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NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA: AN AMAZING PLACE TO EAT On The Menu: Uzbek, Thai, Middle Eastern, Chinese, Brazilian & American Fare

PHILADELPHIA, April 9, 2019 – Philadelphians call the large outcropping of neighborhoods at the top of the city’s border “The Great Northeast.” The area gets its name from its size: the Northeast comprises 38% of the city’s footprint and is home to a quarter of Philadelphia’s 1.5 million residents. But these days, the remarkably diverse area between North Philly and suburban Montgomery and Bucks counties is equally great for its singular dining scene—easily one of the most diverse in the country.

According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 21% of Northeast Philadelphia residents are foreign-born. This data follows a rich tradition of new Americans in the area: In the early 20th century, settlers from Ireland, Italy and Eastern Europe laid down roots and built row homes that still define the residential landscape. A June 2018 study by the Pew Charitable Trusts showed that working- class families from around the globe—Afghanistan, China, India, Russia, Uzbekistan, Vietnam—continue to gravitate to the Northeast. With them come vibrant culinary traditions.

Northeast Philly has destination-worthy American restaurants, from old-guard to new-school (The Dining Car, Northeast Co., Sweet Lucy’s). Just as strong—if not stronger—are restaurants that represent its newer populations. There’s Middle Eastern (Al-Sham, Bishos), South American (On Charcoal, Picanha), Asian (China Gourmet, House of Thai, Nam), Caribbean (Būccann, Miracles Jamaican), not to mention an expanse of eateries representing Italy (Gino’s, Macaroni’s, Moonstruck) straight across to Eastern Europe and Central Asia (Chaikhana Uzbekistan, Georgian

Bakery & Cafe, Suzani Restaurant).

Here are some restaurants that make the Great Northeast’s dining scene pretty great: American Cuisine: • The Dining Car – This throwback diner is a Northeast Philly landmark, cranking out comfort- food classics on Frankford Avenue since 1960. French onion soup, creamed chipped and Jewish apple cake continue to please traditionalists, while a wide-reaching menu, coupled with ever-changing specials (plus a liquor license), keeps the old haunt fresh. With all baking done on the premises, the Dining Car is also a worthy stop for sweets. 8826 Frankford Avenue, (215) 338-5113, thediningcar.com -more-

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• Gallo’s Seafood – The Galloway clan’s family restaurant is a Northeast success story, growing from a humble takeout spot to a 340-seat neighborhood hub for nearly 50 years. The simple, affordable East Coast fish house menu is timeless—meals begin at the raw bar before heading towards classics (deviled crab cakes; clams casino) or nouveau dishes (blackened fish ; seared sea scallops with mushroom barley risotto). In 2010, Gallo’s added an adjacent Burger Bar complete with outdoor patio. 8101 Roosevelt Boulevard, (215) 333-0484, gallosseafood.com • The Grey Lodge Pub – Established as a bar in 1950, the Grey Lodge began pouring craft beer in 1996, when it came under the ownership of proprietor Mike “Scoats” Scotese. Banking on small breweries years before it was de rigueur, he grew the humble establishment into a pioneering pillar of Philadelphia’s craft beer scene—and a solid restaurant in its own right, serving pierogi, burgers, tacos and weekend brunch. Taking place every Friday the 13th, “Friday the Firkinteenth” is a calendar-dictated celebration that features a selection of ultra-rare cask ales. 6235 Frankford Avenue, (215) 856-3591, greylodge.com • Northeast Sandwich Co. – What this unassuming corner shop lacks in square footage, it more than makes up for in bold, creative sandwich craft. Though many grab and go, diners who choose to eat in can tuck into chef Kris Serviss’ potato-bunned Nashville hot chicken, garlicky Italian pork or a pork belly Reuben from a cozy window-front seat. 1342 Bleigh Avenue, (215) 904-6086, nescophilly.com • Sweet Lucy’s Smokehouse – Brooke and Jim Higgins got into barbecue in 2003, starting out with a . In 2005 they converted an old warehouse into a sunny, smoke-perfumed room equipped with a full bar, adding a private catering room in 2016. The husband-and-wife team draws from slow-and-low traditions spanning Carolina (hickory-smoked pulled pork), Texas (beef , chopped or sliced), Memphis (baby back ribs) and beyond. 7500 State Road, (215) 333-9663, sweetlucys.com • Three Monkeys Cafe – Opened in 2005 by a trio of Northeast natives, this down-to-earth bar and restaurant at SEPTA’s Torresdale Station invites patrons to “eat, drink and be monkey,” with seating options that include an old-fashioned pub room, a nostalgic dining room and a lively alfresco patio that exudes a laidback Key West vibe. With live music, loads of craft beer on draft and a kitchen that riffs on crowd-pleasing pub grub, it’s an oasis for the brain, right off the train. 9645 James Street, (215) 637-6665, 3monkeyscafe.com

