Midtown Lunch

Solomonov is back with another food gimmick that works too well to make you mad at it. Across from his chicken and donuts shop is the newest mini-restaurant, Dizengoff, a hummusiya. Like a savory, chick pea based ice cream shop, you get to pick your topping.  Although I am a life long member of Team Baba Ganoush, I knew this particular hummus would be a nosh worth spending my gelt on.  Dizengoff, named after a super hip shopping area in Tel Aviv, bring some hipness to Sansom Street with its open entrance, colorful tiled and mirrored walls, and baseball card ordering system. A few tables are located in front of the counter, though its more of a take out spot.

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Foods on First on Arch Street is pretty easy to walk by. I stopped in because I confused it with the place next door offering fried chicken. But once I was inside and realized my error, I already sort of felt like I had to go with it. I was the only one inside and it felt wrong to walk out, plus I figured I could find something worth eating.

Besides a slew of sandwiches, they had a list of pasta specials for lunch. I so rarely order pasta, that I was tempted.

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The Thai food scene in Philly is largely homogenous: decent, but not mind blowing food, with a 3 course special during lunch time. Take out spot Thai Singha House To go is a little different; its homier. The price of lunch from the steam table meal hasn’t changed since the place opened 5 years ago.

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When Aqua moved in to the tiny, ever changing spot on 16th Street, I thought Malaysian food would be a welcomed addition to the neighborhood, even though I had never visited the older location at 7th Street. As the space allows, it is mostly a take out spot, with one row of counter seating.

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Matt & Marie’s opened this week at 2 Logan Square, bringing a simple menu of 7 sandwiches, all $8.50, to the busy workers in the area. It is surprising to me how few solid sandwich options there are in this area. Besides Wawa and other sandwich chains, which most likely have a ton of chemicals/preservatives in their products, there are no options. Not that I am too good for a Wawa hoagie. I am not, I regularly crave the horseradish mayo spread.

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Spike Mendelsohn’s DC burger chain opened in Philly last week. I don’t know many places whose decor sense can be described as “cocky,” but this is definitely one of them. Besides the narcissistic tshirts and wall art, the next thing I noticed was the confusion around the register. We were not sure where to go to order our food at first. I can say that our food was ready quickly, signaled by out vibrating buzzer a la Shake Shack. It is hard not to compare everything Good Stuff does to Shake Shack since they are very similar in what they offer and how they offer it.

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Chinese food west of Broad street is usually a bad idea.  Although I was pretty skeptical of Jane G’s, the new lunch combos looked somewhat decent and was a closer walk compared to Chinatown.   

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