2003 Philadelphia Dining Guide
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2003 Philadelphia Dining: An Introduction Philadelphia, while famous for its neighborhoods, politics, and cheesesteaks, is not yet firmly established in the minds of PHILADELPHIA many Americans as a destination for fine dining. But that is changing. On March 13, 2002, the New York Times ran a full-page story on Philadelphia restaurants, calling them a “New Taste of Freedom” and extolling the excitement occurring at Philadelphia DINING GUIDE tables. Recently, food magazines, ranging from Gourmet and Saveur to Wine Spectator, glowingly reviewed both the neighborhood 2003 Annual Meetings establishments serving creative fresh cuisine, and exciting new ‘temples of design’ that Eastern Sociological Society feature sushi, Cuban, and French fare. And Philadelphia chefs have begun to receive Loews Hotel, Philadelphia PA prestigious awards, such as those from the James Beard Foundation and Esquire. The purpose of this guide is to offer you a brief but satisfying tour of the best dining Compiled by Philadelphia has to offer. It is quite possible Sara Rab ([email protected]) to experience a terrific meal in Philadelphia without emptying your wallet or traveling far from your hotel. You can safely assume that your culinary adventures to any and all of the restaurants included in these pages (including those in a lower price range!) will prove satiating and delicious. Please take some time out of your busy conference schedule to explore Philadelphia, and taste what we have to offer. Mangia! Explanations and Caveats Sts). Blue Mountain is a Pennsylvania winery; their Cabernet Franc is a reasonable red to Organization: bring to many BYOBs. Many bars also offer This guide is organized according to ‘carryout’—allowing you to pickup a six-pack Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. We begin with of beer to go. the neighborhoods closest to the conference hotel and continue from there. Reservations: Several of the restaurants included in this Chains: guide are quite small (with 8-10 tables) and/or In an effort to introduce you to the best extremely popular. Reservations are often restaurants unique to Philadelphia, we have highly recommended and in certain cases, it is omitted chain restaurants from this guide. necessary to make them a month or more in Several chains are located near the conference advance. Such requirements are noted, hotel, including Maggiano’s Little Italy, Corner wherever possible, throughout this guide. Bakery, and Hard Rock Café. Price: Philadelphia Liquor Laws: The prices included in this guide are based on Due to stringent state liquor laws, many the price of the entrees and do not include restaurants in Philadelphia do not have a appetizers, dessert or wine. liquor license. These restaurants, known as BYOBs (Bring Your Own Bottle), encourage $ Average entrée under $10 you to bring your own wine or beer to dinner, $$ Average entrée $10-20 and do not charge a corkage fee. Restaurants $$$ Average entrée over $20 that are BYOB are indicated as such in this guide. Please note: It is not uncommon for Philadelphia restaurants to accept cash only. You may purchase alcohol at the state-owned This policy is usually indicated at the front Wine & Spirits Shoppes located around the door and on the menu itself, and whenever city (the closest to the conference hotel is possible, it is also indicated in this guide. located on 12th St between Market and Filbert, open Monday-Saturday, 10 am – 9pm) or at the Blue Mountain Vineyards store located in the Reading Terminal Market (12th and Arch Other Dining Information Philadelphia Classics: Interested in consulting additional Philadelphia Deux Cheminees, Fountain Restaurant, dining guides and information? The following Le-Bec Fin, Striped Bass websites are a good place to start: Only in Philadelphia: Citysearch: www.philadelphia.citysearch.com Geno’s, Jim’s Steaks, Koch’s Deli, Lorenzo’s Pizza, Melrose Diner, Pat’s King of Steaks Philadelphia Magazine: www.phillymag.com Philadelphia Inquirer Restaurant Critic Reviews: www.philly.com/mld/philly/entertainment/dining/ THE GUIDE Zagat Guide: www.zagat.com Reading Terminal: A large farmer’s market located at 12th and Arch Sts (find 12th St off of Restaurant Packages1 Market St near the hotel and walk North). Similar to Pikes Market in Seattle, but with its For those in search of the best of the best, may own Philly flair, Reading Terminal is a great bet we suggest the following restaurant ‘packages’ for finding a quick takeout lunch, a dine-in designed to maximize your dining pleasure and meal, or snacks to take back to your hotel simplify your decisions… room. Don’t miss the Pennsylvania Dutch apple turnovers and pretzels at the stands run by The Best of the Best – Dean Edition: Amish families. The market is open from 8 am- Lacroix at the Rittenhouse, Morimoto, Pasion, 6 pm Monday-Saturday. A few Market Striped Bass, Vetri highlights are below. The Best of the Best – Professor Edition: Delilah’s at the Terminal. 