stephen Starr).

Oysters and Caesar Salad - There were three different types of oysters, and while all were delicious, one type was especially plump and tasty (sorry, I forget which one!) I'm new at eating oysters, and these were certainly good ice breakers. Speaking of which, they were presented on a perfect block of ice. The caesar salad was excellent, not drenched in dressing and extremely flavorful; lettuce was crisp and fresh (and in small pieces, which I like).

"Choose your weapon."

16 oz. Dry-Aged NY Strip - Their signature steak and quite a hunk of meat, it was savory, tender, well-seasoned, and juicy. Leftovers heated up fairly well the next day!

Toasted Peanut Butter S'mores - These are not mushrooms, but marshmallows on top of a brownie, graham cracker, and peanut butter ice cream - I would have preferred the ice cream by itself; nothing else in this dish was nearly as impressive.