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Brunch, Cuban, Food, French food, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Blogs, Seafood, Steak

Stephen Starr’s Greatest Restaurants (Philadelphia, USA)

July 17, 2013 No Comments

If there is one name that every foodie knows in Philly, it’s Stephen Starr. With tons of restaurants all over the east coast, Starr has really made a name for himself. This is especially true in Philadelphia, the city with the biggest variety of restaurants owned by him. Each restaurant is completely different in atmosphere, food, and clientele, but they all provide an experience that you won’t forget. Since there are so many to choose from, and some are definitely better than others, it’s always nice to know which should be the first ones you check out.

1. Parc

I have been to Parc many times over the past few years. As a self-proclaimed Francophile, it is one of my favorite Starr restaurants. Located right on the corner of Rittenhouse Square Park, with several tables outside facing the park, this restaurant strives to give customers a French Bistro experience. I have had lunch, brunch, and dinner here, and I have enjoyed my meal each time. If you do choose to have brunch here on a Sunday, I suggest making a reservation well in advance because come Thursday or Friday some of your only time options are 2 p.m., which is just a bit too late for me.

If you do have to wait though, the food is worth it. I recommend the Chicken Liver Parfait, Heirloom Tomato Salad, French Onion Soup, and the Lamb Sandwich which is my personal favorite. If you have brunch here and want a nice drink, the French is a light cocktail of gin, orange liquor, lemon juice, and sparkling wine that is perfect for the late morning and early afternoon. No matter what time you go, I’m sure the meal you get will be just as satisfying as the ones that I have gotten here.

2. Alma de Cuba

No Starr restaurant has blown me away more than Alma de Cuba. I came here for the first time with a group of girlfriends and we all loved the food. Some of the dishes we ordered for main courses were the Rum Cured Duck Breast, Sea Scallops, and the Cuban Shrimp and Grits. Since we all tried each other’s dishes, I can attest to the fact that all of the meals were incredibly appetizing and left us sated, especially the heavier shrimp and grits dish. If you want to try more than just the main meals offered here, the Sweet Plantains are delicious and make you feel as though you’re really eating in Cuba. As always, when I went, I left room for dessert and so did my friends, so we tried both the Chocolate Cigar and the Coffee and Donuts. Both were sweet ends to the night and we ended the meal on a high note.

3. Butcher and Singer

Butcher and Singer is a restaurant for those who are passionate about steak and are willing to pay top dollar for it. If you are one of those people, there is no better place to get a steak in the city. I always go for a nice medium rare Filet Mignon, and the ones here are so incredibly tender that it’s like cutting through butter. All of their sides are a la carte, but if you only want one, it has to be the Stuffed Hash Browns which go well with any steak dish. There are some fish dishes on the menu, but for you price you are paying for the food and the glamorous marble that surrounds you, this restaurant best caters to the steak-lovers out there who are looking for a trendy night out.

4. The Dandelion

This restaurant is by far one of my favorite Starr restaurants when I think about overall experience. Personally, I found the dogs that decorated the walls of one room cute and I think they added character to the restaurant. While the atmosphere does remind one of the United Kingdom, the food also adds to this atmosphere as well. To start, we ordered the Butter Lettuce Salad and the Terrine of Hen, Ham Hock and Foie Gras. While these two starters were good, out of the two, the terrine is not to be missed as it is an incredibly flavorful dish. As both a lamb and a meat pie lover, the Lamb Shepherd’s Pie I received here was delicious and filling. The food here clearly has an emphasis on English pub food with an American twist to it, so there is something on the menu for everyone. I have a whole list of foods that I now hope to try there including the Rabbit Pie, Bangers and Mash, and Sticky Toffee Pudding, a dessert I ate many times while I was in the U.K.

