Midtown Lunch

Le Bercail is a small French-African restaurant in West Philly. Expect a menu mostly divided by mode of preparation with a grilled section, a fried section, and a saucy section. Inside are a few booths and smaller tables.  At lunch time, it was mostly empty, just us and one other table. The lack of a crowd did not help the fact that our waiter did not really understand us very well. He was not able to help describe some of the menu when we had questions, and he misunderstood my friends order; instead of bringing out 2 of the same order, he brought out one leaving us with 2 plates for 3 people. We were so frustrated we just shared.

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There is not nearly enough Peruvian food around Philly. Not even close. There is such a dearth that I have to be willing to get outside my comfort zone of the city to find some. By the 69th St station in Upper Darby, El Sabroso sells the typical Peruvian rotisserie chicken,  “pollo a la brasa,” plus other Central American dishes. Check out the coy chicken and menu explanation, hints that a good meal is inevitable.

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My friend who used to live on South Street recommended I go with him to try his favorite local restaurant, Rio Cobre, for Jamaican food. I had previously checked out the spot and liked it when it was called Mango Bush, which also served Jamaican food.

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I got to sample it last night, thinking Dan from Lil Dan was crazy and I would have to politely tell him he has had better ideas. But somehow it was delicious. The oreo breading was not cloyingly sweet and the hot sauce was the key to balancing it all out. You are gonna want to try this.

Lil Dan’s Gourmet Truck, LOVE Park (Monday, Friday) and 33^rd and Arch (Thursday), 215-252-1677 follow on twitter @LilDansFood

I like to do some of my grocery shopping at the Asian market on 12th and Washington. It is part of a small shopping plaza, the same one that is attached to Pho 75. While walking through the plaza from Pho to the grocery store, I came across a small Indonesian restaurant I had never heard about, Java Colonial.  Full from pho, I made a note to come back with friends to try out the menu  which was full of things that were new to me.

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I had remembered being amused at the wording of Archie’s menu when Meal Ticket posted about its opening in February. “Meet”,” beacon”, a “docen” chicken wings, or “eggs in you choice” are all things you can order. But, as it turns out, the fresh Mexican plates are nothing to laugh about.

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I wanted to do a little pork taste testing in the North of Kensington area, comparing El Principe, a Dominican restaurant I enjoyed a while back, to Isla Nena, a Puerto Rican spot the next block over. Isla Nena’s slogan “sabor Boricua pa’que tu lo sepas” let us know to expect authentic Puerto Rican food. Two steam tables are on your right when you enter, but there are tables in the back for waiter service. On the menu you will find fried side dishes and meat and seafood entrees.

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