Fall 2016 Dining Guide

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October 12, 2016 34st.com

DINING GUIDE FALL 2016


fall 2016 dining guide

DINING GUIDE

table of contents 3

Mission Taqueria

4

Destination Dogs

5

Tiki

6

Burger Roundup

9

MilkBoy

10

Delivery Roundup

11

The Dutch

13

Assembly Rooftop Lounge

14

Reading Terminal

18

Spread

19

Lou Bird's

21

ICI Macaroon

22

BYO Roundup

24

Butcher Bar

25

ITV

26

Food Trends

28

Royal Sushi

29

Di Bruno's

30

The Restaurant School

31

Hangover Roundup

FOOD BABYFROMTHEEDITOR

As one of my cringeworthy early 2010s Facebook statuses read, “If you don’t like where you are, move. You are not a tree.” Through the process of compiling this Dining Guide, I have discovered what I have always known to be true: Middle school me was incredibly wise and social media savvy. Directing Street’s semesterly Dining Guide for the first time has reminded us not only how many activities Philadelphia has to offer (read: food), but also how much more there is to life than crying into my Sweetgreen Harvest Bowl while trying to protect my Huntsman GSR. We get so trapped by the confines of the “Penn Bubble” that we forget we are in one of the nation’s biggest cities. Not only are there 10,000 other students around us (even when it feels like there are only 100), but also there are over 1.5 million non–Penn beings that share this space. Philly is probably one of the most overlooked cities on the East Coast, but just last year, claimed the sixth spot in the Washington Post’s 10

34TH STREET MAGAZINE Sarah Tyree, Dining Guide Editor Madison Visco, Dining Guide Editor Emily Johns, Editor–in–Chief Mikaela Gilbert-Lurie, Managing Editor Giulia Imholte, Audience Engagement Director Jeffrey Yang, Design Director Remi Lederman, Design Director Corey Fader, Photo Director Zack Greenstein, Design Editor Nadia Kim, Design Editor Sofie Praestgaard, Design Editor Carissa Zou, Design Editor Julie Chu Cheong, Photo Editor Alex Fisher, Photo Editor Brinda Ramesh, Photo Editor Sara Thalheimer, Copy Director Annabelle Williams, Copy Editor

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Best Food Cities In America. Lucky for us, this city is our oyster, and we’ve searched every inch to bring you the best (oysetrs or otherwise). Whether it’s escaping to Old City for a killer croissant and good vibes (p. 21), Ubering to South Philly for the brunch of your dreams (p.11) or just walking a few blocks west for a nice meal (p. 30), there is so much more to this city than streets 33rd through 41st between Pine and Chestnut. So next time the crippling anxiety of exams starts making you feel as though the walls are closing in around you or the Smokes’ crew gets a little too incestuous, take a walk, grab an Uber, rent an Indego bike—do whatever you need to in order to get away. And if you aren’t convinced yet, just keep reading.

Morgan Potts, Copy Editor Kyler McVay, Copy Editor Perren Carillo, Copy Editor COVER PHOTO: by Isabelle Zapata from Sugar Philly Contacting 34th Street Magazine: If you have questions, comments, complaints or letters to the editor, email Emily Johns, Editor–in–Chief, at johns@34st.com. You can also call us at (215) 898-6585. To place an ad, call (215) 898-6581. www.34st.com ©2015 34th Street Magazine, The Daily Pennsylvanian, Inc. No part may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express, written consent of the editors (but I bet we will give you the a-okay.) All rights reserved. 34th Street Magazine is published by The Daily Pennsylvanian, Inc., 4015 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19104, every Thursday.


ON A MISSION

DINING GUIDE

MISSION TAQUERIA 1516 Sansom St. @bamphilly

TL;DR: Trendy trendy trendy. Come here if you want to do the young adult version of SABSing.

Who said SABSing only happened in college? By Johanna Matt–Navarro| Photo by Alex Fisher Ten doors down from the storied Rumor Nightclub sits Mission Taqueria. One of Rittenhouse’s many upscale eateries and awash in a glow of young professionalism, this new Mexican restaurant looks to be the trendiest thing we’ve seen since Adidas Superstars and ironic baseball caps. The restaurant, accessed by a narrow stairway up from Sansom Street, opens into a large airy space, with a bar, large communal tables, more traditional restaurant seating and an area with foosball tables and shuffleboard. In the middle of the space, there’s an outdoor sunroom with plants,

a bench and (of course) a Madonna (Ed. note: the Virgin, not the pop singer) statue with a neon halo. Thi place was made after someone’s idea of a chic millennial dreamscape. We start off trying Esquites ($5), mostly because (classic millennial?) it was the cheapest thing on the menu. Basically the bowl form of elotes, this was a bowl of corn with queso fresco and cheesy, creamy, lime–y sauce. While the dish didn’t look great, it was a spot–on savory starter. For one of our main entrées, we chose one of their ceviches,

DON'T MISS: Playing a

breakneck game of foosball.

SKIP: Going when you’re

actually hungry—the portions won’t do much for you.

Coctele de Mariscos ($12). It ended up being decent, but not mindblowing, and more importantly (in our minds, at least), was very, very small. We all know small portions are a classic Rittenhouse move, but still—it felt more like a modest appetizer than a meal. For the other plate, we tried their Grilled Wild Shrimp Tacos ($14). These were good but, like the ceviche, a little

forgettable. Our server also brought out homemade hot sauce (which comes in a honey bear bottle, for reasons that remain unclear), which made them a little more interesting, but still nothing amazing. Overall, Mission Taqueria is a fun, interesting, space, but a very average culinary experience. If you’re looking for some authentic Mexican food, you might want to go elsewhere,

WHEN TO GO: After your job for drinks with your young professional friends! Or something.

$$$$$ but if you’re looking for the #vibes, it’s worth it (and their happy hour scene looks poppin'). Come here if you want a taste of the young professional lifestyle that awaits the chosen few after graduation.

$9.99 Fajitas - Thursdays 5pm - 10pm Philly’s Best Burgers!

40th and Spruce Streets, University City T: 215 382 1330

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DESTINATION DOGS:

DINING GUIDE

THE WORLD IN WEINER FORM

New jersey based sausage specialty restaurant opens first Philadelphia outpost. By Liz Heit| Photo by Liz Heit The large bar–restaurant Destination Dogs, named for its breadth of wieners, sausages, hot dogs and veggie dogs from the US and from around the world is a phenomenal spot to hit up after work for some drinks and a dog. Its new Philadelphia location is its first expansion from its original New Brunswick, NJ location, and the restaurant not only serves adventurous wieners, but also has awesome specialty cocktails and a good variety of arcade games to steal your quarters for when you’ve had one too many of said

THE PRETZEL ($5.50): The classic Philadelphia snack just didn’t blow me away. Had I purchased it from a vendor on 11th and Walnut streets where Dogs is located, I would’ve been dazzled. The restaurant–style pretzel was not anything special, but definitely a great way to

cocktails. Be sure to show up with an empty stomach—each dog ranges from $7–12 and is topped with ample ingredients. The appetizer menu and sides are not excessive, but the dogs menu has nearly 40 different hot dog–style dishes inspired by states across the US and international destinations. The restaurant may not be the most sustainable by the time another economic decline comes around, but for now, it’s a delightful joint to go to for a massive lunch or dinner.

game in summer mixed with a Hanukkah celebration in winter. It was a tad salty, but that’s to be expected with any dog, especially a kosher one. Much tastier break up the drinking that’s THE HEBREW HAMMER than Hebrew National with an bound to happen at this place. It DOG ($6.50): even greater snap in every bite. was quite salty, though, and the Had to return to my roots on Unfortunately, I dropped the side of artificial cheese was much this one, and the all–beef kosher dog on my lap and went home more notable than the side of dog certainly did my Jewish heri- with mustard stains on my dress. spicy mustard—but both deliv- tage justice. Topped with mini Worth it. Geshmak (Ed. note: ered some much–needed flavor. latkes, grilled onions and spicy Apparently this means delicious brown mustard, the hot dog but I may be the only person at smelled and tasted like a Mets Penn who didn’t know that), as they say.

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and flavors were abundant and delightful. The bun on this one was a bit more toasted and delivered a great crunch to contrast with the soft ingredients of the dog. The classic wiener–style dog was just what the doctor ordered. Definitely go for this one if you’re not into adventurous dogs—like the python or kangaroo meat options.