5. El Vez

This Mexican restaurant is by far one of the more laid back Starr restaurants on this list, nevertheless it still offers up good food. Some things that my friends and I always start out with are the El Vez Guacamole and one of the salsas, more often than not the Cactus and Crab Salsa. After that, it’s up to you and your preferences as to what Mexican dish you want to get, but I know that both the Carne Asada and the Pibil Pork Tacos are amazing. All of the meat I have had here is tender and I haven’t complained yet. The restaurant gets especially lively on days such as Cinco de Mayo, which isn’t really my scene, but if margaritas, sombreros, and a large crowd are your thing, you may want to check this place out on that date!

There are tons of Starr restaurants in Philly, and I haven’t heard bad things about any of them, but this list is a good starting point if you haven’t been to one of his restaurants before. If you are a seasoned Starr diner, I’m sure you have your own top five list. Starr restaurants have all delivered on quality and experience when I have been to them, and I’m sure that level of quality isn’t changing anytime soon.

Asian, Food, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Blogs, Seafood, Sushi

Philly’s Best Sushi Restaurants (Philadelphia, USA)

July 14, 2013 1 Comment

People who know me are well aware of the fact that if I had to choose one thing to eat for the rest of my life it would be sushi. When I was recently in London, I ate sushi three days in a row because I hadn’t had any since I had left for Spain in January. While I loved that sushi was so popular in London, I missed some of my favorite sushi places in Philadelphia. Since I have tried so many places out, I thought I’d share my list of the top places to get sushi in the city.

1. Fat Salmon

Whenever I go out for sushi, at least one of my rolls has to have some salmon in it, and I can’t imagine a better place to get salmon than a restaurant that is named after the fish. My friends and I tried this restaurant out this past winter, and we all loved it. I ordered the Spicy Tuna Crunch Roll, the Philly Roll, and a serving of the Salmon Sashimi. Philly rolls are one of my favorites; I loved the roll here because it came with the traditional smoked salmon and cream cheese, but also had asparagus in it which added a new element to it.

The interior is like many other sushi places in the city: small with a modern look to it. Since it is so small I would suggest making reservations or coming early. Either way, I think this restaurant serves up some really good sushi at a reasonable price and I imagine I will be returning sometime soon.

2. Vic Sushi Bar

I have been to Vic Sushi Bar once before and I know that Tala has also given this place a positive review. If you’re in the Rittenhouse area, this is the place to go. I especially like this restaurant because the menu consists of mainly sushi and sashimi, whereas many other restaurants try to cater to people who are not fans of sushi. The fish is really fresh and the sushi is fun and inventive.

When I went, I ordered the Sansom Roll, which I thought was appropriate seeing as my friends and I were right on Sansom street. This roll consisted of shrimp tempura, crab stick, and avocado, and was topped with a number of things, including salmon and eel sauce. I would definitely order it again, but since there are so many neat rolls on the menu, it will probably be awhile before I manage to do so.

3. Pod

Pod, a restaurant opened by Stephen Starr, is certainly one of the larger sushi restaurants in Philly. The modern atmosphere draws in the young, hip crowds that like to hang out in the University City area. This modern atmosphere is reinforced by martinis with names like Blue and Orange. However, the menu is extensive and there is much more than just sushi on it. When I went, I got the Rainbow Roll and the Calamari Salad.

The Rainbow Roll was very good and I loved the Calamari Salad with its lemongrass dressing. Oftentimes, I get two rolls when I go out for sushi, but I feel so full afterwards, so the light calamari salad was a nice way to help fill me up without making me feel stuffed. It may not be the first sushi place that I think of when I want to get some, especially since it’s on the pricier end of sushi in Philly, but it is a nice place to check out if you’re in the area.

4. Umai Umai

This restaurant is another winner in the Philadelphia area. While it is a pricier restaurant like Pod, this place is BYOB and has some amazing sushi. Located in the Fairmount area, this tiny restaurant has a strong following of customers. I was brought here by a friend, and the two rolls that I heard consistently mentioned by people who had eaten here were the Traffic Light Roll and the Godzilla Roll. I only ordered the latter of the two when I went, but it was one of the best rolls I’ve ever had. I’ve never come across another roll like it as the Godzilla Roll included shrimp tempura, eel, avocado, honey and, most shockingly, strawberry. This has been one of the most creative rolls I’ve ever had, and I can’t wait to go back and try the Traffic Light Roll!

