Midtown Lunch

I love empanadas so much and there aren’t many to be found in Center City. Earlier this month Foobooz out out a list of places to find them and I was reminded of Gavin’s Cafe and their Argentinian empanadas all the way on the westernmost side of Center City.

It is a cute cafe with a few 2 top tables, but there is plenty of park space to eat nearby if  the sun is out and winds are low.

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This week, Luncher JR is giving us a peak at what you can expect from a Miss Rachel’s Pantry delivery. Read about it today, order tomorrow, enjoy on Wednesday.

My mom never had much talent for the paper bag lunch. My elementary school years were littered with soggy PB&J and mealy apples. And I do mean littered — it all went right into the trash. But my paper bag lunch experience has been totally redeemed by an exceptional, yet little-known Philly lunch option: Miss Rachel’s Pantry’s Wednesday vegan lunch deliveries.

Did I lose you on vegan again? Stay with me. (Deliciousness ahead!)

On Wednesdays, the vegan chefs at Miss Rachel’s Pantry, which recently opened up a vegan café on Passyunk Avenue, deliver bagged lunches to University City, Center City, and Temple. The $11 price for a hearty meal includes delivery, though you will need a friend: minimum order two.

On Tuesday, the menu for each week goes up on the website and gets emailed out to subscribers. Orders must be placed by 5pm. There are always three options, including one gluten-free. Every meal includes a sandwich or meal salad, soup or side salad, and dessert. The food is “homestyle” and the portions generous. No, there’s no meat or dairy, but you will not walk away hungry.

Most often, the lunches are delivered by the criminally adorable chef/owner Rachel Klein herself, who calls or texts when she’s on her way. I met her in the lobby of my building around noon. She handed me two lunches with a big smile and a friendly, “Hope you enjoy it!”

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Today Luncher Rachel heads to Honest Tom’s brick and mortar restaurant.

It’s hard to walk west down Locust without stopping at Koch’s for lunch—but the extra block is worth it for Honest Tom’s. Previously a food truck, Honest Tom’s new store front sits on 44th street between Locust and Spruce. Although the block is newly built up, boasting Local 44, Tampopo and the Lil’ Pop Shop alongside Honest Tom’s, the food at this funky, laid- back Mexican restaurant is as delicious as it was in the food truck days.

The bright, welcoming façade leads into an equally exciting interior—bustling kitchen in the back contrasts with the relaxed, no-fuss feel of the staff and waiting area. Offering a few tables to sit and chalkboards for menus, this place is hassle-free. The only focus is good food.

Although the menu is slightly limited (tacos, burritos, guacamole and salsa), there is
something for everyone. From chicken and steak to fish and sweet potato, the array of options eliminates the veto vote (unless someone doesn’t like Mexican food, but who doesn’t like Mexican…)

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Today, our Profiled Luncher from yesterday, JR, is checking out Jar Bar.

What I am about to tell you may well trigger your Mr. Yuck face: This review is for a vegan restaurant where nothing is heated above above 118 degrees. It’s raw food. And by raw, I don’t mean edgy. I’m talking uncooked sweet potatoes thinly sliced into “noodles.” Poseur pasta.

But try and keep an open mind! This restaurant actually brings something new and refreshing to Philly, albeit with uneven quality and expensive prices.

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Last winter Craig LaBan wrote an article about different food trucks around town, most I had visited or at least heard of but one truck mentioned was totally new to me- the Vegan Truck on Temple’s campus. This struck serves Asian style vegetables and soy proteins.  Looking at the menu, it seemed that the fully loaded “hot pot” was the best way to check out how the truck handles their different non meat products.

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Today, Luncher Molly is going veg at Philly’s newest hot spot for meatless meals.

I’d been hearing about the new HipCityVeg for quite some time; owner Nicole Marquis was the manager at the former Horizons, which I loved, and her new fast-casual restaurant at 18th and Sansom is just a few blocks from my studio. I spent quite a few years on the vegan train, and although I’ve been back in ovo-lacto-pesce land since 2006, I appreciate a healthy, plant-based option.

I had an afternoon meeting in Center City and needed a small meal to fuel my creativity, so I headed to HipCity. I found the interior to be light and the décor spare, which I dig – it’s all part of their sustainability mission, which includes salvaged building materials, compostable packaging, local sourcing, and bike delivery. The menu is equally simple, consisting of eight sandwiches, five salads and a few sides. I’ve been mourning for years the demise of North Carolina’s Crazie Mae’s, which had the best vegan fried chicken sandwich ever, so I went for the Crispy HipCity Ranch.

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A long time ago Mac and Cheese mentioned a place on Washington Ave that made their own tofu. With all the soy varieties, Viet Tofu is like a a tofu candy store. I finally sought it out and it will now be a regular stop whenever I am in the area.

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