LE POUTINE DOG ($10): An onslaught of the old–time ultimate comfort food, Poutine (Le Poutine, for those less THE POI BOY DOG ($9): familiar). It was a gluttonous One of the better culinary combination of duck sausage, experiences I’d had in awhile. rich brown gravy, French fries The Hawaiian–themed wild and cheese curd. By far the richboar sausage was topped with a est dog I ordered, and I barely super–sweet teriyaki sauce, pine- made it through. Not one to apple relish and Dijon honey be called a quitter, however, I mustard, plus extra meat in the soldiered on and ate every last form of pork belly. The relish morsel. Poutine, a dish native is not aptly named, as it was to Quebec, is typically just fries, more like a pineapple chutney— gravy and cheese with the ocreminiscent of a Thanksgiving casional addition of beef. I guess style cranberry sauce alongside our Canadian neighbors have a savory meat. All the buns are more to offer than just Drake custom–baked to accommodate and Bieber. the heavy or light aspects of each dog. This particular bun was TL;DR: A hot spot for a vaributtery and rich, holding all of ety of hot dogs but probably not its contents in place. A deep con- economically sustainable. trast from the previous Kosher DON’T MISS: The Poi Boi dog, but delectable nonetheless. Hot dog. SKIP: The pretzel. There are THE CLEO MCDOWELL better carbs out there, like the DOG ($7.50): hot dog buns. A slight adaptation of a classic WHEN TO GO: After work ballpark frank. It had a combina- for Happy Hour. tion of cheese sauce, slaw and LOCATION: 1111 Walnut St. onions. The variety of textures $$$$$


DINING GUIDE

MIDTOWN’S TIKI

By Genny Hagedorn | Photos by Brinda Ramesh

SURF’S UP SUMMER YEAR–ROUND

If you’re still in denial that summer is over, venture down to 13th and Drury streets and hit up a place that offers you a slice of paradise no matter the season. Meet Tiki: Philadelphia’s newest rooftop bar that serves up boozy tropical drinks and delectable small plates. The brainchild of owners Jim Heusiler and Jason Evenchik, the aptly–named establishment seeks to embody “tiki culture,” an Americanized take on Polynesian art and mythology. I know, I know. You’re probably thinking, “What good is a rooftop bar in nippy fall weather?” Fortunately, manager Coleman Yunger assured me that he and the owners plan on heating the outside space, either with an insulated tent or a fire pit, when the temperatures start to drop. Regardless of the set–up, you’ll be able to go apple–picking at Linvilla and still get your luau on.

THE DRANKS:

red curry $10) sizzled with spicy flavor on tender meat kabobs, It’s safe to say these were not while the barbecue pork buns the watered–down drinks you might find at some on–campus (pork belly, pickled mustard greens, cilantro, peanuts, $9) establishments. Here we were, were a contrast of crunchy, at 5 p.m. on a Sunday, sipping nutty goodness wrapped in on “The Zombie” (Captain the doughiest bun you’ve ever Morgan white, gold, meyers dark, apricot brandy, 151, pine- seen. We topped it all off with two deliciously savory orders apple, papaya, grenadine, $15) and a “Pineapple Crush” (Faber of dumplings—the edamame vodka, Creme de Cacao, banana dumplings ($7) and the fried pork dumplings ($7). Word to rum, lime, pineapple, $13), a the wise: They’re called small unique take on the classic piña plates for a reason, so you might colada, and honestly feeling have to order several orders of quite alright. Yunger admits Bao buns to really feel full. that, when designing the drink menu, he wanted alcohol–heavy concoctions without sacrificing THE TAKEAWAY: You’ll come for the drinks, balanced flavor. Simply put, the stay for the food and come drinks were meant to be “fun back again for the good vibes. and well–done.” Our taste buds From the impressive surfer and livers certainly agreed. mural on the first floor, to the bamboo–lined bars and THE FOOD: ubiquity of tiki totems, this Tiki may be a bar first, but bar will transport you far, far its menu, inspired by Hawaiian, Thai and Indonesian dishes, away from midterms, finals packs the same delicious punch and maybe even Philly itself. as its drinks. The beef satay (Thai Imbibe and vibe, my friends.

’ Everyday

Happy Hour 5-7 PM

Margarita

$5 Pineapple, Lime and Watermelon Margaritas

M O N DAY

$5 Wings All Day

Taco

all Day

T U E S DAY

Funday S U N DAY

$2.50 Tacos $2 Tecates All day $2 Tecates $5 Margaritas & Wings $6 Sangria & churros $7 Wine & veggie nachos

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DINING GUIDE

STREET'S 2017 BURGER ROUND UP:

Spoiler alert: burgers with bacon are always better. I consider myself a true burger aficionado. I can’t think of anything I love more than a perfectly cooked, thick slab of ground beef atop a fluffy, absorbent bun. I reviewed five burgers on campus with varying results. Each burger received two scores: Bang for Your

227 S. 20th Street castadivabyob.com 215.496.9677 Tues - Thurs: 5pm - 10pm Fri - Sat: 5pm - 10:30pm 6

Buck and Taste.

CITY TAP HOUSE – CITY TAP BURGER, $15

The highest scoring burger on the list, and for good reason. The patty was thick, well seasoned and made from high–quality beef (black angus, to be exact). The melted cheddar paired perfectly with the “secret sauce” (think Big Mac sauce but better). The pickled red onions on the burger provided a nice crunch, though there could’ve been a few more of them. This burger gets such a high Bang for your Buck Score not only because it’s delicious, but also because it’s gigantic and comes with a good amount of fries. Overall, a great burger.

Locally sourced ingredients, fresh pasta made in-house. 15% discount for Penn students Tuesday - Thursday

(with an order of at least one entree)

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Taste Score: 9/10 Bang for your Buck Score: 9/10 Total: 18/20

POD – THE POD BURGER, $13.5

I bet you didn't know Pod made burgers (Ed. Note:

We didn't). Although only served at lunch, the Pod Wagyu beef burger is a winner. The use of sharp cheddar was a nice touch, though it was the bun that really stood out. The brioche was both fresh and absorbent—essential for a burger this juicy. Instead of offering fries, the Pod burger comes with a generous serving of tempura–fried vegetables. That being said, the burger is lacking something… bacon, maybe? Despite the fact that Pod is considered overpriced by many students, its burger took the top spot in the the Bang for your Buck category: well priced, comes with a different but satisfying side and tastes great. Taste Score: 8/10 Bang for your Buck Score: 9.5/10 Total: 17.5/10

BABY BLUES – THE WILLIE BROWN BURGER, $10.59 Blues is a staple of my Penn diet. Having said that, Blues was better when I was a freshman. Back in the day, fries automatically came with the Willie Brown burger. Now, you have to shell out an extra $4, hence the slightly lower Bang for


DINING GUIDE

NOT ALL BURGERS ARE CREATED EQUAL

By Tobias Milligan | Photos by Brinda Ramesh your Buck Score. Fry debacle aside, the Willie Brown is delicious. Served on an NFL plate (Ed. Note: WTF is an NFL plate?), it is a perfect example of what a greasy burger should be. The patty is thick, the cheese American and the bacon cured with maple syrup. The salad is served on top of the patty which allows the burger juices to soak into the brioche below. The burger beat out the Pod burger in Taste thanks to the bacon and fried onions served on it, but the it falls down in the Bang for your Buck category. Blues, do us a favor and include fries! Taste Score: 8.5/10 Bang for your Buck Score: 7.5/10 Overall Score: 16/20 WHITE DOG CAFÉ – GREEN MEADOW DOUBLE CHEDDAR BURGER, $20 Going in, I expected White Dog’s Green Meadow Double Cheddar Burger to be my favorite. I’ve had it many times, and have always thoroughly enjoyed the experience. That said, on this occasion, it was extremely average. The bun was delectable and the cheese clearly high quality, and while the bacon mayo was a good addition, it could have benefitted from more bacon flavor. This burger’s downfall was its bun/lettuce arrangement. The brioche was not fresh, and since the salad was placed under the burger the juices were unable to soak

into it. The burger did come with parmesan truffle fries, which admittedly were the best fries offered out of all of the burgers, but they weren’t enough to boost this burger’s ranking. Overall, the burger was fine. Maybe the chef was having a bad day, but I was not happy paying $20 for a burger that I knew could be better. Taste Score: 6/10 Bang for your Buck Score: 6/10 Overall Score: 12/20

SHAKE SHACK – DOUBLE SHACK BURGER, $9.59

Look, Shake Shack isn’t quite In–N–Out (Ed. note: Thank God for that), but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to eat it twice a week… minimum. The burger is very tasty, but slightly on the greasy side. The yellow egg bun, however, absorbs all that extra grease and creates the perfect bite.The sauce is delicious, but the cheese could be better. Put bluntly, it’s just cheap American cheese. In terms of Bang for your Buck, the Shack Burger scores poorly. It doesn’t come with fries, and $10 for what is

essentially a fast food burger is too high. Overall, it’s a tasty burger and a winner when hungover, but needs to be $2–3 cheaper. Taste Score: 7.5/10 Bang for your Buck: 3/10 Overall Score: 11.5/20

Plant Based Food, Right In University City.