215-574-0929. Bleu, Buddakan, Chloe, Django, Fork Southern style soul food served up in a casual atmosphere. Don’t miss the fried chicken and The Best of the Best— mashed potatoes. This café is a small branch Graduate Student Edition: of the larger (and pricier) restaurant Bluezette Carman’s Country Kitchen, Lee How Fook, in Old City. Closes at 5 pm. Cash only. $ Monk’s Cafe, Serendipity, Vietnam Down Home Diner. 215-627-1955. Great traditional down-home diner fare. Try the 1 ala Langman & Fine’s stupendous Chicago ASA pancakes. Cash only. $ dining guide 12th Street Cantina. 215-625-0321. The Tex- Lakeside Chinese Deli. 207 N. 9th St Mex food at this little cantina is largely good. (between Race and Vine). (215) 925-3288. Steer clear of the nachos and head straight for Servers don’t wheel around carts at this small the burritos, and specials like Mexican establishment, but they do serve some of the meatballs. Cash only. $ best dim sum in Philadelphia—and they offer it for both lunch and dinner. Be sure to try the Chinatown: Located in the area bounded by baby bok choy. BYOB. Cash only. $ 9th-12th Sts, and Market and Vine Sts, within easy walking distance of the conference hotel. Lee How Fook. 218 N. 11th St. (near Race). Philadelphia’s Chinatown is home to many This little restaurant offers numerous Hong good restaurants featuring Vietnamese, Kong, Cantonese and Szechuan dishes. Try Japanese, Burmese, Chinese, Thai, and the whole snapper, the salt-baked shrimp and Malaysian cuisine. the hot and sour soup. Groups can be accommodated at circular tables with lazy- Joe’s Peking Duck House. 925 Race St. 215- susans. BYOB. $$ 922-3277. This simple restaurant lacks much atmosphere, but serves straightforward Penang. 117 N. 10th St (near Arch). The only delicious Peking duck, along with other ‘chain’ restaurant featured in this guide, Szechuan and Cantonese dishes. $$ Penang has an extensive menu of largely tasty Malaysian food. You can’t go wrong with a Joseph Poon. 1002 Arch St. 215-928-9333. bowl of noodle soup and a lychee drink for Joe Poon is a charismatic chef who teaches about $10. Service is prompt, if a bit cursory. cooking classes at the Reading Terminal Cash only. $ Market and once won an award for his proficiency in carving watermelon into creative Pho Xe Lua. 907 Race St. 215-627-8883. A shapes. He serves fusion cuisine—which can favorite of Philadelphia foodies in search of mean anything from Cajun-Chinese to Italian- ‘authenticity’ and adventure, this restaurant Chinese. The vast majority of the time his serves both Thai and Vietnamese food. The efforts are successful and delicious. View the chef is very accommodating; this is a good menu at www.josephpoon.com. $$ choice for small banquet dinners—just call ahead. $ Rangoon. 112 N. Ninth St (near Arch). 215- Blue In Green. 7 N. 3rd St (near Market). 215- 829-8939. This family-owned restaurant 928-5880. This hip little American joint serves serves wonderful, spicy Burmese cuisine at great breakfast food til 3 pm everyday. Be sure very reasonable prices (the lunch specials are to try the many flavored pancakes, especially a steal). They offer many vegetarian dishes, the banana nut ones. No reservations, expect and serve great soothing soups. $$ a short line. Cash only. $ Serendipity. 1009 Arch St. 215-592-8288. A Buddakan. 325 Chestnut. 215-574-9440. At lengthy renovation produced a pleasant Buddakan, restaurateur Stephen Starr European atmosphere at this Japanese café provides a dining experience you won’t soon known both for its fresh sushi and its bubble forget. Head to the Buddha to sample Pan- teas. The menu has recently been expanded to Asian cuisine served family style in a include some Chinese offerings. Enjoy the glamorous atmosphere. One of the few terrific green tea ice cream for dessert. $$ restaurants in Philadelphia where you can enjoy a theatrical atmosphere along with Vietnam. 221 N. 11th St (near Race, East side exceptional food. Be sure to try the lobster. of street). 215-592-1163. You’ll enjoy great View the menu at www.buddakan.com. $$$ Vietnamese food at very reasonable prices at this very popular restaurant. Try the sautéed Chloe. 232 Arch St. 215-629-2337. This crawfish with black bean sauce, the baby boy BYOB is run by two terrific chefs, a husband choy with garlic, and the many rum drinks. and wife team. The food is New American, but Caution: the classic Vietnamese soup, pho, definitely draws on international flavors, leaves something to be desired here. $ including those from the Caribbean and Asia. The quiet, intimate setting is refreshing, and Old City: A neighborhood located east of the the bread pudding is heaven. No reservations. conference hotel, near the Delaware River.