Out of the sushi restaurants I have tried in Philadelphia, these four places are the best. Sushi is one of my favorite foods, and I’m always looking to try out new places and new rolls. I’m sure there are dozens of others out there waiting to be discovered, and I can’t wait to try them!

Fast Food, Food, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Blogs, Summer

Top Five Cheesesteaks (Philadelphia, USA)

July 11, 2013 3 Comments

Although there are tons of great places to eat in Philadelphia that could satisfy any foodie, no food divides the people of this city more than the famous cheesesteak. Before I came to Philly, I liked cheesesteaks well enough; after I decided to study here, I became both passionate and knowledgeable about them. I now understand that the normal cheese for these subs is whiz, not provolone, and that the best cheesesteaks are minimal in the amount of extras they have. They might not be the fanciest of foods, but they are able to satisfy any homey, greasy craving. I’ve tried dozens of cheesesteak places by now, and here’s my list of some of the best ones.

1. Tony Luke’s

I love the food at Tony Luke’s. While the rest of the places I’ve listed below have great cheesesteaks, Tony Luke’s is my one of my absolute favorites. Although I will admit that my favorite thing at this restaurant is the signature roast pork with broccoli rabe, the cheesesteaks this family-owned business offer up are also fantastic. Right on Oregon Avenue in South Philly, this place is easy to get to, but also very busy. The ideal time to go to any cheesesteak place in Philly is during the off-peak hours because sometimes you can wait up to forty-five minutes for your meal. However, more often than not, it’s worth it if you’re craving one of these popular Philly foods. I plan on visiting Tony Luke’s for a long time to come, and I think it will be even easier since I recently found out a location will be opening up near Temple University. I couldn’t be more excited to have a Tony Luke’s up in North Philly, although I’m sure my waistline will soon be disagreeing with me.

2. Joe’s Steaks + Soda Shop

This restaurant is located in the Tacony/Wissinoming area and was formerly known as Chink’s Steaks. Tala wrote a great review on the restaurant, and it seemed to change her opinion about the Philly cheesesteak.

3. John’s Roast Pork

Another great place that serves both a great roast pork sandwich and cheesesteak. I do have to say that Tony Luke’s does beat this place out a bit in my opinion! Both are located in South Philly though, so you can always just check the two out…on the same day if you’re especially hungry.

4. Steve’s Prince of Steaks

Steve’s is a great place to get a cheesesteak if you’re not in South Philly. I always visit the one on 16th Street that isn’t too far away from Rittenhouse Square. The steak is tender and juicy. I would suggest getting the double meat cheesesteak in order to really treat yourself!

5. Jim’s Steaks

One other place to get a good cheesesteak in the city is right on South Street. Even though it has also been dubbed a tourist trap by some of the residents of Philadelphia, I think unlike Pat’s or Geno’s, Jim’s actually has a reason for being so popular. They are very quick about getting people in and out of here, but still serving up a quality cheesesteaks. One of the best things that Jim’s does is put the whiz on the bread, so it’s much easier to eat than some of the places that put the whiz right on top of the meat. The one suggestion I would make would be to ask for extra whiz because sometimes the subs can come out on the dry side. Here, I always get a steak with extra whiz and fried onions because a good cheesesteak really doesn’t need much else besides these three basics. I haven’t been to any of the Jim’s Steaks besides the South Philly location, but I’d imagine that the other restaurants also offer up great cheesesteaks and I wouldn’t hesitate to try them out sometime in the future.

While my list seems a bit heavy on South Philly, it is the area with some of the best cheesesteak joints. I’ve been to all of the places besides Joe’s Steak + Soda Shop, and I have to say I really enjoy them all. My Mom hasn’t had a real Philly cheesesteak yet, so maybe next time she comes up to Philly I’ll take her to one of these places so she can have the true cheesesteak experience. If not, I’m sure I won’t have a hard time convincing a friend to eat at one of these places with me!

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