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DINING GUIDE

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MILKBOY

The ambience of MilkBoy’s new South Street location is lively and hip—a bar aesthetic with a coffee shop vibe. The outside of the restaurant is chalky black with the name painted on in milk–white boldface type. The monochrome is a welcome beacon of modernity in an otherwise dated neighborhood. We take a look at the menu as chef Chris Beyer greets us. He may be down to earth, but make no mistake, he has trained with the renowned chef Jose Garces, and the MilkBoy menu is his latest personal masterpiece. We start off with small plates, though that could easily be considered a misnomer. The portion sizes are generous to say the least. There are few greater

DINING GUIDE

Chef Chris Beyer's new location is udderly great. By Natalia Sanchez–Nigolian | Photos by Brinda Ramesh

pleasures in the culinary world than bacon, but when the much hyped Bacon Bowl ($9) was set before me, I was wary. A slathering of bacon is appealing in the morning, or maybe at midnight, but at 4 p.m. I wasn’t so sure. Serving bacon on its own is a bold statement, especially when it is infused with flavor that cannot be explained by its pairing. My reservations proved unfounded. The bacon was crisp at the edges but un–charred. Glazed with honey, the texture was a beautiful wedding of sweet and savory. For added decadence, the dish is accompanied by a light yet creamy buttermilk ranch, though I preferred the bacon on its own. Biting into the habanero chicken wings ($11), I was pleasantly surprised to find the

intense heat nicely offset by a hint of honey. The wings are made in confit with 50% duck fat, giving them a juiciness that complemented their perfect, golden crunch and an intense flavor. The soft flesh underneath is delicious in and of itself, but the combination of habanero and honey brought an interesting kick. If you’re into the more mainstream flavors, the buffalo flavored wings were just as good and more basic in case you’re still reeling from the orgasmic bacon. The main dishes here come with fries that are somewhere between the skinny fries served at high end restaurants and the soft doughy fries you get at diners. They come with a variety of dipping sauces: a vinegar soy vinaigrette, a cactus dijon,

a thousand island sauce and, my favorite, the house specialty Tommy Sauce. Don’t ask, just dip, savor and repeat. As for the entrées themselves, the Chicken Cheesesteak is better in theory than in execution: A bit dry, but easily improved by a dunk in the Tommy Sauce.

MILKBOY

401 South St

TL;DR

Fun, hip cafe for small plates and fries.

DON'T MISS: The bacon and fries with the bowl Tommy Sauce.

SKIP: The bigger entrées. $$$$$

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DINING GUIDE

Say hello to food made easy Order on the go for pickup at Select* Penn Dining locations. Use your PennCard or credit card. Download Tapingo today to get started! *Starbucks, Tortas Frontera, Joe’s Café, Accenture Café, Beefsteak, and the Salad Bar @ Houston Market

Wait less. Live more.

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DEVICE TO DOOR The Objective Guide to Philly’s Best Dining To Door Apps

By Dani Blum

Delivery apps are a God–send. I’m not ashamed of milking every free promo I can—begging friends for their UberEats codes, signing up for email lists of InstaCart coupons. Here’s my take on the best of the best: The apps designed to save you from getting hangry in VP. Postmates: The beautiful thing about Postmates is that the app doesn’t just bring you food. Yes, you can get your fix of restaurants from Chipotle to Parc, but you can also take advantage of the Postmates General Store—sending calculators, Benadryl, sunscreen, even contact solution to your door. Postmates has a $3.99 flat delivery fee, which can get frustrating, but I’ve never encountered a delivery person who wasn’t extraordinarily friendly (maybe because most Postmaters bike, rather than drive. The power of endorphins, everybody). I opted for a Wake Up smoothie (spinach, strawberries and banana, for $4.95) from Fuel, a trendy health store downtown. The delivery person came right to VP—meaning I didn’t even have to step away from my Poli Sci notes long enough to ask the girl next to me to watch my stuff. Dreams do come true.

Don’t miss the chance to order Dim Sum Garden’s famous soup dumplings—they’re just as good without the side of Franzia. Promos to try: $0 delivery on the first order. GrubHub: Ah, GrubHub. The love story between Penn and GrubHub has blossomed throughout the years. In 2014, the delivery service even claimed we were the “most polite” campus of food orderers. Ideal for speedy deliveries from nearby restaurants you can’t bear to walk to (Allegro will come to your door in about 25 minutes), Grubhub becomes a staple in our lives when the weather gets colder and we get lazier.

UberEats: UberEats is like that Netflix show your friends keep begging you to check out, but you’ve told yourself you’re “too busy” to watch. You know it exists, but still, you let the days float on without downloading the app. Believe the hype: UberEats Caviar: is cheap, convenient and, yes, Caviar caters to more high– delicious. I used a friend’s promo end (read: farther away) restau- code and did some quick cost– rants, making the wait a little benefit calculations to figure out bit longer than other apps, but the maximum amount of food I is definitely worth it. You have could get on a $10 credit. (And to order foods based around they say English majors can’t do when the restaurants make math.) The verdict: A cheese pie them, which means you can’t from Villagio Pizza. The delivery plan your deliveries on college came to my door in the time it student’s schedule—i.e., no 2 took me to run a few miles at a.m. calls for mac and cheese. Pottruck and walk back home. With delivery fees ranging Helpful hint: Share your from $2–5, though, you can promo code with every groupget high quality food delivered chat you’re a part of—each time for about the price of an Uber someone uses it, you’ll get a $10 downtown, and you don’t credit. have to leave your apartment.


DINING GUIDE

PASS THE DUTCH (BABIES) By Nick Joyner and Zoe Albano–Oritt|Photos by Nick Joyner

Listen up ladies! Nestled away in scenic South Philadelphia is your new favorite brunch spot that you don’t have to feel guilty Ubering to, given it’s in Pennsport. Though the ride was a bit longer and the food a bit pricier than we expected, it was well worth it. Opening up this past April, The Dutch is a beautiful breakfast restaurant on the corner of a residential area with an open kitchen billowing sweet and savory smells that made even the three–minute wait for a table unbearable. And they gave us cucumber water. No charge. We opted for an outdoor table, and were handed menus featuring selections of various omelettes, hashes, sandwiches and salads. But the real star of the menu, ladies, are the Dutch

babies. They look like a naan, taste like a thick crepe and are in fact a type of popover. They only had two options for their namesake food: savory and sweet. We opted for the sweet lemon Dutch baby, as it seemed more similar to a traditional pancake. This was for sharing, mind y’all. Between the three of us, we tried the ham and vegetable hashes, along with the huevos rancheros. The two hashes came with excellent rye toast and a hefty ratio of cheese and potatoes to egg. But the huevos rancheros were particularly special. The poached egg, guacamole, black beans, salsa, bacon and hollandaise sauce were all served in equal and beautiful portions atop a cornmeal waffle. It was the perfect, moist vessel to absorb the excess

liquids from above without getting soggy itself. All was washed down with bottomless Rival Bros’ coffee. We were surprised by how attentive the waitstaff was to all of the customers outdoors, as we were never without a voice over our shoulders asking if we wanted a refill or needed

From the Lefthand Side.

anything else. Though the menu is somewhat limited, there are no missteps in sight. The atmosphere was friendly and inviting, and the food was delicious and filling. Perfect for a Sunday Brunch with all your gay best friends.

THE DUTCH:

1527 S. 4th St.

TL;DR

It’s like eating a Sunday morning brunch on your scammer friend’s outdoor patio with hearty breakfast favorites that veer away from the dainty and an youthful South Philly urban clientele.

DON'T MISS:

The huevos rancheros and the Dutch babies. The savory–sweet pairing is key.

SKIP:

NOTHING

WHEN TO GO:

Literally any time. There’s nothing standing in the way of your gay brunch.

$$$$$

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DINING GUIDE

37th & Spruce 7AM - 5PM (Mon - Fri) Perelman Center (3400 Civic Center Blvd.) 6AM - 6PM (Mon - Thurs) 6AM - 5PM (Fri)

Organic seasonal ingredients

Juices made fresh to order

Original three day cleanse routine

All natural, locally sourced foods

GMO-free dressings

Free-range and hormone-free meats

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DINING GUIDE

ASSEMBLY ROOFTOP LOUNGE

LOCATION: 1840 Benjamin Franklin Parkway TL;DR: Overpriced but cool rooftop bar. DON'T MISS: The view of Ben Franklin Parkway. SKIP: Ordering anything. WHEN TO GO: Whenever you become a Main Line mom and decide you want a girls night out with a view, bachelorette parties, whenever you need an Insta of you and your crew on the deck looking fly.