Caribbean Cuisine: • Miracles Jamaican – Teeing up true Caribbean flavor on an already-diverse strip of Castor Avenue, Miracles satisfies hankerings for Jamaican staples: stew chicken, curry goat and “the best patties in town” (favorites being spicy beef or veggie). Perfectly grilled over hardwood, the jerk chicken tastes best over a heap of rice, peas and cabbage. 6635 Castor Avenue, (215) 342-3513

East Asian (Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese, Thai) Cuisine: • Ateethi – Ateethi specializes in the cooking of Kerala, the coastal state of southern India whose cuisine stands apart from the northern offerings at many of Philly’s Desi restaurants. Signatures include flaky, multi-layered (flatbread); generous filled with spicy chutney, chili and cheese masala; seekh (cylindrical spiced ) and “Devil Fish,” a fiery Sri Lankan stir-fried seafood favorite. 9321 Krewstown Road, (215) 698-6113, ateethi.com -more-

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• China Gourmet – A fast-paced 400-seater just off of Roosevelt Boulevard, China Gourmet is one of Philly’s premier halls. Rolling carts stacked with all manner of dumplings, buns, seafood, meat and other Hong Kong-style treats attend tables in an enormous dining room, complete with functional fish tanks and a giant projection screen playing Chinese movies and TV. The restaurant transitions to its traditional menu by late afternoon, where stir-fried lobster, Peking duck and crab meat-fish maw soup are just the start. 2842 Saint Vincent Street, (215) 941-1898, phillychinagourmet.com • House of Thai – Surprising Southeast Asian fare is the specialty at House of Thai, set in a classy but unstuffy white-tablecloth room in Mayfair. House specialties include chicken coconut soup; green or red curry duck; and pineapple fried rice with meat or seafood. The three-course lunch special, which runs under $15 a head, is a tremendous value. 3520 Cottman Avenue, (215) 708-8799 • Pho Nam – Vietnamese is but the beginning at this popular pho parlor. Hungry visitors can also dip into ample appetizers—the Triple Delight consists of beef-stuffed grape leaves, grilled pork, sugar cane-skewered shrimp—vermicelli bowls and hefty meat-and-rice plates. 501 Adams Avenue, (215) 728-0288, phonamphilly.com

Eastern European Cuisine: • Chaikhana Uzbekistan – Open in the Northeast since 2006, Uzbekistan is ideal for group celebrations, especially if there are meat lovers in the party. Traditional flavors from Uzbekistan, Georgia, Ukraine and elsewhere in Eastern Europe/Central Asia abound: Go-tos include the centerpiece leg of lamb; -like chebureks, deep-fried pockets stuffed with minced meat, cilantro and onion; and an array of hearty kebabs grilled over live charcoal. It’s a bring-your- own-bottle (BYOB) spot, and vodka is usually the bottle of choice. 12012 Bustleton Avenue, (215) 671-1990, uzbekistan-restaurant-restaurant.business.site • Georgian Bakery & Cafe – An exciting confluence of European, Middle Eastern and Asian influences, the food of Georgia is among the more underrated cuisines in the world—and it’s on display in Somerton. This is a carb lover’s heaven, turning out fresh shoti, ham-stuffed lobiani, cheesy and other native styles from bulbous, 900-degree brick ovens. The BYOB’s menu reaches beyond bread, too, to include plenty of traditional meat, seafood and vegetarian entrees. 11749 Bustleton Avenue, (215) 969-9900, georgianbakerycafe.wixsite.com/georgianbakerycafe • Mom-Mom’s Kitchen – In 2017, Kaitlin Wines and Ryan Elmore expanded their small-but- scrappy Eastern Euro food cart into a brick-and-mortar BYOB in the proudly Polish Bridesburg neighborhood. That mobile kitchen still vends, but the restaurant has given the public more of a chance to sample their handmade pierogi, golabki (stuffed cabbage) and sauerkraut, plus inventive specials both sweet and savory. 2551 Orthodox Street, (215) 613-7781, mommomnomnom.com • Passage Restaurant – Devotees of the Ukrainian culinary tradition find their way through energetic Passage in the Bustleton-Somerton shopping center, where the kitchen interprets traditional Eastern Euro flavors through a stylish lens. More recently, the same ownership team has introduced Royal Passage, a bigger restaurant with a flashier nightlife approach, a short drive away. Passage Restaurant, 10783 Bustleton Avenue, (267) 538-4157, facebook.com/Passage- Restaurant-152920678240265; Royal Passage, 9309 Krewstown Road, (267) 994-4903, facebook.com/royalpassagerestaurant -more-

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• Suzani Restaurant – Delivering what might be the most visually stunning dining space in all the Northeast, this “art cafe” is draped from wall to ceiling with Uzbek tapestries and carvings (suzanis). The restaurant nails the details along the taste side of the equation, too, serving up shareable platters, like unconventional kebab (sturgeon, ) and the house special baked lamb, known as Suzani Delight. 1916 Welsh Road, (215) 676-2121, suzaniartcafe.com

