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Philadelphia's Dining Scene: What's New and Notable?
Summer 2006 And Beyond
Press Release
PHILADELPHIA’S DINING SCENE: WHAT’S NEW AND NOTABLE?
Summer 2006 And Beyond
PHILADELPHIA, May 24, 2006
New On The Scene
The next biggest star of the city’s dining scene is David Ansill. Longtime Philadelphian, chef-owner of South Philly’s delightfully tiny French BYOB Pif, Ansill recently opened an eponymous and eye-catching bistro. With a serious focus on food—shirred eggs with truffles and cream, osso bucco on brioche and arugula-laced quark—and a major wine and beer list, Ansill tops summer’s must-reserve-a-table list. Also of great note: Nineteen, on the 19th floor of the historic Park Hyatt at the Bellevue, redefines hotel restaurants, thanks to giant pearls that drip from the dining room ceiling, a thoroughly luxe living room lounge and a menu of white asparagus with egg and nutmeg, veal cheeks with artichoke puree and muscavado sugar roasted apples. A little off the beaten path, Taste is a funky, art-splashed BYOB with classic to fused French cuisine—roast chicken with truffled potatoes, tuna with tropical fruit relish and lamb shank and chops over white bean cassoulet—by accomplished restaurateur Billy Wong and chef Jimmy Ng.
Nineteen
Photo by K. Ciappa for GPTMC
The Middle East Moves…West
Lit with flickering sconces and streaming Israeli hip-hop, brand-new Shouk offers customers a café-club vibe, plus innovative tasting plates such as carrot dumplings with sumac aioli and chilled watermelon and feta soup—along with fruit-flavored tobacco for hookah smoking. Amsterdam-born falafel specialist Maoz made Philly its first stateside venture, offering soft pitas, crunchy chickpea balls and unlimited salad bar stuffings to South Street’s always-hungry masses. Around the corner from the Italian Market, half-grocery, half-eatery Bitar’s makes some of the best souvlaki and Greek pastry around—and attracts a following rivaling cheesesteak-vending neighbors Pat’s and Geno’s. Also new on the scene: Divan Turkish Kitchen, a 60-seat BYOB serving lamb dumplings, stuffed grape leaves, imam bayildi and charbroiled kebabs—all prepared by Turkish chefs, including the owner’s mother.
Good-for-You Summertime Cocktails
Leave the quaffing of weighty reds and thick martinis to cooler months: Summer’s the time for beverages that are both buzz inducing and health sustaining. At the recently relocated Horizons Restaurant, drinkers sip antioxidant-rich pomegranate sangria. Old City’s Farmacia keeps ’em happy and healthy by mixing up tonics made with ingredients such as jujube, plum, ginger and gingko biloba. Neighboring bistro Fork offers wholesome libations of lemongrass lemonade and white sangria with watermelon, strawberries and white peaches. The elegant Swann Lounge at the Four Seasons Philadelphia mixes up martinis with blood orange juice or pomegranate and gold leaf.
Jewel-Box BYOBs
Although most Philly neighborhoods claim a few bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) restaurants, most also harbor a go-getter, creative—and très tiny—version. Near Rittenhouse Square, diners are more than glad to wait their turn for a plateful of Melograno’s refined Tuscan, Umbrian and Roman fare. In Bella Vista, neighbors flock into glittery, months-new, one-room Salt and Pepper for its small menu and generous helpings of four-star new American cooking. Old City boasts boisterous Chloe, with elbow-to-elbow seating, a first-come, first-served seating policy and pretence-free gourmet barbecue and chicken pot pie. B3’s fun and funky Lolita is nouveau Mexican—and offers fresh fruit mixers for diners that BYO tequila.
Up-and-Coming Northern Liberties
Just a few blocks north of Old City, Northern Liberties continues to emerge as one of the coolest places to hang out. The newest culinary news from the hipper-than-though neighborhood: artsy neighbors have been stuffing themselves with hearty breakfasts and lunches at three brand-new hangouts. The Full Plate Café serves up fried okra, chicken salad, eggplant po’ boys and mac and cheese. Year-old Honey’s Sit ‘n’ Eat is a cute Southern-Jewish luncheonette dishing out delicious challah French toast, green bean casserole and corned beef Reubens. And, a little farther west, Pura Vida offers tropical atmosphere and fare: toasted Cubano sandwiches, Guatemalan tamales and ilachitas (brisket).
Outdoor Dining
In the summer, the Philadelphia region offers out-of-doors dining spots for all types of diners:
Those who prefer to eat street side find the best voyeuristic consumption at Rouge. Perched on Rittenhouse Square, this tony bistro offers cozy tables, pristine French-inspired plates and an amazing selection of wine by the glass. Northern Liberties’ favorite spot for sidewalk scenesters is N. 3rd, where dogs are welcome and the blue-cheese burgers taste like they came straight from the backyard. In University City, the White Dog Café offers shaded tables and locally and responsibly farmed fare.