PRICE RANGE: $$$$$

A whopping price tag for an underwhelming experience. By Hannah Noyes| Photos by Gian Paul Graziosi

Assembly Rooftop Lounge opened earlier this year, on top of the Logan Hotel on Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and although I can’t complain of the great view of the art museum, this rooftop lounge left much to be desired. In order to get to the rooftop lounge, you have to get your ID checked by an uninterested bouncer in a small hallway with velvet ropes. Maybe it’s just because we went around 6 p.m., but cocktail hour starts early in our book. Upon arrival, we did a quick scope of the layout. A long bar lit from underneath, coupled with a nice outdoor space filled with fireplaces made it look like a cool spot, but it would’ve been more at home in New

York than Philadelphia. Walking past the bar, there were small couches clustered around tables, creating little nooks for parties of ten to enjoy. What you were supposed to be doing in these nooks is still unclear, but use your imagination, people. The only other couple there was a thirty–something duo, possibly on a first date, who sat awkwardly in one of the nooks as they sipped their $22 glasses of wine. As far as drinks go, we ordered the Margarita ($16) and the Aperol Spritz ($16). Both drinks were overpriced, and were way too sweet for our liking. The margarita had an edible flower in it, a pansy, which left me wondering if it

was insulting me for my choice of beverage. Looking around the bar, there wasn’t a great selection of alcohol either, unless they were hiding it—it seemed more like you were at the home of someone who had a personal collection rather than a rooftop lounge. I’m a gin lover, and was less than pleased to see their gin of choice was Tanqueray… so boring. We decided to give their

“small plates” a chance, after all this is dining guide. We ordered the Roasted Fig and Chevre Flatbread ($15). The pizza was supposed to be topped with roasted figs, goat cheese and charred shishito pepper, but we were gypped on the pepper. Instead, we got a shit ton of micro greens on top of the sad flatbread. The succulent on the table next to the flatbread looked very

similar to the flatbread itself. My dining partner did a nice job of summing up said small plate—“aquarium food.” Overall, the entire atmosphere is extremely conflicting. While the space itself is really cool, the combination of ‘80s throwback music, overpriced, overly–sweet drinks and awkward clientele made for a weird experience.

cafe

modern Thai food

Eat-in | Take-out | Delivery Private Party Room Available! Lunch hours: Monday-Friday 11:30 - 2:30 Dinner hours: Monday-Thursday 5:00 - 9:00 Friday & Saturday 5:00 - 10:00 215-564-2502 | 105 S 22nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

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DINING GUIDE

INSIDER’S GUIDE TO READING TERMINAL

LOCATION: 51 N. 12th St. TL;DR: Go for lunch, stay to shop. DON'T MISS: IOVINE’S IOVINE’S IOVINE’S!!! SKIP: The big–ass cookie or ice cream cone and spend your money on something sweet for later (read: Amish Peanut Butter Schmeir Popcorn from Kauffman’s) WHEN TO GO: After 2 p.m. (to avoid the lunch rush) on one of the rare occasions you have at least a few hours of free time.

PRICE RANGE FOR LUNCH: $ PRICE RANGE FOR SHOPPING: Your call, man.

One girl’s mission to conquer nearly 100 food stands. By Julie Levitan| Photo by Alex Fisher

The Reading Terminal Market of 1809 consisted of outdoor sheds (“shambles”) where fishermen and farmers sold their wares, but today the few remaining fish and butcher stands are catty–cornered by places like “Condiment,” a shop where a hipster with an impeccably waxed mustache sells, you guessed it, condiments—just condiments. I can’t exactly tell you where “the best” food is, but I can tell you that if you go “just for lunch” and

that if you don’t leave with a bag of goodies, you’re missing out. #1. GET YOUR BEARINGS The labyrinth of vendors inside the market can be disorienting to say the least, so take a lap to orient yourself. Pro tip: Don’t rely on the “street signs” hung up throughout the market, they’ll only confuse you more. #2. BUT FIRST, COFFEE Make time to stop at Old City

Coffee. It’s the best in the market, as evidenced by the fact that there are two stands in opposite corners of the market, and by the fact that they have an XL size option. Fair warning, though, they only have straws long enough to reach the bottom of the medium iced coffee cups. #3 TRUST YOUR GUT (literally): Despite the fact that nine out of ten of the hot food stands will claim they are "the best," it's

Las Cazuelas Mexican Restaurant Perfect for your group’s BYO!

BYO Tequila

Check in on yelp and get

Free Margarita Mix!* *one pitcher per table

www.lascazuelas.net | (215) 351-9144 | 426 W Girard Ave 1 4 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E O C T O B E R 1 2 , 2 016

nearly impossible to determine a true front–runner. That being said, if you really need some guidance I recommend: Little Thai Stand: They make the kind of pad thai that is so fluorescently orange it almost glows (for all you newbs, this is a good thing). DiNic’s Roast Pork: You think you want a cheesesteak? You don’t. You want a DiNic’s Pork Italian. Kamal’s Middle Eastern Specialties: Basically it’s Magic Carpet with meat options, double the portions and half the price.

if you don’t want a massive deli sandwich for lunch, you can’t leave the market without buying something from one of the thirteen “Amish” vendors. My advice? Skip the “famous” 4th Street Cookie—they’re overrated—and get your something sweet at Sweet as Fudge Candy Shoppe or try one of the 20+ flavors of popcorn at Kauffman's Lancaster Country Produce.

#6: END AT IOVINE BROS. PRODUCE All caps because if I could trek to 12th and Arch streets weekly to buy produce, I would (but #4 DON'T BE AFRAID OF A LITTLE alas, even the half block walk to RED MEAT Frogro seems daunting someGive yourself a break from times). Not only do they have a your diet of Greek Lady grilled plethora of reasonably priced seachicken and take advantage of sonal fruits and veggies (and right one of RT’s meat vendors. If now, that means enough apples the goat shank at La Divisa’s is and squash to feed every basic intimidating, you’ll find Marbitch in the continental US), tin’s Quality Meats & Sausages they also have a wall of exotic to be easier on the eyes. While produce and specialty items. I'm you’re at it, buy some cheese talking white flesh dragon fruit, from Downtown Cheese or The whole sugar cane and a bunch Riehl Deli and Cheese Shop. of other plants you've only seen BYO–Bags.—if you're planning on Pinterest. Make this your last to stock up on groceries, a big stop. Spare yourself the struggle canvas bag is much more pleasant of lugging your big bag o’ vegto lug around than 45 of those gies through the market and little plastic fuckers. leave through the 11th & Filbert streets exit right behind Iovine’s. #5 DON'T MISS THE DUTCH Even


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A Beginner’s Guide to Mazat A mazat dinner is a variety of small plates perfect for sharing. We met with the owners of Renata’s Kitchen, husband and wife team Yasser Aiq and Kate Steenstra, who shared with us their ideas on building the perfect plate. Kate says to always start with something light and end with baklava. Renata’s kitchen, which is located at 4533 Baltimore Ave. , prides itself on its fresh made cuisine. While Yasser was in the kitchen

preparing our plate with flavors that take him home to Israel, we met with Kate to discuss the many items on their menu and to find out what her favorites are. According to Kate the beauty of ordering a meze dinner is having the opportunity to try a bunch of different things. She suggests that you build your plate carefully and choose a variety of textures and flavors. Below are Kate’s top choices.

KHAFIF

(LIGHT)

House Pickled Veggies The spice blend is a family secret and Yasser won’t even share the recipe with Kate.

Moroccan Carrots

MEZE

Yasser’s mother’s secret recipe.

Falafel Amjad

The Real Deal Falafel. Kate says you can’t eat Middle Eastern food without falafel.

SPREADS Baba Ganouj

This spread is made fresh daily from eggplant. There are deep roasted grill flavors along with lemon and parsley.

OFF THE COALS

Octopus

Grilled octopus is out of this world! It’s the best grilled item on menu.

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DINING GUIDE

university square for a complete list of retailers, visit

this destination district includes over 100 businesses, cultural and recreational venues, and public spaces in and around penn’s campus, along the tree-lined blocks of chestnut, walnut and spruce streets between 30th and 40th street.

ucnet.com/universitysquare

DINING GUIDE

dining au bon pain 421 curie blvd.

kiwi frozen yogurt 3606 chestnut st.

auntie anne’s 3405 Walnut St.

mad mex 3401 walnut st.

beijing restaurant 3714 spruce st.

mediterranean cafe 3409 walnut st.

ben and jerry’s 218 S. 40th St.

metropolitan bakery 4013 walnut st.

blarney stone 3929 Sansom st.

nom nom ramen 3401 walnut st.

brysi 233 S. 33rd st.

o’chatto 3608 chestnut st.

cavanaugh’s tavern 119 s. 39th st.

philly pretzel factory philly is nuts 3734 spruce st.

cosi 140 s. 36th st. dunkin donuts 3437 walnut st. federal donuts 3428 sansom st. fresh grocer 4001 walnut st. greek lady 222 s. 40th st. harvest seasonal grill & wine bar 200 s. 40th st.

at penn 1 6 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E O C T O B E R 1 2 , 2 016

kitchen gia 3716 spruce st.

pod 3636 sansom st. qdoba 230 s. 40th st. quiznos 3401 walnut st. saladworks 3728 spruce st. saxby’s coffee 4000 locust st. smokey joe’s 210 s. 40th st.

hip city veg 214 s. 40th st.

spread bagelry 3602 Chesnut st.

honeygrow 3731 walnut st.

taco bell 3401 walnut st.

hubbub coffee 3736 spruce st.

wawa 3604 chestnut st. 3744 spruce st.