Middle Eastern Cuisine: • Al-Sham Restaurant – The wide-spanning menu features , burgers and wings, but locals know the real reason to frequent this Oxford Circle mainstay is the homey Middle Eastern food. Al-Sham, the historical name for the Levant region, features halal recipes from all over the Middle East and South Asia—, , mixed-grill, and more. 6738 Bustleton Avenue, (215) 332-5000, alshamrestaurant.com • Bishos Middle Eastern Cuisine – A family-owned cafe and bakery open from morning to evening in Roosevelt Mall, Bishos hits the staple categories (shawarma, hummus, foul moudamas, kebab) while leaving room for harder-to-find delicacies popular in Palestine. These can include recurring specials like mansaf (yogurt-cooked lamb, pine nuts, almonds and rice atop flatbread); knafe (Akkawi cheese and semolina dough, baked then drenched with sweet syrup); and other made-from-scratch sweets. 2329 Cottman Avenue, facebook.com/bishosmiddleeastern

Italian/Italian-American Cuisine: • Macaroni’s & P Square Lounge – Brothers Gianni and Davide Primavera are the owners of this Italian stalwart in Bustleton, which they purchased in 1993 and methodically upgraded over the past quarter-century. What was once a ho-hum red-gravy joint is now an ambitious upscale- modern Italian-American restaurant, complete with a glass-enclosed, plant-filled patio/cocktail bar and an adjoining pizzeria. 9315 Old Bustleton Avenue, (215) 464-3040, macaronis.net • Moonstruck – This charming, intimate Italian restaurant has been providing Fox Chase with sumptuous and elegant entrees since 1979. Note for the thrifty: Though it has a lovely wine list, Moonstruck allows diners to BYOW (wine) on Wednesdays and Sundays; a special prix fixe menu is available every day. 7955 Oxford Avenue, (215) 725-6000, moonstruckrestaurant.com

South American/Pan-Latino Cuisine: • Broncos Brazilian Steakhouse – Sleek, rustic and reasonably priced, this BYOB rodizio ups the stakes with its all-you-can-eat meat (and buffet) concept. Regulars praise the , garlic beef, chicken hearts, goat stew with yucca, fresh fruit, fruit juices and flan. 7634 Castor Avenue, (267) 686-8788, broncosphilly.com • Būccann Restaurant and Rum Bar – A hopping restaurant, bar and late-night spot with a sleek, nautical theme, Rhawnhurst’s Būccann takes a pan-Latin approach to cocktails and cooking. Margaritas and mojitos accompany eats from Cuba (ropa vieja), the Dominican Republic (bistec salteado), Mexico (carnitas tacos) and elsewhere. 7254 Castor Avenue, (267) 686-2961, instagram.com/buccannphilly • El Balconcito – This Lawncrest dining fixture has two distinct dining experiences under a single roof: Portuguese and Peruvian. This means intrepid eaters can cover the considerable distance between Lisbon and Lima in a single meal, pairing pepper- and onion-smothered bacalao asado and Portuguese-style grilled steak with ceviche mixto and pollo a la brasa, Peruvian rotisserie chicken. 658 East Godfrey Avenue, (215) 342-2340, elbalconcito.com -more-

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• On Charcoal – Fans of succulent, marinated meats cooked over a live fire find much to like at this Colombian destination, which opens bright and early for breakfast and rolls through BYOB lunch and dinner. Orders of stuffed and chori-criollas (Colombian chorizo with fried potatoes) are a proper lead-in to smoke-kissed ribs, steak or chicken. 6516 Castor Avenue, (215) 613-8933, oncharcoal.com • Picanha Brazilian Steakhouse – The mom-and-pop counterpart to the corporate-owned Brazilian steakhouses populating Center City, Picanha carves a variety of churrasco-style meats tableside, accompanied by a fully stocked buffet of vegetables, and sides. Saturdays mean homemade feijoada, a slow-simmered, soul-stirring pork and black bean stew. 6501 Castor Avenue, (215) 743-4647, picanhagrill.com • Taqueria del Norte – Mexican food is not typically associated with this part of Philly, but this relaxed sit-down is doing its part to add south-of-the-border style to the Northeast. This is a non- traditional taqueria by design, slinging tortillas filled with General Tso’s chicken, fried Brussels sprouts and Cajun-spiced mahi-mahi. They also offer Tex-Mex , like nachos and “fancy cheese” . 2859 Holme Avenue, (267) 538-4788, facebook.com/Taqueria-Del-Norte-268221967132901 • Tio Pepe – Though it’s of the Portuguese persuasion, Oxford Circle’s Tio Pepe spans the Iberian Peninsula with its menu, complementing standards like sauteed bacalhau (salt cod) and chourico assado ( set ablaze tableside with combustible brandy) with Paella Valenciana and Zarzuela de Mariscos, a seafood-stuffed tomato stew. 6618 Castor Avenue, (215) 742-4775, tiopeperestaurantbar.com

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