Midtown Lunch

As is customary at Philly Lunch, every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Philadelphia. This week it’s Susan, a lover of meat, starches, and pumpkin pie, just don’t ask her to join you at the salad bar.

Name: Susan

Age: 27

Occupation: Financial Analyst (aka Spreadsheet Wizard)

Where in Philly do you Work?: 13th and Market

Favorite Kind of Food: 1. I don’t think I’ve ever met a potato I didn’t love, 2. Indian food made by my mother, 3. Gelato, 4. Animal products and by-products, 5. Butter, 6. Fresh tacos with cilantro, 7. pumpkin pie, 8. steamed dumplings

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I don’t really like salads. On a side note, people who order salads as their meal basically each time they go out to eat really annoy me – probably because I am jealous of their will power and abs, but mostly because they are missing out on a world of exciting eating. Also, celery makes me gag and I never get slices of tomato on my sandwiches.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Philly: If I’m in the mood for a quick burger and fries, I walk past the Wendy’s and go to Five Guys Burgers and Fries (on Chestnut between 15th and 16th). For some yummy ethnic cuisine close to Rittenhouse, I like Almaz Cafe (140 S. 20th Street). If you like lentils, order their Misir (but they also have regular cafe fare for the less brave).  If I crave soup, I run over to Grocery at 13th and Chestnut. Most of what they carry is overpriced and their staff is not particularly warm, but their soups run you about the same amount you would pay anywhere else, and they often have interesting options, like posole. The hommus with meat over at Sahara Grill (1334 Walnut) is delicious, along with their kabob sandwiches. And if you’re close to Chinatown, I would suggest stopping by Ray’s Café (141 N. 9th Street) and ordering the dumpling sampler. They’re also pretty popular for their beverages.

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? We are steps away from Reading Terminal and there isn’t a week that goes by without at least one visit. While in there, more often than not, I’m in the line at Little Thai Market.

Place you discovered thanks to Philly Lunch? I learned about the halal cart on 16th Street from this site. It doesn’t quite reach the heights of the Chicken & Rice cart in NYC, but it satisfies my craving. And I had previously known about the oyster po’boy in Reading Terminal, but only ordered it after reading your positive review

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? I would love to experience the Singapore street cart culture.

Is there anything you’d like to ask the Philly Lunch readers? Where do you guys go when you want Peruvian food?

Great question, I guess there is always Chifa, for Garces’ Peruvian-Chinese creations. But I assume you want the real deal. Any better ideas out there?

If you would like to be next week’s Profiled Philly Lunch’er (or know somebody you’d like to nominate), email me at jamie@midtownlunch.com.