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BAGELS OVER BAE GOALS

DINING GUIDE

Spread Bagelry just might change your life.

By Dani Blum | Photos by Gian Paul Grazios I’ve never been a bagel person. caters to all your bagel–eating I’m not from New York; I see preferences. Like, actually all of cream cheese as just more fatthem. Eat outside on the cute tening butter. I trekked over terrace overlooking the ever–sceto Spread Bagelry with a sore nic Kings Court, inside with the throat, a list of application dead- in–house wood oven wafting lines cramming up my gcal and the smell of rising bread or, if both literal and metaphorical you’re hungover and hoping the rain clouds above my head. I left carbs will settle your stomach, with a paper bag of pure happi- back in bed after snagging a ness. Take it from a non–foodie: to–go order. You can even turn Spread Bagelry will be your bagels into brunch with Spread’s sunshine on a cloudy day. all–day brunches on Saturday Tucked next to the Chestnut and Sunday—they’re BYOV Street Wawa, this cozy spot (Bring Your Own Vodka, what a

concept), to go with their signature spicy Bloody Marys. Spread Bagelry features Montreal–style bagels, which means they’re hand–rolled, boiled in honey water and then baked in a wood–fired brick oven. Translation: The bagels are sweeter than usual, which is a welcome addition to even savory sandwiches. And Spread takes these bagels to a whole new level, adding flavored seasonal spreads like Sweet Berry ($4) and Smoked Nova Salmon Cream Cheese ($5). It’s in their sandwich selection, though, that Spread really hits their stride—gobble The Classic (Smoked Nova Salmon and/or Whitefish Salad, cream cheese, tomato, onion, with a side of a salad,) for $11, or a Frittata Scramble crammed

SPREAD BAGELRY 3602 Chestnut St.

with eggs, cheddar, cherry wood smoked bacon, tomato and amish jam ($7.50) before the food coma settles in. I opted for a Grilled Cheese whole wheat bagel ($9.72, with tax) that seemed ready to burst out of its foil packaging. I didn’t realize what a difference the bagel itself would make—the sweetness from its honey infused bath plus the toasted texture added a new dimension to a heavenly classic. I’ve consumed a lot of grilled cheeses over my twenty years, and this was

TL;DR: Hit up Spread for bagel concoctions you’ve always needed, but never known about. DON’T MISS: The Bagel Grilled Cheese. God, that grilled cheese. SKIP: The guilt after you eat the whole sandwich in one sitting WHEN TO GO: Before Spread runs out of bagels—while the hours technically end at 4 p.m., they sometimes run out of bagels earlier in the day. $$$$$ indisputably the best: Gooey but not greasy, highlighted by ripe chunks of tomato and crisp strips of bacon. Spread, you’ve officially converted me. Bagels are where it’s at.

Live music • Film • Dance • Theater Art Education • Community October 10th (6:00 pm) Vision Driven Artist Series Monthly Workshops Workshops held 2nd Monday of each month starting in Nov. October 11th & 18th (7:00 pm) What Does Democracy Look Like? A Theatre of the Oppressed Workshop Series October 15th Punk Rope Live Certification Day-long training (9:30 am) Philly Youth Poetry Slam and Open Mic (6:00 pm) October 16th Alonely with Jenny Hill (3:00 pm) In the Sanctuary! Composing the Tinnitus Suites (8:00 pm) October 20th (7:00 pm) A Night of Crankies and Songs w/ Liz Downing and Joshua Marcus October 21st (8:00 pm) Cage, Tudor, Rauschenberg: 9 evenings October 22nd & 23rd (2:30 pm) Fun in the 18th C. w/ an Opera Folly and Ben Franklin & Friends As an alcohol-free/smoke-free venue, The Rotunda provides an invaluable social alternative for all ages.

4014 Walnut • TheRotunda.org

All-InclusIve housIng next door to penn stArtIng At $795 per month • Prime location in University City • Flexible Leases, all utilities included • 24/7 Front Desk service and security • Wi-Fi in all common areas

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On-site Theater & Café Free movies and cultural celebrations Free language classes Laundry facilities

WWW.Ihousephilly.org/housing 215-895-6540 tours Weekdays @ 2:30pm 3701 chestnut street, philadelphia

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DINING GUIDE

LOU BIRD'S TAKES FLIGHT TL;DR: A new bistro near Rittenhouse with something for everyone. DON'T MISS: The duck breast and the pork belly. SKIP: Nothing. WHEN TO GO: Any day for lunch or dinner. LOCATION: 500 S. 20th St. $$$$$

Turns out you don’t need to fly to Cuba for good pork belly. By Mark Paraskevas | Photos by Alex Fisher

When I was a kid, I was an animal fanatic, so I was pretty upset when we had to dissect a baby pig in the fifth grade. In the midst of some tears (Frank Ocean was wrong, boys DO cry) I made a proclamation to the class that I was going vegetarian. Of course, I never went past pork, but I survived until I decided to go abroad to Cuba and rationalized that pork–eating would be an essential part of my cultural immersion. It totally was—the pork there is awesome—but for those of you not ready to hop on a plane to Havana, go to Lou Bird’s and make sure you start with the pork belly ($8) like I did. Served on toast with a

delicious sorghum glaze, I devoured it along with an order of the pierogies. The latter, a twist on the Polish classic with a savory helping of duck confit added to the traditional potato stuffing and topped off with a creamy horseradish buttermilk, was an absolute hit. Our next course was the rainbow trout. The fish was fresh and flavorful, though the star of the meal was the creamy mushroom sauce in which the fish swam. But with a name like Lou Bird’s and a bird on the restaurant’s logo, I was expecting the duck breast ($24) to be the pièce–de–résistance, and I was not disappointed. The duck, combined with a chestnut purée and blueberries,

ignited every taste bud in my mouth. I haven’t even mentioned the atmosphere yet—the indoor area is quaint and complete with a bar for the 21+ crowd. We ate outside, and the location at 20th and Lombard streets is pretty and somewhat quiet given that it's just a few blocks from Rittenhouse Square. It’s still a solid place to people–watch, though, and an even better place to dog–watch. All in all, Lou Bird’s is a hit. Close enough to campus to make the trip reasonable, but far enough to feel like you accomplished something, this spot should be on your bucket list for the semester.

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DINING GUIDE

OPEN LATE & LATE NITE DELIVERY

Domino’s

TM

SUN-THURS: 10AM - 2AM • FRI-SAT: 10AM - 4AM WE MAKE ORDERING EASY! CALL DIRECT OR CHOOSE YOUR ONLINE OR MOBILE DEVICE

Smart Tablets Phones

215-662-1400

4438 Chestnut St. 2 0 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E O C T O B E R 1 2 , 2 016

215-557-0940 401 N. 21st St.


ICI MACARONS ICI Macarons opened last September in Old City, and had I not been looking for it, I may have missed it. The unassuming storefront opens to a cute and comfortable cafe. When I was there, a small group was quietly celebrating an engagement in the back while I nibbled on my treats at the small bar–top overlooking the street. While the macarons ($2 each) were a bit heavier than I was expecting and the filling more creamy than buttery, I was impressed by how well the bakery’s unique flavors came through in each bite. I began my tasting (hesitantly) with the Lychee Rose. It was a cookie I would never have selected for myself, but I was pleasantly surprised. The two, delicate flavors paired together nicely while retaining their distinct tastes. It was a good starting point—not overwhelming, but intriguing. Next, I took a bite of the pistachio (another flavor I wouldn’t have picked). I’m not a fan of pistachio flavoring, so

I was not surprised that I didn’t love this cookie. The larger issue than the flavor, however, was the cloying sweetness. I put it aside and set my sights on the neon green mint chocolate sandwich. As soon as it hit my tongue, I was transported back to my kitchen table at home with a bowl of Breyer’s mint chocolate chip ice cream before me. I saved the most aesthetically appealing for last—peanut butter and chocolate. The crumbled peanuts on top

DINING GUIDE

A taste of France in Old City. By Sarah Tyree| Photos by Sarah Tyree

provided a nice crunch to an otherwise perfectly smooth treat. A standard and safe flavor combination, the macaron nailed the balance without being too sweet. Had the server not suggested it, I probably wouldn’t have ordered the croissant. I had,

after all, come for the macarons. But wow, I was glad I did. The moist, buttery pastry stole the show. Even after sampling four macarons, I finished the entire thing. It flaked without crumbling, was flavorful without too much sugar. This croissant was easily the best I’ve had in

CAll John FOR A GOOD TIME

ICI MACARON & CAFE 230 Arch St.

