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 Rebecca, who shares a Magic Carpet obsession with her friend Rachel, who was profiled last week.

Name: Rebecca

Age: 21

Occupation: Student

Where in Philly do you Work?: University City

Favorite Kind of Food: Almost all Mediterranean. Sushi/maki, especially rolls that contain tuna. Anything with cilantro, and anything that combines peanut butter and chocolate.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I know that this kind of goes against my whole love of Mediterranean food thing…but olives.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Philly: The staff at Magic Carpet Food Cart (36th and Spruce) tends to know my favorite order by memory: tofu meatballs and hummus over a salad. But their specials are all-around pretty fantastic, as is their tempeh. Egg white omelets with goat cheese at Metropolitan Bakery (40th and Walnut) are a pretty regular Friday feature, especially because their cherry jam is incredible. If I’m feeling particularly indulgent on a weekend I’ll go to White Dog (3420 Samson Street) for their smoked salmon eggs benedict. And for a post-lunch dessert, if I’m really lucky, I’ll go for the salted caramel budino at Barbuzzo (110 South 13th Street).

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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 Rachel, repping U City and looking for some vino with her lunch.

Name: Rachel

Age: 21

Occupation: Student

Where in Philly do you Work?: UPenn

Favorite Kind of Food: Mediterranean. And chocolate. Especially dark.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Anything orange flavored, I had a traumatic experience with orange juice when I was younger.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Philly: the Lancaster omelet at White Dog is always extremely satisfying, especially on the weekends. Koch’s deli is also a treat when I’m super hungry.. and Pattaya’s lunch special is an incredible deal!

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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 Amy, who gets to plan chili competitions and is looking for the best pork in town.

Name: Amy – Amaryllis (people know me as both)

Age: 29

Occupation: Development and EventPlanner for BigBite’s Philly Chili Bowl

Where in Philly do you Work?: 36th and Market

Favorite Kind of Food: My preferences are pretty diverse, but to be specific…I am in love with pork. That’s the love of my life. However, I have a few side mistresses: cheese,charcuterie, raw fish (oysters, ceviche) and plantains…prepared in any way,shape or form.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Cucumbers. Ginger. Liver.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Philly: Sang Kee (several locations) shrimp steamed dumplings. I prefer to hop on the El and get my dumplings from the Reading Terminal Market location. They also have a great sesame chicken. New Delhi (40th and Chestnut). Thanks to my father, I can get down with buffets. They have a great $9 buffet with the Indian staples like tikka masala and mutter paneer. You also cannot go wrong with the mango ice cream. Outside of my work area, I enjoy Mixto (12th and Pine). Almost everything on the menu is very good, but the ropa vieja is great!! Pura Vida’s (6th and Fairmount) shredded beef tacos are awesome and so are the people. Morning Glory (8th and Fitzwater) does everyting well. Great cheddar chicken sandwich. For a weekend lunch, I recommend heading north and trying Tierra Colombiana (5th and Wyoming). They, in my opinion, have the best bistec encebollado (steak and onions) in the city.
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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 Mason, who isn’t afraid to schlep for a good meal and is looking for Thai in town.

Name: Mason

Age: 30

Occupation: Graphic Designer

Where in Philly do you Work?: Home office located in Fishtown

Favorite Kind of Food: This is a seriously hard question. Anything asian (are you surprised?) and any pork product (my jewish mother will be so disappointed)

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I just can’t get over the concept of corn and beans in asian desserts. Vile.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Philly: I have to categorize this based on the following:

Quick & Healthy: Brindle Cafe on Girard Avenue- this is the place that I go to often (would also fall into my “go-to” lunch category) based on the fact that it is close-by, tasty and surprisingly very healthy- so I feel good eating out several times a week (my Jewish guilt coming into play here). My favorite is a toss between the slow roasted beef sandwich with horseradish and a smokey roasted pepper-cardamom sauce or the Thai beef salad which is spicy, reminds me of Thailand and really hits the spot.

Long lunch touching on my dad’s roots: Nam Phuong on 11th and Washington Avenue- I go to this place when I am craving some good old Vietnamese food and feel like a nice bike ride. Their pho hits the spot for a cheap and tasty lunch. When I have company with me and I feel like splurging $16 on lunch, the Tilapia clay pot is simply divine.

Long lunch touching on my mom’s roots: Famous 4th St. Deli on 4th and Bainbridge. I usually don’t eat dinner if I eat lunch here. Even the regular hot Pastrami sandwich is gigantic. When I am brave I try the Zaftig. Top that off with a large cookie and I am toast for the rest of the day. But so worth it.
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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 Abby, a pickle loving teacher.

Name: Abby

Age: 31

Occupation: Teacher

Where in Philly do you Work?: Old City

Favorite Kind of Food: Pickles, especially if they are deep-fried

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Scallops. Actually, I dislike slippery food in general.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Philly: The gigantic sicilian pizza slices at Fork, etc. (3rd and Market); Chicken salad-salad at Cafe Lutecia (23rd and Lombard); Philly roll at Mizu (20th between Walnut and Chestnut); Falafel truck (20th and Market), you’ll feel sluggish and reek of garlic the rest of the day, but it’s worth it.

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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 John, a lawyer who loves brisket and hates Big Macs.

Name: John E.

Age: 37

Occupation: Attorney

Where in Philly do you Work?: Law firm at One Liberty Place, 17th and Market

Favorite Kind of Food: Barbecue – in particular, beef brisket and ribs. I tell my vegetarian friends that if something will make them switch back to meat, it’s good barbecue.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Mega chain fast food and restaurants. There are too many great places around town to eat to settle for Subway, Wendy’s, Ruby Tuesday’s and Applebees.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Philly: Roast pork sandwich from John’s Roast Pork (14 E. Snyder Ave.), everything from Paesano’s (1017 S. 9th St.), small falafel and side of latkes from Mama’s Vegetarian (18 S. 20th St.), platter from Christo’s Falafel cart (Southeast corner of 20th and Market St.).

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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 Lou, who will eat anything that won’t kill him. Respect.

Name: Lou

Age: 27

Occupation: Social Media Coordinator (starting Dec. 5)

Where in Philly do you Work?: University of the Arts, Broad & Pine

Favorite Kind of Food: A medium rare hamburger with bleu cheese  and caramelized onion

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Peanuts and almonds. They make me feel all die-y because of allergies. I’ll eat anything else.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Philly: Vic Sushi (2035 Sansom St.) for the unbeatable 3-roll combo. Pure Fare (119 S 21st St.), with their pre-made sandwiches and Blue Bottle pour over coffee; I always end up with a dessert as well. The Classic meatball sandwich at Jake’s Sandwich Board (122 S 12th St.) is pretty killer, but anything’s good for their $5 build your own sandwich days. And of course, you can’t go wrong rolling the dice and hitting up Love Park for the lunch trucks!
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