Those preferring the privacy of an enclosed patio take heart. Although in the most trafficked of areas, Le Jardin offers a secluded garden for note-perfect French fare. Bump, one of the city’s hottest gay bars has a surprisingly low-key al fresco dining room that serves funky cocktails and a new global fusion menu. Savvy, bar-centric, gourmet-friendly Southwark has a tiny, open-air side patio. A petite paved backyard behind the brownstone dining room of classic Italian trattoria Ernesto’s is truly a hidden gem, whereas the covered and elevated patio beyond the Jamaican Jerk Hut is a Caribbean party waiting to happen—just remember to BYO rum.
The third option—and a nice compromise—is outside dining with a bird’s eye view. The Moshulu, an historic four-masted sailing ship docked on Penn’s Landing, boasts a deck in the most nautical sense. Called Bongo Bar, the Moshulu’s wooden-floored, river-breezy tiers offer live bands and serious fare: bourbon-glazed pork, lobster tail and duck confit crepes. In Northern Liberties, just-opened Bussola Trattoria and Lounge promises Tuscan cuisine and gelato martinis on its ample rooftop. Still, the deck with the longest line to enter is always Continental Mid-Town, where there are always beef, octopus and thai chicken skewers on the grill, salads on the menu and martini glasses in patrons’ hands.
Brunch in South Philly
With the bustling Italian Market nearby, it’s no wonder everyone does double-duty on Saturday and Sunday mornings, fueling up on brunch before picking up groceries for the week. Hip and cheerful, Sam’s Morning Glory Diner is famous for its “glory” pancakes, homemade granola, garden veggie frittatas, silver coffee mugs—and serious waits for late risers. At Shank’s and Evelyn’s, the Perri family women take great care of their own, offering made-for-two Giambatta omelets, pork roast, eggplant parm and Texas French toast. Nearby, Sabrina’s Café attracts lines of customers for eclectic salads, thick pancakes and veggie-friendly platters. Fitzwater Café—located in a former service station—is the elegant, a.m. branch of Bella Vista’s famous Saloon restaurant. Here, find homemade muffins, fresh berries with cream and omelets stuffed with spinach and Italian sausage. Carman’s Country Kitchen, which is only open on Fridays and weekends, is the smallest—and quirkiest—of the bunch. See chef-owner Carman Luntzel for seriously belly-busting daily specials—plus “two eggs, homefries and toast” as she says—and the coziest of neighborhood vibes.
ADDRESS BOOK
New On The Scene:
Middle East:
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Shouk, 622 S. 6th Street, (215) 627-3344
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Bitar’s, 947 Federal Street, (215) 755-8445
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Divan Turkish Kitchen, 918 S. 22nd Street, (215) 545-5790
Summer Cocktails:
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Swann Lounge, Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, One Logan Square, (215) 963-1500, www.fourseasons.com
Jewel-Box BYOBs:
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Melograno, 2201 Spruce Street, (215) 875-8116
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Salt and Pepper, 6th & Fitzwater Streets, (215) 238-1920
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New in Northern Liberties:
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The Full Plate Café, Liberties Walk, 1040 N. American Street, (215) 627-4068
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Honey’s Sit ‘n’ Eat, 800 N. 4th Street, (215) 925-1150
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Pura Vida, 527 Fairmount Avenue, (215) 922-6433
Outdoor Dining:
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Rouge, 205 S. 18th Street, (215) 732-6622
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Southwark, 701 S. 4th Street, (215) 238-1888
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Jamaican Jerk Hut, 1436 South Street, (215) 545-8644
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Bussola Trattoria and Lounge, 3rd Street & Girard Avenue, (215) 922-2376
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Brunch in South Philly:
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Sam’s Morning Glory Diner, 735 S. 10th Street, (215) 413-3999
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Shank’s and Evelyn’s, 932 S. 10th Street, (215) 629-1093
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Fitzwater Café, 728 S. 7th Street, (215) 629-0428
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Carman’s Country Kitchen, 1301 S. 11th Street, (215) 339-9613
The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) makes Philadelphia and The Countryside™ a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region’s vitality. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit www.gophila.com or call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676.
Note to Editors: For photos of Greater Philadelphia, visit our Photo Gallery. On the pressroom, you can also subscribe to RSS feeds to receive updates on topics that are specifically of interest to you: What’s New, Dining, Events, Seasonal Travel, Hotel Packages and Tourism Research.
CONTACT:
Donna Schorr, GPTMC
(215) 599-0782, donna@gptmc.com
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