TL;DR: Cute cafe in Old City with interesting macaron flavors and unreal croissants. DON'T MISS: The croissant. SKIP: The pistachio macaron. WHEN TO GO: When you need a change of scenery (and a killer croissant). $$$$$

Philadelphia. The quiet, comfortable environment would be perfect for meeting a friend or doing some work. I’ll be counting down the days to when I can get my hands on another one of their croissants.

Voted Penn’s

ROWDIEST

BYO

And experience the hype for yourself

215-467-1005 $20 to enter • Show PennCard & Pay in Cash for 8% off BIG Parties up to 300 people • no corking fee • Room rentals available

215-467-1005

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1122 S 8th Street

“In john we trust”

Schedule Your Party at

TANDOOR authentic Indian restaurant

106 S. 40th Street • 215-222-7122 • TandoorPhilly.com O C T O B E R 1 2 , 2 016 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E 2 1


BYO

DINING GUIDE

Pumpkin

Rx The Farmacy

A romantic date night with a fresh, seasonal menu. Metal bars, exposed panels and chipped mirror frames contribute to the overall rustic aesthetic of this intimate American BYOB, which is suffused with candlelight and the soft glow from wire lamps. Offering a fantastic selection for this fall’s Restaurant Week, including a delicious watermelon gazpacho, flatiron steak and vegan medley, any diner is sure to find something to be excited about. I was especially pleased to find out that every dish was made with locally–grown produce like heirloom carrots from a Lancaster farm. Pumpkin is run by Hillary and Ian, a husband and wife team who are also the restaurant’s chef and hostess, respectively. I’d give them five stars just for doing the absolute most for the customer––going

The boozy brunch of your dreams.

so far as to replace two courses on the already–fixed menu to accommodate my veganism. A great place for a date night with your SO, enjoy a nice bottle of chardonnay (stolen from Zete?) as you celebrate this BYO’s 12th birthday. And if you’re looking for the pumpkin in Pumpkin, Hillary says don’t be squashed just yet because you’ll definitely see it on the daily–changing fall menu. Price: $$$

By Perren Carrillo| Photo by Gian Paul Graziosi

Now Serving Poke!

125 S. 40th Street 215.349.9482 haistreetkitchen.com 2 2 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E O C T O B E R 1 2 , 2 016

While no one will object to Bagels and Banker’s before a darty, there’s something extra civilized about getting drunk on nice(ish) mimosas while enjoying a quality brunch. We’re lucky enough that this opportunity presents itself just a few blocks from campus at The Farmacy, where you can chow down on amazing food while you relax in a fresh and hip environment. I personally was looking for some carb–light dishes, so my friend and I split the S’mores French Toast and the bread basket. We waddled out an hour later, full and happy. The french toast was super rich— definitely don’t attempt this alone—but delicious. The bread selection changes daily, so make sure you check what

they’re serving that day. If you’re feeling a bit more creative, flip to the backside of the menu and build your own eggs benedict. No matter what you decide to eat, order a pitcher of the juice of the day of to mix with your André (Watermelon Limeade if you’re lucky like I was) and drunch away. Price: $$

By Sarah Tyree| Photo by Isabella Zapata

Square on Square

A BYO off the beaten path.

My first thought when I learned of our Square on Square BYO was “$22? This better be $2 better than Ken’s.” And in terms of food, it blew Ken’s out of the water. We were given the choice of two appetizers or an entrée off of a decent Chinese menu. I thoroughly enjoyed my General Powell’s Spicy Chicken (their taken on General Tso’s), which I eagerly ate with my real silverware, cloth napkin and wine glass. This, my friends, is luxury. It wasn’t the rowdy environment of Ken’s or Banana Leaf, but we made our own fun.

They wouldn’t give us the aux until 8:30, but as soon as we got it, throwbacks were blasted, wine was poured and glasses were broken (oops). Overall, a nice change of scenery for a BYO and actually good food, but only if you can withstand the judgmental looks from the servers. Price: $$

By Sarah Tyree| Photo by Corey Fader


ROUNDUP

DINING GUIDE

Audrey Claire

A BYO for a GNO Audrey Claire looks like a pop–up restaurant. As if the owner picked out a random corner in Center City, pointed, and said, “there’s good.” Little exists in the restaurant to make it feel like a permanent establishment––tiny space, bare walls, little decor, no hostess stand. And yet, the BYOB has existed on its little corner of 20th and Spruce streets for a little over 20 years. To maximize food ordered, we all got different appetizers and entrées. After starting off with complimentary bread that, “[had] a good amount of salt in it,” we split the seared halloumi with dates and fig compote ($11), the baby arugula salad with figs, berries and goat cheese ($13) and a rocket shrimp dish featured on

the restaurant week menu. The halloumi was by far the best of the three, a great mix of flavors and still light enough to feel like an appropriate early fall appetizer, though serving it in a bowl made it awkward to create more bite–sized forkfuls. For entrées, we tried the grilled salmon ($22), pappardelle pasta with portobello mushrooms ($18) and the chicken milanese ($22). The salmon is served with a light side of a cous–cous–like grain, a nice mediterranean take. The pasta is oily, not adequately mixed, but otherwise satisfying if not a little heavy for the season. And the only complaint to lodge about the milanese is that the breaded chicken is topped by a salad doused

ANOTHER DOPE BYO PLACE IS AT 4015 WALNUT. THURSDA, 6:30 PM. BYO PBR, WE BROKE.

in dressing, making for some soggy eating. The short venture to Audrey Claire might rack up a higher tab than your usual BYO, but chances are you don’t eat that

much good food at your usual BYO anyway. The price is well justified given quality of food and pleasant atmosphere, void of boat racing or drunken karaoke.

Price: $$$

By Giulia Imholte| Photo by Corey Fader

Really good beer

Delicious Apps Really good food and an even better

Atmosphere

Sit outside drink good wine

Come for Happy Hour

or a late night snack Open daily 11am-2am

215.388.4600 | newdecktavern.com | 3408 Sansom Street O C T O B E R 1 2 , 2 016 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E 2 3


DINING GUIDE

BUTCHER BAR: OUR KIND OF BAR Upscale barbecue restaurant opens on Chestnut. By Emily Schwartz| Photos by Corey Fader

As exciting as new restaurants with cultural cuisines or experimental fusions can be, sometimes there’s just nothing better than a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. There’s something about Mom’s cooking, Grandma’s pumpkin pie and endless turkey that always satisfies the stomach and feels like home. That’s why I was excited when I heard about Butcher Bar, a new, upscale barbecue restaurant near Rittenhouse Square. When I first walked into Butcher Bar, I was transported into what felt like an old–fashioned butcher shop meets hipster Brooklyn coffee bar. Complete with white tile, traditional bar stools and neon lighting at the entrance (hence butcher shop), the restaurant was full of 20–somethings

with tattoos and hair dye (hence Brooklyn). I wasn’t quite sure how to categorize the vibe except for the fact that I knew I liked it. Things kept getting better as I sat down to order and a meat–heavy menu was placed in front of me. Meatballs and Sausages were the two biggest sections prominently featured on the page, but I was also drawn to the meat–free snacks like Pretzel Monkeybread ($7) and Smoked Gouda Mac ‘n’ Cheese ($8). With advice from the extra– informative waiter, I opted for a combo to please both my meat–loving and carb–loving selves. First came an order of Jalapeno Cornbread topped with sliced scallions. I was relieved that the cornbread wasn’t too spicy when I sunk

my teeth into its rich, buttery texture. The peppers added the perfect subtle kick to what might otherwise have been a not–so–noteworthy dish. Next came The American ($10), my choice out of the four meatball options on the menu. The dish came with three turkey meatballs topped with mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy and a cranberry chutney garnish. If the menu’s patriotic feel didn’t already having me thinking of Thanksgiving, this dish certainly did. The turkey and cranberry pair felt familiar, but the presentation felt fresh, and I was happy to taste a delicacy that typically comes only once a year.

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2206 Washington Ave, Philadelphia | (215) 546-7301 2 4 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E O C T O B E R 1 2 , 2 016

Take a break

The highlight of the meal by far was the Sweet Potato Skillet. To say I nearly fainted when the piping hot plate filled with sweet potatoes, toasted marshmallows, candied walnuts and a sweet brown sugar sauce arrived at my table would not be an exaggeration. The side felt like a holiday dinner happening in my mouth. Only open since labor day, Butcher Bar still has to work out its kinks. I wish the restaurant stuck to its classic American favorites where it’s clearly the strongest instead of trying to experiment with Greek and Italian style dishes. I’m still unsure what to make of the atmosphere. But all that aside, none of it bothered me enough to distract me from what the restaurant did best–

downright high–quality homestyle cooking. I’ll definitely be back.

BUTCHER BAR

2034 Chestnut St.

TL;DR: A butcher–themed restaurant in Rittenhouse Square with classic American favorites like turkey meatballs, mashed potatoes and the sweet potato skillet of your dreams. DON'T MISS: The sweet potato skillet (have I mentioned this enough?). SKIP: The Greek, the House Pasta, anything that veers from the more traditional options. WHEN TO GO: When you’re counting down the days to Thanksgiving in April. $$$$$


IN THE VALLEY

DINING GUIDE

Located in East Passyunk, Top Chef winner Nick Elmi’s new bar ITV is a hidden gem. The lights are low and the seats are few, with 12 at the bar and a limited number of small tables in the back if you plan on eating more than just a small snack along with your cocktail. In a word, it’s sexy. The name stands for In The Valley, which is what Passyunk means in the Lenape language. The drinks range from their Courier cocktail (Trinidad Rum, Tarragon, Sparkling Wine, $10) to an assortment of wines and beers by the glass and

bottle, and their food is tapas styled new American. While it may not be filling as a meal, the plates are refreshing with a twist as the Smoked Trout Rillette ($8) came with pumpernickel soldiers, and the Grilled Lamb Rib ($16) was topped off with benne seeds. The crowd ranges from diners in their twenties hanging out in the dimly–lit bar to older men drinking, eating and talking business at a banquet in the back room. Music plays in the background, but the ambiance doesn’t call for you to go dancing to it.

The new IT(V) Place in East Passyunk. By Hallie Brookman| Photos by Gian Paul Graziosi

IN THE VALLEY

1615 E. Passyunk Ave.

DON'T MISS: The Chouquettes ($7). A sweet dessert made fresh with concord grape, pastry cream, and hibiscus. Pair it with a

glass of Temet, Sauvignon Blanc Klassik, Sudsteiermark, 2015 ($14) and you are in for a treat. SKIP: The Chicken Liver ($7). Prepared in between a stroopwafle, the dish has a strong, game–y taste to it.

WHEN TO GO: 5 p.m. for their Happy Hour or 9 p.m. on a Thursday night. Check it out if you’re looking to get out of the Penn bubble and grab drinks with some friends in a sleek, hip new spot.

$$$$$

Brick Oven Pizza All Day Delivery Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Late Night Cold Beer (Can be Delivered)

Open 24/7 3942 Spruce St. | 215.382.8158 www.allegropizza.com

Sitar India

Open 6 Days a Week (CLOSED TUESDAYS) • FREE Delivery • Lunch and Dinner Buffet

Present your Student ID for

10% OFF!

(215) 662-0818 | 60 South 38th Street O C T O B E R 1 2 , 2 016 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E 2 5


#TRENDY

DINING GUIDE

Philly's hottest eateries to up your Insta game.

By Alix Steerman & Jamie Gobreski| Photos by Corey Fader & Julie Chu–Cheong

MAC MART 104 S. 18th St.

Mac Mart’s specialty mac and cheese combos are definitely something to go crazy for. Right when I walked in I could smell the deliciousness. The place is cute and quaint; it only has a few seats but is very clean and well decorated. After perusing the menu, I decided to order “In the Buff” ($10), which is one of their featured items and includes their classic mac and cheese

SWEET CHARLIE'S 711 Walnut St.

mixed with buffalo chicken and buttermilk ranch, and then topped with potato chip crumbs. When I took my first bite, it blew my mind. I’ve never been a mac and cheese aficionado, but I was positive that this stuff could beat the powdered cheese and microwave thing any day. However, as good as it tasted, it would’ve tasted even better if the price was right.

In my opinion, the prices are a little high, especially compared to common campus mac and cheese vendors like Wawa and Allegro. The large serving sizes and richness of the mac, however, make it ideal for sharing with a friend or a lover (if you’re in to that sort of thing). Even after sharing, if you still find yourself too full to finish, you could easily pop that pasta right into the microwave (it’s served in a microwaveable dish) and make some really goud(a) leftovers. So, when your tummy starts to grumble and you become a hangry muenster, head down to Rittenhouse and hit up Mac Mart! Their specialty combos and “make your own” options will be sure to fulfill your cravings.

32 Brand new one-bedroom units

43rd & Sansom Streets • Opening soon!

Laundry room & Indoor bike storage! 215.222.0222 www.apartmentsatpenn.com 2 6 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E O C T O B E R 1 2 , 2 016

The ice cream at Sweet Charlie’s is made by chopping up the flavors of your choice into a milky ice cream base that is poured onto a frozen circular pan. The combinations range unusual: On the menu is everything from nutella banana; blueberry matcha; donut and coffee grounds; to acai berry, banana and granola. My choice was the the mint oreo, which was made by literally placing a mint flavored oreo on the pan and mincing it to distribute it among the ice cream. After watching the ice cream freeze, form, spread like icing and then be rolled into its classic shape, I was told to choose from unlimited toppings. Now, at any given ice cream shop, toppings are always unreasonably $.50 more (excuse me, a single strawberry and 12 chocolate chips are not worth one dol-

lar!). So unlimited toppings to me are a BFD. At first I was paralyzed by choice, but then saw the wonder in loading up my rolls with no less than oreo crumbles, chocolate chips, chocolate sauce and of course whipped cream. What can I say? Call it joie de vivre—really, an expression quite appropriate for this whole experience. Let’s be real here: Everybody you know has taken this picture. I posted a picture on my Snapchat story when I went and got at least three replies, all variations of calling me #basic. And you know what? I didn’t care. The ice cream at Sweet Charlie’s is damn delicious, and there is absolutely something to be said for watching it be made right in front of your own eyes. Coming in at a flat $7 including tax, a trip to Sweet Charlie’s is definitely worth it.


DINING GUIDE

POKE BOWL 958 N. 2nd St.

At 5:30 p.m. on an overcast Friday afternoon Poke Bowl is empty, save one customer. It is a slow day because of the rain, manager Mustapha tells me. Poke Bowl (pronounced “po–kay,” for all of you who quietly mumble a different pronunciation each time) opened earlier this year in Northern Liberties at 958 N. 2nd St. to the delight of Instagram accounts near you. When ordering, you have the option to customize your bowl with a base of rice or salad, a protein (choose from tuna, salmon, albacore, shrimp, octopus or crab) and a marinade. We went with the most popular pre–made salad, the “House Classic.” The bowl comes out artfully prepared, almost too beautiful to consume. After ogling at the curated dish and snapping the requisite pics, we dive in.The cohesiveness of the different

flavors and textures is notable—the soft avocado, crisp and spicy radish, the salty raw fish, working together to make each bite burst with freshness and flavor. Essentially the bowl is deconstructed sushi, but heartier and more dynamic. The dish excels in combining simple, colorful and fresh ingredients with exciting spices and elements like edible flowers (which doesn’t hurt your IG game, either). If you’re looking to up your Instagram game, the easy to get to location, delicious and healthy ingredients, and artfully crafted bowls definitely make Poke Bowl worth the trip. At $9.25 for a small bowl and $11.50 for a large, you aren’t setting yourself back by much more than a Sweetgreen salad and your followers will know just how cool and hip you are.

CONGRATS TO OUR OWN MIKAELA GILBERT–LURIE FOR WINNING THE 2016 BOBBY FISCHER NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP!

Welcome

Order online Dinner Buffet CLASS OF- $12.95 for Pick-up or delivery For Fast Delivery Call 215-386-1941 Student Discounts Lunch Buffet - $9.95 Exp.2/23/12 4/11/12 Exp.

2016

Available with Valid I.D.

Exp.2/23/12 4/11/12 Exp.

For Fast Delivery Call 215-386-1941

$10 off

hair coloring! (with participating stylist)

Buffet • Drinks Specials • Take-out

Welcome

Closed Mondays

Walk-ins welcome! Exp.2/23/12 4/11/12 Exp.

CLASS OF

2016

For Fast Delivery Call 215-386-1941

SATURN CLUB HAIR SALON Exp. 4/11/12

Exp. 2/23/12

For Fast Delivery Call FREE On215-386-1941 Wednesday, LIP or BROW WAXING

Friday & Saturday

with your $25 - $45 haircut

Monday - Saturday | 10am- 6pm | 3426 Sansom St. | 215-387-8981 O C T O B E R 1 2 , 2 016 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E 2 7


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$295,344 $295,344 $295,344

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AN INSIDE LOOK AT DI BRUNO’S

DINING GUIDE

The gourmet cheese shop you have to visit. By Caroline Harris| Photo by Cory Fader

TL;DR A slice of Italy in Center City. DON’T MISS: All of the cheese. SKIP: The vegetables. WHEN TO GO: An afternoon you don’t have class. LOCATION: 1730 Chestnut St. $$$$$

* Free admission before 1am with Penn ID *

Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays 11pm - 3:30am | 21+ to enter

Book Your Exclusive Event at Club Pulse Drink specials available for private parties info@pulsephilly.com

1526 Sansom St. | @PulsePhilly | 215-751-2711 Seventy–five years ago, the DiBruno brothers landed on Ellis Island. Afterwards they wound up in Philly, where they opened a family grocery store in the Italian market. Fifty years ago, Danny DiBruno went to Switzerland, sampled the world’s best cheeses and transformed Di Bruno’s into a gourmet cheese shop. Today, Di Bruno’s is known for its cured meats, pasta, bread, aged provolone and artisanal Italian cheeses. I figured that Di Bruno’s must be called the “House of Cheese” for a reason, so I set aside an afternoon to go on a cheese tour of Italy in my own backyard. Make no mistake: Di Bruno’s did not disappoint. It was love at first sight as I walked down the aisles—my grocery cart overflowing with marinara sauce, pesto sauce, candied walnuts, heirloom tomatoes, prosciutto, rotisserie chicken, asparagus, fusilli and farfalle. But then I found the Disneyland of cheese counters. There were huge wheels of provolone,

gouda, cheddar and gruyere— all bathed in tantalizing golden light. I befriended the cheese expert behind the counter, Joe. He gave me every cheese sample I could possibly want. I started my tasting with a light, flaky parmesan—the ideal topping for the marinara pasta I would have that night for dinner. Next I moved onto a soft, fudgy brie, a sharp cheddar and a sweet, fruity gouda. Joe told me he couldn’t be friends with anyone who likes mild blue cheese, so I ended my cheese tour with a sharp, salty blue cheese. I exercised great self–control as I walked past the dessert counter—a decadent display of carrot cakes, cheesecakes, fruit tarts and chocolate mousse. As an added bonus, because I have resting niceface, the grocers called me sweetheart and encouraged me to come back for more free samples. The “House of Cheese” may have been born. seventy–five years ago, but Center City has been a better, yummier place ever since.

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DINING GUIDE

THE RESTAURANT SCHOOL AT WALNUT HILL COLLEGE

S TA U R A N T ★

BES

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T D E S S E RT M E N S E B U★

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Penn students seldom see reason to venture farther west than 40th and Walnut streets, despite the plethora of affordable restaurants within comfortable walking distance. The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College serves as a perfect example of this tragedy. Located at 42nd at Walnut streets, its entire campus is dedicated to the art of the restaurateur. There are four majors within the school: Culinary Arts, Pastry Arts, Restaurant Management and Hotel Management. It boasts four restaurants, a pastry shop and bar, as well as six kitchens, all of which serve a different purpose. And you can eat a three–course meal for $25. A vital component of an education at Walnut Hill College is hospitality, so your waiter will be a student. This makes for an interesting experience— at regular restaurants your waiter is probably not in the profession because they have a passion for carrying plates. In short, the staff are polite, and they will bring you as many baskets of bread and butter as you ask for. We got three. We sat in the European Courtyard. Named for its atmosphere, there is a fountain, a high ceiling and string lights. We tried the squid and the lettuce wrap, the Coq au Vin

NC

S

Enrolling at Penn was a huge mistake. By Stephanie Barron| Photo by Brinda Ramesh

Y★ BE ST CRÊPE

S

FOR RESERVATIONS CALL

215-592-1392

MONDAY: NOON – 10PM TUESDAY – FRIDAY: NOON – 11PM SATURDAY 10AM – 11PM SUNDAY 10AM – 10PM

NOW OPEN MONDAYS HAPPY HOUR: MONDAY - FRIDAY 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

3 0 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E O C T O B E R 1 2 , 2 016

MONDAYS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS TUESDAY–THURSDAY 7:30–1AM FRIDAY & SATURDAY 7:00–2AM SUNDAY 7:30–1AM

CABARET HOURS

CREPERIE HOURS

www.creperie-beaumonde.com

and their suggested Mexican dish. The coq of the Coq au Vin (in french that means chicken in wine) slid right off the bone and was definitely the highlight of the meal. Despite the fancy presentation and the white tablecloths, the food itself was simple. And despite an underdone potato or two, the meal was impressive for both the price and the fact that it was cooked by students. My class assignments never taste this good. We ordered dessert too, but all the bread, chicken, squid and more bread prevented us from really enjoying the caramel bread pudding and the crème tart. That’s the other thing about The Restaurant School—the portions are not as pretentiously small as you might expect of a place that lays out their food so beautifully. So when you go, pace yourself. Order one fewer bread basket than you think you can handle and havce a few drinks between courses. Your stomach will thank you. You can also register for cooking classes here. The curriculum includes Comfort Food 101, Date Night: Tacos and Margaritas, Food Trucks 101 and Knife Skills. Prices vary from $45 to $425.

DON’T MISS: The Coq au Vin. SKIP: The third bread basket, if you have the willpower. TL;DR: Huge portions of fancy food for little money only two blocks off campus.


DINING GUIDE

HANGOVER EATS FOR THE MORNING AFTER The best foods to get that taste of regret out of your mouth. PLENTY CAFE

Plenty Cafe is the epitome of hipster chic—the perfect camouflage for your disheveled, hungover aesthetic. The Pancetta Hash Sandwich ($10) is everything you dreamed about in your drunken haze and more. It may not be ideal for those hesitant to take a less–than–sexy bite, but let’s be honest, odds are you’re in sweats and wearing sunglasses inside, anyways. To sober up, nothing beats sinking your teeth into perfectly toasted, warm ciabatta. The bread provided an excellent sponge for the oozing yolks of two soft poached eggs and bacon grease. Served with refreshing side salad and watermelon, Plenty Cafe’s Pancetta Hash Sandwich is the ultimate hangover meal in a relaxing atmosphere (if you can make it there).

HANGOVER SPECIAL AT BUI’S

The first thing I noticed about the BUI’s truck is the overwhelming smell of goodness in the air. As I got closer to the truck on the corner

By Claris Park, Natalia Sanchez–Nigolian, Sarah Tyree| Photos by Brinda Ramesh and Pranay Vemulamada

of 38th and Spruce Streets, I realize that the sun is way too bright, the sidewalk is a lot closer than I think it is and my stomach is growling and rocking at the same time. When I get to the truck, the nice lady laughed at my obvious state of hangover, but almost magically produced my order instantly (I’m sure it took a couple minutes but like, what is time?). The Hangover Special is like any standard breakfast roll, but it’s not. It has sausage, bacon and ham wrapped in eggs, nestled into a hot bun that is chewy, fluffy, crunchy all at the same time. You can get it with either ketchup, which is a solid choice, or with BUI’s sauce, which seems to be a mixture of mayo and Sriracha sauce and is clearly the better choice. The greasy spiciness and bread are perfect for absorbing the remnants of last nights Long Islands sloshing around in your stomach. At $6 for one, it’s great to pick up the next time you have a hangover and are looking for a quick fix to be presentable for that early morning board meeting (literally who keeps scheduling

these?) You can also call or text in your order before you walk over if you’re sober enough to dial (856–630–7269)!

GOOD KARMA

Good Karma is the perfect place to flee after a rough night out when you need to avoid an embarrassing DFMO: It’s far enough out of the way to escape the standard Penn crowd, but at 24th and Walnut Streets, it’s close enough to walk to. Serving everything from your basic BEC to Vegan Tofu Scramble, this hipster hideout has something for every hangover craving (including salads, if you’re one of those people). I ordered the “Cool as a Cucumber” bagel ($4.25), which was a solid bagel (though the cream cheese was a bit heavy), and it had cucumber and tomato, so it was basically a salad. Overall, a nearby but different option for a hungover bite to eat.

ONE OF THE AREA’S MOST COMPLETE LOCK SERVICES

PHILADELPHIA’S COMPLETE LOCK SERVICE 24 HourMOST Emergency Service

Residential & STREET Commercial • PHILA 31 SOUTH 42ND Locks Repaired/Installed 215.386.2929

Autowww. Locks • Bike Locks.com • Safes WestPhillyLock

24 HOUR Serving West Philadelphia, 215-386-2929 EMERGENCY SERVICE Center City & Northern Liberties Residential • Commercial • Auto • Locks Installed & Repaired

31 S. 42nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (Between Market and Chestnut) O C T O B E R 1 2 , 2 016 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E 3 1


DINING GUIDE

Now Open @ 36th & Chestnut St!

America’s First Montreal Style Wood Oven Bagels Rittenhouse Square

Open 7am-4pm, 365 Days/Year 262 S. 20th Street 215.545.0626

University City

Open 7am-9pm, 365 Days/Year 3602 Chestnut Street 215.222.0283

Breakfast. Brunch, Lunch, Dinner & Catering Coming Soon to University City - Spread Bar! SpreadBagelry.com - Info@SpreadBagelry.com | Fast Delivery Via Postmates.com!

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